Experience the vibrance of the Bay Area creative community through the lens of design. San Francisco Design Week (SFDW) is the largest and oldest design festival in the Bay Area which spans the entire region which includes Silicon Valley/South Bay, the City of San Francisco, Oakland/East Bay and North Bay.

For the past 20 years the festival brings together thousands of designers, trade professionals, non-profits, entrepreneurs and business leaders for a series of events, lectures, panel discussions, exhibitions, product launches, activations, podcasts, thought leadership and open studios.

San Francisco Design Week: The future started here.

Applications to Host an Official Event/Exhibition are open for submission until April 24, 2026 

San Francisco Design Week is produced by Design Bay Area

Apply: Call for Proposals

Info at a Glance:

• ? San Francisco Design Week — 20th Edition will take place June 1–12, 2026
• ? Call for Proposals Deadline: April 24, 2026
• Who Can Apply: This Call for Proposals is open to individuals, studios, in-house teams, museums, galleries, universities, retailers, restaurants, nonprofits, and design-adjacent organizations interested in hosting an event, installation, exhibition, product launch, brand activation, or podcast as part of San Francisco Design Week.
• ? Just here to attend? Head over to our Attend Page instead.
• What Gets Listed: Only approved, public-facing Community Events will appear on the official San Francisco Design Week calendar and receive authorization to use the Trademarked San Francisco Design Week name and branding.
• A Note on Format: We do not accept conferences or full-day/multi-day events. San Francisco Design Week is built for discovery—our audience loves hopping between studios, neighborhoods, and experiences throughout the city.
• Ticketing & Registration: San Francisco Design Week manages ticketing and registration to ensure a seamless attendee experience across hundreds of events. While free events are welcome, they tend to have higher no-show rates—we recommend charging a ticket fee, which you’ll specify in your application.
• What You’re Responsible For: Event production, insurance, and all associated expenses are your responsibility.
• First Time Participating? Be sure to read the FAQ below—it’s your best friend.
• Interested in Benefits as a Sponsor? Fill out our Sponsor Contact Form to learn more.
• General questions? Contact us General Contact Form.

Fee to host an event:

• Individual Event Hosts: $100
• Small Studios and Small Non-Profits (2-9 employees): $150
• Non profit Organization (10+ employees): $299
• For Profit Organization (10+ employees) : $399
• Studio Crawl: $199 Studio Crawl is a very special evening where attendees movw from studio to studio for a festive event of celebration and socializing. A very limited number of applications are accepted to join our Studio Crawl – make sure your if you choose Studio Crawl, your application stands out from the crowd! If you are not accepted, you can host a standalone Open Studio at another time instead.

Benefits of Participating as a Community Event Host:

San Francisco Design Week has a reputation of a carefully curated calendar with only the best of the best focusing on cutting edge innovation and thought leadership. Attendees trust our calendar as an valuable offering of memorable experiences. Acceptance into our program means we’ve vetted and approved of your program as making the cut. High five!

• A documented role in the 20-year legacy of San Francisco Design Week
• Be seen as a thought leader in one of the most vibrant and innovative creative communities in the world
• Includes a listing on our official calendar
• Permission to use our trademark: San Francisco Design Week
• Social media posts on instagram
• Inclusion on emails to our very robust list
• High visibility for your team/brand, product or project locally, nationally and internationally
• Recruitment opportunities by attracting top talent to your event
• Possible inclusion on our press releases and press articles

The Nitty Gritty Details / FAQ:

Below are the most common questions we’ve received over the past 20 years. If you’ve participated in years past, you can probably stop reading unless you need a refresher. If this is your first time applying to San Francisco Design Week, take a few minutes to read the info below!

What is San Francisco Design Week?

San Francisco Design Week is a festival which has taken place annually in June for the past 20 years. Our calendar features hundreds of events taking place at different locations throughout the region. It’s an opportunity to see behind the scenes of our communities top studios, design firms, universities, corporations and museums. Through events and thought leadership, the festival showcases the impact design has on innovation and our collective future as a society.

Who organizes SFDW?

SFDW is organized by Design Bay Area, a nonprofit 501c3 organization focused on community building. Design Bay Area brings together the San Francisco Bay Area design community, local and national design associations, local consulates, design universities, neighborhood associations and museums under one umbrella for the festival.

Types of Events

The annual festival program contains in person events including but not limited to: Panel discussions, Conversations/Fireside Chats, Presentations, Workshops, Brand Activations, Product Launches, Podcasts, Open Studios (not a part of the Studio Crawls), Game Shows, Walking Tours, Trivia Night, Live Art Installations, Field Trips, Networking/Happy Hours/parties and our infamous 2 Nights of Studio Crawls.

