ABOUT DESIGNPHILADELPHIA
As the oldest design festival of its kind in the country, DesignPhiladelphia highlights the work of thousands of local designers, architects, and creative professionals to demonstrate Philadelphia’s reemergence as a 21st century city shaped by thoughtful design, collaborative business practices, and community engagement.
Over the course of ten days each October, places such as universities, cultural institutions, civic associations, city agencies, retailers, manufacturers, and startups across the city participate in over 100 engaging events including panel discussions, fashion shows, participatory workshops, studio tours, book signings, professional development classes, design exhibitions, and imaginative celebrations.
HISTORY
Philadelphia is a unique environment with a strong history and tradition in design, manufacturing, and architecture. The days of being called “the workshop of the world” are in the past, but Philadelphia’s identity as a hub for creative activity never vanished - instead it was transformed. The opportunities for design exploration and innovation through the wealth of cultural institutions, universities, and an expanding entrepreneurial base are endless.
In this setting, the DesignPhiladelphia Festival emerged in 2005 to identify, celebrate and raise the profile of this city’s creative economy, all 50,000+ of them. In addition, DesignPhiladelphia demonstrates Philadelphia’s reemergence as a 21st century city - one shaped by design, technology, and collaborative business practices.
DesignPhiladelphia is the signature event of the [Center for Architecture and Design] (http://philadelphiacfa.org/programs-and-exhibitions/designphiladelphia)
MISSION
DesignPhiladelphia’s goal is to support, demonstrate, and promote the ability that design has to generate innovation, solve problems, enhance daily life, and influence both the perception and economics of the region.
OUR GOALS
Connect design, designers, and design methodologies to promote Philadelphia as a center for creative excellence, engagement, and innovations.
Grow the economic opportunity for trade and investment in Philadelphia’s creative sector.
Enhance Philadelphia’s reputation and promote its cultural, historic, and contemporary design assets.
Retain future generations by providing opportunities for young people, students, and graduates to explore creative careers and interact with the local design community.
Educate the public on the role that design plays, and can play, both in the vibrancy of our communities and the quality of our everyday lives.
Promote design as an integral part of socially and environmentally sustainable communities by creating a space for public dialogue and experimentation.
STEERING COMMITTEE
The steering committee is an interdisciplinary team of designers, educators, thought leaders, and professionals that are guiding the future of DesignPhiladelphia. As the Festival enters it’s 12th year with new leadership, the insights and vision from the Steering Committee are helping to shape the growth of the DesignPhiladelphia festival and programming in a thoughtful and strategic direction.
Pamela M. Harper, Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel |MFR Consultants
Erike De Veyra, Project Designer | CICADA Architecture/Planning
Caroline Tiger, Senior Content Strategist | Bresslergroup
Andrew Phillips, Director of Design Education & Design Faculty Chair | CHAD
Nancy Goldenberg, Vice President of Planning, Development & Research | Center City District
Bob Kelly, AIA, Architect/Designer | idee Designworks
Anthony Bracali, LEED AP, Vice President of Design | Goldenberg Group
Beth Miller, Executive Director | Community Design Collaborative
Dan Shepelavy, Executive Creative Director | Brownstein Group
Emma Fried-Cassorla, Communications Strategist | J2 Design Partnership
Anne Nevins, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Business Development | PIDC
Karin Copeland, Executive Director, Vice President | Chamber - Arts & Business Council
Chessia Kelley, Associate Director of Digital Marketing & Communications | Philadelphia Museum of Art
Karen Fegely, Deputy Commerce Director | City of Phila. Commerce Dept.
Maud Lyon, President | Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance
Craig Welsh, Principal/Creative Director | GoWelsh
Diana Lind, Managing Director | Philadelphia Inquirer
Ivy Silver, Strategist | SparkPlug Innovations
Nicole Harville, Sr. Architecture & Design Market Manager | Haworth
Neil Kleinman, Directory of Corzo Center for Creative Economy | University of the Arts
Rosemarie Fabien, President, Fabien Communications | Collab
Peter Lloyd Jones, Ph.D, Director | MEDstudio@JEFF
