THE FESTIVAL
THE FESTIVAL
The Process
As one of the only design festivals that is co-created with community, the Detroit Month of Design is unique in its commitment to providing inclusive and accessible avenues for participation.
Each year, events on the festival calendar are selected by an intersectional curatorial committee, ensuring that a diverse cross-section of voices weighs in on the festival calendar each year.
Design Core Detroit
Creating opportunities for creative businesses of all sizes
The Detroit Month of Design is produced by Design Core Detroit, an economic development organization using design to grow our regional economy.
Design Core provides business support & development programs, visibility opportunities, and connects designers to resources and each other.
As the steward of Detroit’s UNESCO City of Design designation, Design Core tells Detroit’s design story locally and globally.
2026 Committee
Meet the team curating the festival calendar
2025: A Milestone Year
Celebrating the past, shaping the future.
Produced by Design Core Detroit, the festival celebrates why Detroit is the first and only UNESCO City of Design in the U.S. Since 2011, it's been a powerhouse for connecting creatives, amplifying their work globally, and proving that Detroit is a hub of design excellence.
With interactive in-person, outdoor, and virtual experiences, the festival features exhibitions, installations, product launches, tours, hands-on workshops, and thought-provoking discussions. Last year, 250+ creatives, 95 events, and 60,000 attendees made it an unforgettable experience.
CURATORIAL COMMITTEE
2025 Curatorial Committee
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Brittanie Dabney, Ecosphere Organics
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Dorota Coy, Art Clvb
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Josh Smith, Who’s Dat
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Keith Butler, Detroit Boys Club
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Kirsten Jordan, Ford Design
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Laura Gibson, Eastern Market Corp
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Lauren Hood, AfroUrbanist
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Michael Scamardella, Lino Realty
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Rachel Nelson, Concetti
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Sara Fallahi, Stellantis
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Tanya Saldivar-Ali, AGI Construction
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Patrick Ethen, Lighting Designer
A note from the festival director
16 years of creativity, culture, and collaboration
Design is inherently collaborative. It flows freely across borders, industries, and identities.
The Detroit Month of Design is a wide-reaching, electric, and beautifully diffuse festival, held together by a shared belief in the real-world value of creativity.
None of it would be possible without Design Core’s dedicated staff, generous donors, and the hundreds of artists, creators, storytellers and activists who bring this experience to life.
Above all, the festival is powered by the tens of thousands of participants who show up each year with curiosity, intention, and the desire to connect.
Design Core Team
The faces behind the work