Participate by Hosting your own Community Event during SF Design Week

Hosting an event is an opportunity for you to produce your own original programming! The most well-attended events tend to engage a topic that provides valuable takeaways or includes speakers. Priority will be given to unique relevant topics which are top of mind to designers. Priority acceptance also goes towards event ideas which were created specifically for San Francisco Design Week and not recycled from prior, existing presentations.

Are you a member of a historically underrepresented community and want to participate but do not have the resources necessary? Contact us so we can help connect you with resources you can use to participate!

Types of Events we DO NOT accept:

• We do not accept conferences or full-day/multi-day events during San Francisco Design Week. The festival is designed to encourage exploration, and our attendees value the ability to move freely between multiple events, studios, and experiences throughout the city. If you’d like to partner on an all day, or multi-day event please contact us to discuss co-hosting or supporting your event at a different time of the year.

Apply to Host an Event FAQ

Are there restrictions on when I can schedule my event?

The following dates and times are NOT available for hosting your event:

• Tuesday, June 2nd after 6pm* (all events must end by 6pm due to our Opening Reception)
• Thursday, June 11th after 6pm** (unless you are registered as a Studio Crawl event)
• Friday, June 12th after 6pm** (unless you are registered as a Studio Crawl event)

*We are hosting an Opening Reception the evening of June 2nd and want you all to join us! We are not accepting Community Events on this evening. All community hosted events must end by 6:00pm

** Only Studio Crawl Events are on the calendar from 6pm to 9pm on June 11th and June 12th. Event applications for panels, workshops, happy hours will not be accepted between 6pm to 9pm.

Can I apply to host more than one event?

Absolutely! Please submit a new application for each event you plan to host.

Can I host an event during San Francisco Design Week even if it’s not listed on your calendar?

Only approved events who have gone through the application process have authorization to use the Trademarked San Francisco Design Week name and branding. San Francisco Design Week is a trademark registered by Design Bay Area.

What information do I need to start my application?

Make sure that you have everything you need before you fill out the submission form. We only accept complete event applications because your application submission auto-populates your event page on our calendar. Changes to your listing after submission may incur an EditingFee. Review the application form here for planning purposes.

What if I still have details to work out before finishing the application in time for the deadline or our speaker cancels?

The application deadline is crucial for our team create your event page and market events, as well as give attendees enough time to sign up and plan their week. If you’re struggling to finalize your event, or a speaker cancels, please contact us as soon as possible.

Did you miss the deadline but still have an event idea? Contact events@sfdesignweek.org

I have a very specific preferred date & time, but I haven’t finalized my event details. Should I submit an application anyway?

We curate the entire week to avoid similar event topics from overlapping and need to confirm all the information for your event at the time of application submission. Partially submitted events will not be accepted. Once an application has been reviewed and approved, it goes directly into our pipeline for our team to execute next steps.

Event Title

Events with a clear, direct focus tend to be the most successful as attendees can immediately tell what they are on the event calendar when they’re visually scanning offerings. Long titles will get cut off on the SFDW site, so avoid being too descriptive. Abstract titles are clever, but have less attendance! Consider including your brand in the title!

Example Title: How Adobe Design is shaping generative AI

Example Title: Experiments in AI – A Show & Tell at IDEO

Event Description

Like your event title, your event description should make it clear what attendees will experience at your event, and what they’ll get out of attending. Include a schedule and any giveaways or special guests. Don’t bury the lead and make sure attendees know what your event is about in the first few sentences so they can make a decision about which to attend.

Event Image

Keep it simple. No text and no logos in the main event image, and we really mean it. Our site is responsive and will not render correctly which is a poor reflection on your brand (and our festival). Your main event image is not an advertisement so don’t include info about the date, time, speaker names (these details will already be included on the event page).

Example: If your event topic is interior design, use an image of a great interior or the main designer being featured. If your event is a bit more abstract, simple colors and patterns or illustrations work really well. Remember, SFDW is for the visually-minded community, so a strong, well-designed image is important.

Preferred Dates and Times

Each year SFDW is made up of hundreds of events throughout the week. We do our best to give event hosts their preferred date and time, but sometimes we have to make adjustments based on the overall curation of the week.

A few things to keep in mind when thinking about your preferred event dates and times:

• If you’re worried about competing with a hundreds of other events, please consider avoiding evenings and hosting a morning or lunch event instead. You can also host an event earlier in the evening so that attendees can attend multiple events by stacking them. For example, if you host an event at 4:30 pm and end at 5:30 pm, attendees can still make it to another event that begins at 6:00pm. Help us help attendees get the most out of the festival!
• Mornings and daytime events are underutilized and a great way to stand out from the evening events, and can be as simple as hosting coffee with your design team. We also welcome more structured events earlier in the day such as workshops and lectures.
• We recommend that you submit a few dates and times so that we can make sure your event isn’t scheduled against another event of a similar nature. List your preferred date/time first on your application.

