The 12-day citywide design festival, Boston Design Week, is returning March 27 – April 7 for its Sixth Annual run. Themes will span across the entire design spectrum to provide an insightful, provocative, and diverse experience. All programs, events, and exhibitions are open to the public, and most are free of charge. The full calendar of events will be available by March 1st. www.BostonDesignWeek.com

Last year’s Boston Design Week was a huge success, with more than 73 participants offering 70+ events, close to 20% of which sold out. Over 15,000 people attended events in 13 Boston neighborhoods and 14 cities and towns in the Greater Boston Area. This years festival is projected to be even larger drawing 20,000 attendees from the Boston area and beyond.

Boston Design Week launches on Wednesday March 27, with five Kick-Offs in five different locations, under the theme “Then and Now”. Events will be held in the South End, Back Bay, Seaport, Fenway, and Fort Port. The 6th Annual festival is the most diverse yet with events including graphic design, fashion, interior design, technical design, historic preservation, architecture, and more.

Three stand alone conferences take place as part of the festival this year each highlighting a different design arena. MITX hosts their annual “Design Summit” bringing together the industry’s leading experts to discuss how design thinking and design principals are being applied within organizations in the business landscape. Mad*Pow’s 2-day “Health Experience Design Conference” focuses on the changing landscape of design for healthcare. “Interventions: Narrative” is a one day conference hosted by the students of Northeastern’s SCOUT program bringing together creative leaders to explore the roles that designers play as storytellers, activists, and influencers.

Both sustainable and high fashion will be on the festivals roster. The School of Fashion Design will host an Open House at their Back Bay location. Serenella presents a trunk show and book signing with author Cameron Silver, taking place at Marc Hall Design in the South End.

The Boston Design Center and Innovation and Design Building will be a key venue this year, for a wide variety of events. One day’s program at the Boston Design Center includes; IFDA hosting an 11am panel on how design thinking can grow your business, followed by a designSkim panel on social media, with author and designer Erin Gates’ newest book launch rounding out the evening. At the Innovation and Design Building Autodesk hosts an open house “Design Night” at their BUILD Space. “Design Night” gathers 250+ enthusiasts to explore, network, and exchange ideas centered around the future of making. Later, join Neoscape for the latest look at virtual and augmented reality.

Historic architecture and preservation comes to the forefront this year with an architecture tour hosted by Trinity Church, a behind the scenes look at the building and collections of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, and tours of the studios at the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic site, where some of America’s most beloved spaces were created and designed. Travel with the Boston Preservation Alliance through the history of the Christian Science Center Mother Church from 1894 to present day.

More than 20 other museums, colleges, universities, and professional organizations serve as Non-Profit Partners for the festival. Boston Society of Landscape Architects, DLF New England, Harvard Art Museums, Institute for Human Centered Design, MIT List Visual Arts Center, Museum of Fine Arts, Peabody Essex Museum, School of Fashion Design, Scandinavian Cultural Center, and the Society of Arts & Crafts are among the participants.

College and university events include the Boston Architectural College’s “Undesign the Redline: the Transformation of Race, Place, and Class in America”, an explorative and visionary framework for addressing the systemic challenges we face in Boston. Innovate@BU also hosts their signature hackathon this year centered around Health & Human Rights.

Design Week culminates with the Boston Design Week Awards on Friday, April 5 from 5:30-8:30pm, taking place in the stunning new gallery at the Artists for Humanity EpiCenter.

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Roger Thomas, Executive Vice President of Design for Wynn Design & Development, and Principal, The Roger Thomas Collection. Roger’s current project is Encore Boston Harbor. The other 2019 Awards to be presented include the Mentor of the Year, co-sponsored by The Over My Shoulder Foundation; Newcomer of the Year, co-sponsored by Autodesk; the Social Impact Award; and Producer’s Choice: Outstanding 2019 Design Week Event. To learn more about the event and submit a nomination visit BostonDesignWeek.com/awards.

All Boston Design Week programs are open to the public, and most are free of charge, but many do require an RSVP to attend. For more information or to receive the Boston Design Week newsletter and calendar of events, visit www.BostonDesignWeek.com. Follow along on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bostondesignweek, Twitter @BosDesignWeek, or Instagram @BostonDesignWeek.

Editor’s Notes:

• Click here for a link to the full press kit with a copy of the release, captions, and images.
• We are happy to provide additional details on programs and photographs as they become available or alert you to programs with a specific interest.
• Media are invited to attend events, but RSVP requirements vary so please check with us regarding the event(s) of your choice.
• Interviews are available with Boston Design Week organizers, participants, and sponsors.