OPEN CALL
SEPTEMBER 1 - 30
FESTIVAL PRODUCED BY DESIGN CORE
2025
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DETROIT CITY OF DESIGN
10 YEARS OF GLOBAL IMPACT
Detroit City of Design: 10 years of global impact
2025 marks a decade since Detroit became the first and only UNESCO City of Design in the U.S. —and we’re turning the city into a living showcase.
This year’s Detroit Month of Design centers the city’s design legacy and future through international exhibitions, brand activations, and community-driven installations that highlight Detroit’s creative impact on the world.
Whether you’re a creative looking to showcase your work on a global stage, a Detroit-based brand ready to amplify the city’s creative heartbeat by activating around this milestone, or a proud Detroiter contributing to the city’s design story—this is your moment.
Let’s design what’s next.
EVENT CALENDAR
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MAKE AN
IMPACT.
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Brand partnership opportunities through the Detroit Month of Design deliver an impact that aligns brands with the most diverse design festival in the country.
Sponsored activations put your brand at the center of the country’s most diverse design festival, offering direct engagement with creative leaders, tastemakers, and an audience that values innovation. This is more than just visibility—it’s an opportunity to build authentic connections, launch products in a dynamic environment, and align with Detroit’s global design legacy.
As the city celebrates 10 years as a UNESCO City of Design, there’s never been a better time to show up for Detroit.
THE THRIVING NEIGHBORHOOD
PROGRAM
Supported by the Gilbert Family Foundation, The Thriving Neighborhood Program celebrates the city’s vibrant design culture through events and activations citywide.
SHOP & SEE
SHOP and SEE pairs local designers with downtown retailers to showcase work, support small businesses, while offering visitors a chance to see art and shop local.
EASTERN MARKET AFTER DARK
A Signature event of the Detroit Month of Design™, Eastern Market After Dark™ showcases an array of talented artists, businesses, organizations, and musicians.
NEWS
FESTIVAL PARTNERS
2025 marks a decade since Detroit became the first and only UNESCO City of Design in the U.S.
—and we’re turning the city into a living showcase.
This year’s Detroit Month of Design centers the city’s design legacy and future through international exhibitions, brand activations, and community-driven installations that highlight Detroit’s creative impact on the world.
Whether you’re a creative looking to showcase your work on a global stage, a Detroit-based brand ready to amplify the city’s creative heartbeat by activating around this milestone, or a proud Detroiter contributing to the city’s design story—this is your moment.
Let’s design what’s next.
2025 Festival Theme: City of Design
As a UNESCO City of Design, Detroit is where creativity meets global impact. The 2025 Detroit Month of Design theme highlights the power of design to drive bold solutions for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—tackling challenges like equity, cultural heritage, technological innovation, AI, education, and community resilience.
In a world of rapid change and growing divides, design is a powerful tool to reimagine systems, amplify voices, and create real impact. This year’s theme celebrates collaboration, experimentation, and storytelling, proving that creativity is more than expression—it’s a force for opportunity, dignity, and progress.
Join us as we shape a more connected, inclusive, and forward-thinking future—together!
GET INVOLVED
Brand partnership opportunities through the Detroit Month of Design deliver an impact that aligns brands with the most diverse design festival in the country.
Sponsored activations put your brand at the center of the country’s most diverse design festival, offering direct engagement with creative leaders, tastemakers, and an audience that values innovation. This is more than just visibility—it’s an opportunity to build authentic connections, launch products in a dynamic environment, and align with Detroit’s global design legacy.
As the city celebrates 10 years as a UNESCO City of Design, there’s never been a better time to show up for Detroit.
Make an impact.
Brand Collaborations
Design Core provides expert support to craft a custom sponsorship program tailored to your 2025 business goals. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with Detroit’s thriving creative community
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FESTIVAL TRACKS
Creative Currents, pays tribute to Detroit’s unique legacy of artistry and innovation, while emphasizing the importance of collaboration and collective action as we look to the future.
The ripple effect of Detroit’s design history stretches across the globe, spanning time and space.
Detroit forever changed the way the world lives, works, and moves.
Creative Currents amplifies the notion that for our region to prosper, we must be deliberate about creating spaces where the flow of information, opportunities, and creative solutions can move freely and equally.
Creative Currents amplifies the notion that for our region to prosper, we must be deliberate about creating spaces where the flow of information, opportunities, and creative solutions can move freely and equally.
The Detroit Month of Design exists as a platform for creating these intentional spaces.
Today, the creative minds in Detroit hold the keys to our collective success.
As we move through this time marked by rapid changes in our economy, environment and tech, the innovators of today embody Detroit’s Legacy in Motion.
Moving forward, shaping an equitable future where everyone can thrive.
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Creative Currents, pays tribute to Detroit’s unique legacy of artistry and innovation, while emphasizing the importance of collaboration and collective action as we look to the future. The ripple effect of Detroit’s design history stretches across the globe, spanning time and space. Detroit forever changed the way the world lives, works, and moves. Today, the resonant connectivity of Detroit’s creative community creates a collaborative circuit where inventive energy flows freely as creative minds unite and amplify each other's ideas. Creative Currents amplifies the notion that for our region to prosper, we must be deliberate about creating spaces where the flow of information, opportunities, and creative solutions can move freely and equally. The Detroit Month of Design exists as a platform for creating these intentional spaces Today, the creative minds in Detroit hold the keys to our collective success. As we move through this time marked by rapid changes in our economy, environment and tech, the innovators of today embody Detroit’s Legacy in Motion. Moving forward, shaping an equitable future where everyone can thrive.