Length of Event

We recommend creating a sample schedule to determine the length of your event and include in your event description. For example, if you’re holding a panel discussion, consider both the check-in process, as well as discussion afterward and factor both into the total length of time of your event. If you want to go the extra mile, include the schedule in your event description.

• We do not accept Conferences or Multi-Day events during San Francisco Design Week. Our attendees want to be out attending as many events as possible during the festival and these types of events limit their ability to do so.

Does SFDW cover the costs of production for my event, including supplies, food, drinks, and snacks?

No. Each Community Host is responsible for their own expenses. If providing such items is a financial burden, we encourage you to find donations from your clients, partners or sponsors whenever possible.

Does SFDW provide volunteers for my event?

You will be responsible for finding and managing your own volunteers, including attendee check in at the door. We can send out a call for volunteers and send them your way prior to the festival, but you would be responsible for interviewing and managing your volunteers.

Does SFDW provide my registration list for my event?

Yes! We will supply you with an excel document of attendees first and last name who has registered for your specific event. You can also admit your own guests to your event by keeping your own VIP List on the side for your personal guests, staff, clients. We do not need a copy of your own attendee lists.

Venue

Can I apply to host an event if my venue isn’t confirmed yet?

We ask that you only apply once your venue has been confirmed. Host at your studio, reach out to a colleague to see if your team can utilize one of their spaces, or rent a venue.

What if I can provide a venue, but I don’t plan to host an event?

If you are offering your venue as a resource, please contact us. The events team can make the introduction if a Community Event Host has event content, but no venue. SFDW is not responsible for negotiating terms between a potential Community Event Host and a venue.

Capacity

Please indicate the actual number of attendees you can host at your event. We will add a percentage of seats to your total due to drop off rates and no-shows. Make sure to save space for your own personal guests and clients.

Application Fees for Community Hosts

Fee to host an event:

• Individual Event Hosts: $100
• Small Studios and Small Non-Profits (2-9 employees): $150
• Non profit Organization (10+ employees): $299
• For Profit Organization (10+ employees) : $399
• Studio Crawl: $199 (a very limited number of Studios are accepted to join our crawl – make sure your application stands out from the crowd!)

Why do I have to pay a fee and what does it cover?

The fees allow us to support you and your event by employing a main contact to help you along the way, a Public Relations agency to promote your brand and event, and additional support as needed. We’re here for you every step of the way, so thank you for your support! As a a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we rely on registration fees, sponsorship, donations and the goodness of others to produce this community design festival.

I want to support SFDW as an official Sponsor. How do I do that?

If you’re interested in being an official sponsor of SFDW, please fill out the sponsorship form and we will reach out with more details soon!

I’m not a designer, but I want to involve my design-savvy business or organization. Is there a way for me to do that?

ABSOLUTELY! Consider submitting your business or organization to our Design Site Page or Design Resource Directory or host an event by applying for our Call for Community Hosts.

>> Design Site Page
>> Design Resource Directory

What if I can’t afford the application fee?

NonProfits: Community Host Registration fees are reduced for registered nonprofit organizations with a verifiable nonprofit status. When filling out the application form, simply select nonprofit as the type of organization and enter your EIN number. Nonprofits without EIN number must include proof of a Fiscal Sponsors EIN.

San Francisco Design Week supports and encourages historically underrepresented communities to apply and be recognized on our platform. If you have any suggestions on how we might better accomplish this please contact us.

If you need financial assistance to apply, please contact us to be considered for a discount or waiver.

Is the Community Host Application fee refundable?

Community Event Host Application fees are non-refundable once an application is accepted. If your application has not yet been accepted, your application fee will be refunded minus 20% processing fee to cover the work which has already been accomplished on your behalf.

Editing fee

We understand that some changes to your event are out of your control, however changes to an event that has already been submitted and added to our calendar will incur an editing fee, starting at $75 and additional charges for major edits. Go easy on our small team, and finalize your details before applying.

Ticketing/Registration and Check-In

Who manages ticketing and registration?

SFDW handles ticketing for you through one consolidated platform so that the ticketing and registration process is consistent and streamlined for attendees. Each host will be given access to their event registration list 48 hrs and 24 hrs prior to your event, or when your event registration is full. We will also communicate with you throughout the registration process if your events registration is low and help you to promote even more to fill seats. Any communication from hosts to attendees will be managed through SFDW until we share your registration, at which point you will have your attendees registration details including email addresses.

Can I charge a ticket fee for my event?

Yes. We are no longer offering a OnePass to attendees (which was a process put in place for navigating the pandemic). Attendees must purchase tickets to each event they want to attend. We will ask for your proposed ticket price during the application process. Remember, free tickets result in empty seats. Enter the ticket fee amount on your application.

Who collects ticket sales?

