Whether you’re consider its stunning street art and murals, innovative cuisine or precedent as an epicenter for aspiring musicians, it is evident that Nashville is a metropolitan hub of creativity. Founded in 2018, Nashville Design Week aims to celebrate that fact by bringing together design professionals and the public through a series of activities that showcase the talent inside our city limits. Over 30 events will be held from Nov. 4 to 8 this year, with the predominant theme of how design should and has impacted the growth of Nashville.
Co-founders Fuller Hanan, Kate O’Neil and Lindsay DeCarlo, as well as Director of Operations Elliott Roche, spearheaded the programming and organizational aspects of Design Week. They each have unique design backgrounds and work experiences, ranging from architecture to digital design and database administration, but share the common culture of intellectual curiosity and innovation. That is the kind of open environment that they hope to cultivate at this year’s festival.
“We are trying to create a higher quality of life through design,” DeCarlo said. “We want to inspire collaboration and conversation, educate the public and strengthen the city’s design culture.”
The week’s events kick off Monday, Nov. 4, with a walking tour of the capital district as well as an opening party with influential industry professionals such as Avo-restauranteur Annie Choo and decorated photographer Jeremy Cowart. All week, there will be an exclusive exhibit by photographer Hannah Deits titled “Nashbuild” featured at the Nashville Civil Design Center gallery which documents the changes in Nashville over the last three years. But with showcases that focus on everything from architecture and branding to furniture and fashion, Nashville Design Week truly has something to suit everyone’s interests.
All of Nashville Design Week’s events require online registration at varying costs to the public. The gallery exhibition at NCDC is open to visitors all day from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at no cost. Check out a schedule of the festival’s highlights below, or visit their website to explore more opportunities throughout the week.
Monday, Nov. 4
Holding On To Nashville’s History: A Walking Tour 7:30 a.m at Hastings Architecture
Taking the Leap: Design Week Opening Party 6:30 p.m. at Ed Nash Studio
Tuesday, Nov. 5
Design Thinking 101: Hack Your Morning hosted by NashvilleUX 7:30 a.m. at Gresham Smith
The Art of Identity with AIGA Nashville, DJ Stout of Pentagram, and Frist Art Museum 11:30 a.m. at Frist Art Museum
Sustainability in Fashion: Challenges and Proposed Solutions 6:30 p.m. at Alfred Williams & Company
Wednesday, Nov. 6
Design Thinking and Branding in Public Transportation 8:00 a.m. at Studio 615
Design for Equity Dinner and Discussion 6:30 p.m. at Wilburn Street Studio
Thursday, Nov. 7
How Design Can Be More: Start-ups and Sustainability: A Conversation with Nashville Entrepreneur Center 11:30 a.m. at L+L Marketplace Event Center
Citizen Architects: An Evening with Rural Studio 7:00 p.m. at Johnson Center Theater
Friday, Nov. 8
Room At Our Table: A Breakfast with Leading Women in Design 7:30 a.m. at The Bridge Building Event Space
Future Nashville: How tomorrow’s developments affect today’s communities 1:30 p.m. at Exit/In
Behind The Curtain: The Process, Inspiration, and Execution of Stage Design: Closing Event 7:00 p.m. at 4Wall
