Detroit Month of Design: Experience the Beauty and Art of Detroit
Story by Max White
Detroit is the only UNESCO City of Design in the United States, and the designation will be celebrated once again during the 13th annual Detroit Month of Design from Sept. 1-30 all across the city.
Tens of thousands of attendees celebrated the city last year, and partners from around the city will come together for more than 70 events throughout Detroit in September showing off the latest ideas and works.
Here are some events worth checking out during Detroit Month of Design. You can see the entire calendar here.
Detroit Month of Design Opening Party and Design Crawl
The kickoff party will be the Detroit Design Crawl presented by the Consulate of Italy. It will start at 1001 Woodward in Downtown Detroit and then go through other parts of the city from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sept. 1. You’ll check out LoveITDetroit, Space Lab Detroit and Rossetti.
Shop and See 2023
Shop and See takes place throughout the entire month of design. It’s a chance for people to see different installations and collaborative collections from Detroit businesses and makers. There are 10 different locations at different shops and events throughout the city.
Design Jam 2023: Adaptive Products for Outdoor Recreation
Design Jam 2023 takes place Friday, Sept. 8 and Saturday, Sept. 9. It’s a hands-on product innovation workshop. Teams of students, manufacturers and more work together to create prototypes of new products to help people with disabilities have better access to outdoor recreation.
Eastern Market After Dark
Detroit’s historic Eastern Market isn’t open late often, but during the Detroit Month of Design, you can check out Eastern Market After Dark. This year’s event is presented by the Gilbert Family Foundation and will happen Thursday, Sept. 21 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. It will showcase different artists, business, musicians and more with an open-studio gallery, activations and galleries.
Detroit Month of Design Closing Weekend
Detroit Month of Design will close out on Friday, Sept. 29 and Saturday, Sept. 30. Friday’s event will happen at the Shinola Flagship store in Midtown with the launch of the Shinola x Design Core video campaign. There will also be a sidewalk sale, pop-up displays, music and more. Then, on Saturday, there will be murals, a makers market, music and more at Spot Lite.
Trashion Show
Trashion Show is a two-day interactive event that challenges designers with upcycling. The first day will take place Sunday, Sept. 3 with a panel of people involved in the show. Then, at Eastern Market After Dark, there will be galleries showing off what the designers and models created.
Celebrating Pewabic: 120 Years of Detroit’s Pottery
Pewabic Pottery is a National Historic Landmark, and you’ll be able to tour the studios, shop the latest designs and then have a drink in the historic courtyard. You’ll also have a chance to experience tile glazing! The event takes place Saturday, Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Be sure to check out our story about Pewabic’s history before you go!
Equity in Education
This workshop will be hands-on and help people learn and “re-consider the complicated question of equity in education.” It will use tools to help people “imagine new social, economic and political futures for education.” It takes place Tuesday, Sept. 19 from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Grand Valley State Detroit Center at 163 Madison St.
Tour the Isaac Agree Synagogue
The Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue just reopened in August after $6 million in renovations. It’s goal was to serve as place for all of the Jewish community in metro Detroit, right in the heart of the city. During the Month of Design event, you’ll hear a panel discussion and then go on tours of the renovated space to learn about the building’s history and future. It takes place Thursday, Sept. 21 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Kahn’s Detroit Walking Tour
Albert Kahn is a legendary Detroit architect, and Albert Kahn Associates and the Albert Kahn Legacy Foundation will hold guided walking tours of some of his most famous buildings. It takes place Saturday, Sept. 23 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., and people can choose between the Fisher Building, the New Center neighborhood or Midtown Detroit.