San Francisco Design Week manages registration and ticket sales to create an efficient user experience for attendees. The revenue from these tickets is used to fund the nonprofit operational expenses of SF Design Week itself. This covers things like the website, marketing, staff, and the infrastructure that makes the festival possible. Your studio name will be added to our Community Partner page for extra promotion of your brand and as a resource for Bay Area design.

When you submit your proposal (with the exception of Studio Crawl Participants*), choose one of the following options after entering your ticket price:

• Option A: Donate 100% of ticket revenue to San Francisco Design Week (501c3). SF Design Week will manage registration and ticket sales.
  • The Terms: You donate all ticket revenue from your event back to San Francisco Design Week.
  • The Impact: 100% of proceeds go directly to Design Bay Area (501c3) to fund the festival’s operational costs. You receive the same community recognition as a donor/partner and may be eligible for a tax acknowledgment for your contribution.
  • Best for: Hosts who don’t have event-specific overhead and want to fully support the design community.
  • What you get: Your studio name will be added to our Community Partner page for extra promotion of your brand and as a resource for Bay Area design.

• Option B: Revenue Split A 50/50 revenue split on my event’s ticket sales, split evenly with San Francisco Design Week. SF Design Week will manage registration and ticket sales.(Paid via check 30 days post-festival).
  • The Terms: You receive a portion of ticket sales to help cover material expenses. 50% of proceeds go directly to Design Bay Area (501c3) to fund the festival’s operational costs. Your portion will be paid to you via check 30 days post-festival.
  • The Logistics: You will be paid your share via check 30 days after the festival’s conclusion.
  • Best for: Workshops with material expenses.

*Studio Crawl Participants: Due to the nature of our Studio Crawls, studios participating will not receive ticketing revenue. We’ve discounted the application fee to reflect this. All proceeds go directly to San Francisco Design Week to cover the costs of coordinating the studios and maps to make the event possible.

How can I be sure that I will have attendees?

Once your event is live, share the event to your network and promote on social media. We will also be promoting your event on social media, on our calendar, in our emails newsletters and monitoring ticket sales. We will notify you if your registration is low and needs a little extra marketing (which we can help with). You should also promote to your network! We will also add extra tickets to your event to “oversell” in order to make sure that seats are filled. When filling out the host application, include your target amount of attendees or the actual limit your space can hold. We will calculate available tickets based on historical no-show rates.

Promotion, Marketing and PR

What can I do to promote my event?

Promote your SFDW presence in advance via social media with the date of your event as soon as this information is available. Make a post about your SFDW participation in your blog or on your Instagram or Facebook page and tag us to re-share. Create an Instagram competition with free giveaways to increase the number of followers. Send out an email blast and invite your studio’s friends, clients, colleagues to join or help promote and spread awareness.

How does SFDW promote my event?

PR: San Francisco Design Week enlists a public relations agency to highlight and feature some of the most interesting Community Host events so make your application count! We cover the costs of our PR agency in part from Community Event Host Application Fees and Attendee Registration, but you should still consider working with your own in-house team or PR agency to promote your event as well.

Calendar, Digital Newsletters and Social Media: We’ll publish each approved Community event to our official event calendar, utilize our email list to market your event as well as our social media channels. While you’re promoting your event on socials, please tag us so we can re-post yours! Download our brand and theme templates to create your own digital newsletters and social media to get the word out!

Beware this Common Phishing/Scam

There have been scammers and phishing emails in the past attempting to ask hosts for additional information, payments offered in exchange for access their registration lists, please only respond to verified SFDW or Design Bay Area representatives.

A common recurring scam are various fake companies claiming to have San Francisco Design Weeks entire attendee lists: We’ve looked into this, and they are selling fake lists not affiliated with our organization. We NEVER sell attendee information and review our security features regularly. Don’t respond to these emails, never try to purchase San Francisco Design Week list, or your inbox will be flooded with many more similar scams and you’ll pay for fake, incorrect information.

Spread the word about SFDW

To actively join the conversation and help us promote your brand, we encourage you to use SFDW’s handles, hashtags, and logo in your communication on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram:

Instagram: @SFdesignweek  @design.bayarea

Hashtag: #SFDW #designbayarea #SFdesignweek

LinkedIn: San Francisco Design Week

LinkedIn: Design Bay Area

X Handle: @SFdesignweek @designbayarea
Hashtag: #SFDW #designbayarea #SFdesignweek

Facebook SFDW: https://www.facebook.com/sfdesignweek/

Facebook Design Bay Area: https://www.facebook.com/designbayarea/

Only approved Event Hosts who submit an application have legal use of our trademarked name, brand and logo through the end of this calendar year.

Contact SFDW

Read through all the FAQs but still have questions?

Contact us by filling out this form

We can answer your questions via email or schedule a time to speak to your team by phone or video! We’re here for you!

Apply Now