Emerging from disruptions and renewing our commitment to the Kansas City design community, KC Design Week is the perfect example of a creative community coming together, lifting each other up, and proving once again that Kansas City is a design destination.
KC Design Week has informed, connected, and inspired our community for more than a decade. We missed you last year and can’t wait to welcome you back for a fantastic line-up of events over 9 days! We know you are going love what we have planned!
Due to unforeseen circumstances this event is cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience. If you have purchased a ticket someone will be in touch shortly.
Kansas City is soon to be the home of the world’s first ever Explor-a-Storium - brought to you by The Rabbit hOle. Be one of the first to walk through the making of this living literature world and witness the ideation, creation, fabrication, and construction of one of the most creative experiences imaginable. Put your (provided) hardhat on and take a stroll through this 165,000 square foot building of this ambitious and delightful wonderland.
A leisurely ride through Downtown, Penn Valley and Liberty Memorial. Go back in time and visit the landmarks that made Kansas City unique. Imagine how the city has grown and changed over the past 125 years or so. We will be able to see images, talk about the history of the post cards and compare/contrast with today.
Short rides between stops and short stories, lots of fun.
Troost Market Collective, a non-profit working to create equity for all, will provide a glimpse into its purpose and how it positively affects the community through wonderful creative initiatives. During the event, we will examine the group’s 31 Linwood & Troost Mural Project campaign, being held in the historic firestone building on Linwood and Troost. Attendees will learn about the group’s inspiration and its love for the community.
Kansas City Campus for Animal Care is home to KC Pet Project's new, state-of-the-art animal shelter. But it didn’t start out that way. Willoughby Design’s Megan Stephens and Nicole Satterwhite will tell the story about how an overburdened animal shelter in a former warehouse became a model for animal care across the nation.
Katie Moorman, lead project architect from HNTB, and Nicole Satterwhite will then lead a tour of the beautiful new facility and highlight the unique architecture and design elements.
Over the last 10 years, podcasting has become a favorite communication and media platform for influencers and experts, providing listeners with an opportunity to experience focused and curated content. KCDW has invited four design influencers to share why and how they began podcasting, with discussion focused on how the medium of podcasting can enhance your design practice.
Jacinda Walker, MFA is renowned for her work in design, diversity, research, and strategy. She is the founder and creative director of designExplorr, a social impact organization in Cleveland whose mission addresses the diversity gap within the design profession. Her research on Design Journeys: Strategies for Increasing Diversity in Design Disciplines has been hailed as breakthrough work. This solutions-based thesis explores diversity in design disciplines and investigates effective strategies to expose Black and Latino youth to design careers.
The focus of this engaging presentation is career goal setting, inspiration, setting smart goals, and creating a design journey map. Jacinda has next-level energy!
This event is aimed at juniors and seniors in post-secondary design programs; limited seats available for sophomores; it is not geared for first-year students. This event is not intended for high school students.
This event is now available in person and virtually.
The lack of diversity in design is not a new problem. Scholars, employers, organizations, and design professionals have been documenting it for more than 50 years. Yet representation by people of color in the profession hasn’t significantly increased in more than 10 years. What’s behind this disparity? Join Jacinda Walker, founder and creative director of designExplorr, a social impact organization that creates opportunities to expose underrepresented youth to design, and learn more about the problems leading to this lack of diversity. Jacinda will explain the need for more design career resources, outline strategic solutions to close the diversity gap, and tell you how you can help.
Test your architecture style knowledge with a one of a kind scavenger hunt. Explore the museum's fine scale miniature collection, guided by a unique scavenger hunt to learn how your Architectural knowledge stacks up when looking at architecture in 1:12 scale miniatures.
Explore this curated apparel boutique and take part in their community creativity event. Using fabric from donated material, participants will create a group weaving, and within this weaving, participants can choose to write a word of advice to their younger self. Combining people’s stories in a visual display will add a special feature to this retail space and allow future customers to add their own elements of creativity and advice after the KCDW event is over. Before you leave, learn how Do Good Co. supports a variety of nonprofit causes in Kansas City.
Just one day after KC Design Week 2021, Kansas City will celebrate its first PARK(ing) Day on September 18. This event highlights the need for more pedestrian-friendly spaces in our city. PARK(ing) Day began in 2005 in San Francisco and grew into a global event when celebrated annually by hundreds of cities when community members transform street parking spaces into creative pop-up parks.
During KCMO’s block party, downtown Walnut Street parking spots will turn into vibrant, temporary parklets filled with art, music, food, relaxation, education, and entertainment. City residents will enjoy spaces normally reserved for storing cars. Anyone can host a parklet, including citizens, businesses, and organizations.
These exciting, interactive events are a program of Center for Architecture & Design, a group of local professional design organizations which include:
