Detroit Month of Design: Experience the Beauty and Art of Detroit

Detroit Month of Design is back for its 12th annual citywide celebration of creativity that calls upon designers and the greater Detroit community to come together and celebrate the city’s role as an international design capital. The 2022 festival will host over 70 events and experiences that can be enjoyed in open-air spaces, indoors, on-demand, and virtually. See all events and installations here.

Fisher Building by Albert Kahn, photo by Bill Bowen

Did you know that Detroit is home to the highest concentration of commercial and industrial designers in the country?

Every September, creatives, students, and community leaders across Detroit commune throughout the month to show off their latest creations and vision for the future. Events ranging from panel discussions, workshops, interactive exhibitions, and even walking tours, take place all over the city, showcasing the pioneering talent and innovation that makes Detroit a leading UNESCO City of Design.

This year, three themes are reflected throughout the month-long celebration including building environment, visual communication, and product design. As a leading design capital, it was vital to champion these themes while embracing the importance of accessibility, collaboration, and diversity.

Inclusive design considers the gamut of human diversity and how individual experiences help to drive solutions for a collective social impact. By designing for all, we can create places, products, services, and systems that are truly designed in an inclusive way.

Check out these Detroit Month of Design Events:

DETROIT MONTH OF DESIGN KICK-OFF PARTY
September 1 – 6-10pm
To kick off the 12th Annual Detroit Month of Design Festival, please join us to celebrate the designers, products, and projects that showcase our city’s creative talent and small businesses at Spot Lite Detroit, sponsored by DTE Energy and DTE Foundation. There will be live entertainment, live art, DJs, and food trucks throughout the night.

SHOP AND SEE
September 1-30
Shop and See, is a partnership between Design Core and Bedrock that pairs local designers with downtown shops to exhibit their work, drive traffic to the stores, and give people a chance to “See” and “Shop” from the collection of downtown Detroit businesses and makers. The collaboration, occurring during regular retail hours, September 1 – 30, will showcase entrepreneurship, create conversation, and foster stronger relationships between the public, retailers and creatives.

SNEAKER HOUSE
September 2-30
Sneaker House presented by Foot Locker will showcase four installations and complimentary programming that celebrates and highlights sneaker culture. The activation will include visually dynamic displays and artworks by local following creatives.

detroitUNDERGROUND 69
September 3 – 6-9pm
detroitUNDERGROUND 69 spans 69 years of the underground scene in Detroit. There are people who are the ‘originals’ from back in the day when PUNK was born and others are current-day references to the PUNK scene. The experience draws the participants in through Film, Photography, Graphic, Fashion, and Product Design.

MOBILITY, ART & DESIGN: EXHIBITION
September 12-22 – 11am-4pm
CCS will broaden the awareness of careers in mobility through a curated exhibition featuring up-and-coming student work related to Transportation. This exhibition will highlight CCS’ power and agency to educate the next generation to make the world a better place.

EASTERN MARKET AFTER DARK
September 15 – 6-9pm
Eastern Market After Dark (EMAD) is a signature component of the Detroit Month of Design. EMAD is a district-wide night market and open studio involving several galleries, retailers, brand activations, and music. Introduced as part of the festival programming in 2012, EMAD has grown from an initial attendance level of 4,000 to attracting more than 25,000 attendees in 2019 and featuring the work of emerging to established designers.

THE MIND OF A MURALIST: EXPLORING MURAL MURAL-MAKING IN METRO DETROIT WITH HUBERT MASSEY, IJANIA CORTEZ, AND DEBORAH LUBERA KAWSKY
September 18 – 2-4pm
Mural imagery by Massey, Cortez, and Girard – featured both in the presentation and on-site – will document the diversity of mural media, processes, and styles, providing fascinating visual and conceptual juxtapositions. The panel discussion will address issues such as the motivations behind mural-making, the role of murals to enact positive change in the community, and the importance of preserving/restoring murals as evidence of Detroit’s rich design legacy.

THE FETISH PROJECT: FETISH PROJECT RECEPTION AT ANDY ARTS
September 18 6-9pm
Flashmob Fashion Show featuring 16 Detroit women artists challenging female tropes in the media that shape our culture and hold us all back.

THEIR UNTOLD STORIES – BLACK LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS MICHIGAN CONNECTION
September 19-30 – 9am-5pm
This exhibition explores the history, efforts, and impacts of Black landscape architects with a Michigan connection and how their influences have impacted their journeys as Black landscape architects. Through an artistic and research-based approach, this exhibition displays a visually compelling timeline of their stories, forming a deeper unified linkage to the state of Michigan, the city of Detroit, and surrounding areas.

SOIRÉE ON THE GREENWAY
September 30 – 6-10pm
Soirée on the Greenway returns for a masquerade under the stars in one of Detroit’s most beloved public spaces, the Dequindre Cut. The Freight Yard will be transformed into a mysterious circus and will be filled with delicious food and refreshments, a surprise live musical performance, interactive fall experiences, carnival games, and the unveiling of a brand-new mural on the Greenway.

More Events

Learn More with Detroit Month of Design Tours:

SEEING DIFFERENTLY: DETROIT BY BIKE
September 7 – 6-8pm

DESIGN ON THE AVE: LIVERNOIS WALKING TOUR
September 10 – 1-3pm

SOLANUS CASEY CENTER ADDITION TOUR: AN OPEN DOOR TO DESIGN PROCESS AND MISSION
September 11 – 12-2pm

DESIGN ON THE AVE: EAST WARREN WALKING TOUR
September 24 – 1-3pm

THE ALLEY ACTIVATION STATION: A CO-CREATION CELEBRATION
September 24 – 1-5pm