Creative Currents, pays tribute to Detroit’s unique legacy of artistry and innovation, while emphasizing the importance of collaboration and collective action as we look to the future. The ripple effect of Detroit’s design history stretches across the globe, spanning time and space. Detroit forever changed the way the world lives, works, and moves. Today, the resonant connectivity of Detroit’s creative community creates a collaborative circuit where inventive energy flows freely as creative minds unite and amplify each other's ideas. Creative Currents amplifies the notion that for our region to prosper, we must be deliberate about creating spaces where the flow of information, opportunities, and creative solutions can move freely and equally. The Detroit Month of Design exists as a platform for creating these intentional spaces Today, the creative minds in Detroit hold the keys to our collective success. As we move through this time marked by rapid changes in our economy, environment and tech, the innovators of today embody Detroit’s Legacy in Motion. Moving forward, shaping an equitable future where everyone can thrive.
Creative Currents, pays tribute to Detroit’s unique legacy of artistry and innovation, while emphasizing the importance of collaboration and collective action as we look to the future. The ripple effect of Detroit’s design history stretches across the globe, spanning time and space. Detroit forever changed the way the world lives, works, and moves. Today, the resonant connectivity of Detroit’s creative community creates a collaborative circuit where inventive energy flows freely as creative minds unite and amplify each other's ideas. Creative Currents amplifies the notion that for our region to prosper, we must be deliberate about creating spaces where the flow of information, opportunities, and creative solutions can move freely and equally. The Detroit Month of Design exists as a platform for creating these intentional spaces Today, the creative minds in Detroit hold the keys to our collective success. As we move through this time marked by rapid changes in our economy, environment and tech, the innovators of today embody Detroit’s Legacy in Motion. Moving forward, shaping an equitable future where everyone can thrive.
Creative Currents, pays tribute to Detroit’s unique legacy of artistry and innovation, while emphasizing the importance of collaboration and collective action as we look to the future. The ripple effect of Detroit’s design history stretches across the globe, spanning time and space. Detroit forever changed the way the world lives, works, and moves. Today, the resonant connectivity of Detroit’s creative community creates a collaborative circuit where inventive energy flows freely as creative minds unite and amplify each other's ideas. Creative Currents amplifies the notion that for our region to prosper, we must be deliberate about creating spaces where the flow of information, opportunities, and creative solutions can move freely and equally. The Detroit Month of Design exists as a platform for creating these intentional spaces Today, the creative minds in Detroit hold the keys to our collective success. As we move through this time marked by rapid changes in our economy, environment and tech, the innovators of today embody Detroit’s Legacy in Motion. Moving forward, shaping an equitable future where everyone can thrive.
CREATIVE
CURRENTS
2024 THEME
This year's theme, Creative Currents, pays tribute to Detroit’s unique legacy of artistry and innovation, while emphasizing the importance of collaboration and collective action as we look to the future.
The ripple effect of Detroit’s design history stretches across the globe, spanning time and space. Detroit forever changed the way the world lives, works, and moves.
Today, the resonant connectivity of Detroit’s creative community creates a collaborative circuit where inventive energy flows freely as creative minds unite and amplify each other's ideas.
Creative Currents amplifies the notion that for our region to prosper, we must be deliberate about creating spaces where the flow of information, opportunities, and creative solutions can move freely and equally. The Detroit Month of Design exists as a platform for creating these intentional spaces.
Today, the creative minds in Detroit hold the keys to our collective success. As we move through this time marked by rapid changes in our economy, environment and tech, the innovators of today embody Detroit’s Legacy in Motion.
Moving forward, shaping an equitable future where everyone can thrive.
As the only UNESCO City of Design in the United States, Detroit is a global hub of culture and creativity.
The Detroit Month of Design activates spaces all over the city with experiences ranging from exhibitions, installations, product launches, talks, tours, workshops and parties.
FESTIVAL TRACKS
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As the only UNESCO City of Design in the United States, Detroit is a global hub of culture and creativity.
The Detroit Month of Design activates spaces all over the city with experiences ranging from exhibitions, installations, product launches, talks, tours, workshops and parties.
UNESCO CITY OF DESIGN
AS THE FIRST & ONLY UNESCO CITY OF DESIGN IN THE UNITED STATES, DETROIT IS A GLOBAL HUB OF CULTURE & CREATIVITY.
THE DETROIT MONTH OF DESIGN ACTIVATES SPACES ALL OVER THE CITY WITH EXPERIENCES RANGING FROM EXHIBITIONS, INSTALLATIONS, PRODUCT LAUNCHES, TALKS, TOURS, WORKSHOPS AND PARTIES.
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MONTH OF DESIGN SPONSORS
PREMIER LEVEL MEMBERS
