San Francisco Design Week

Dynamic Minds: Creative Brilliance Seminar Series | Studio visits to Aidlin Darling Design, ODADA and Bohlin Cywinski Jackson [BCJ]
2024-06-01 13:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | San Francisco, CA, San Francisco, CA, United States
This tour includes studio visits to Aidlin Darling Design, ODADA and BCJ. 5pm Reception. Participation will converse, meet, discuss idea, and meet the designers and architects.
About the Studios
AIDLIN DARLING DESIGN:
In 1998, co-founders Joshua Aidlin and David Darling began the studio crafting furniture together in a San Francisco woodshop. Today, this passion for shared making anchors the studio’s collaborative process. The approach to each project is client and site specific, and includes open communication among clients, consultants, fabricators, and builders to achieve innovative, unexpected results.
ADD pursues an architecture of restraint that engages the senses, connecting us to place and to ourselves. In a world that is increasingly dominated by the visual and virtual, the firm sees design as a multisensory experience, one in which the way something feels, smells and sounds is as important as how it looks.
Exploring how the studio’s work moves beyond the visual, Braden King’s film Aidlin Darling Design: Architecture for the Senses, captures the firm’s ethos and commitment to creating soulful environments.
ODADA design studio:
Founded in 1987 by Orlando Diaz-Azcuy, ODADA is an internationally recognized commercial and residential interior design firm. In 1990, David Todd Oldroyd and Greg Stewart became principals, with recent additions to the leadership team. Together they extend the firm’s strong architectural and design foundation, bringing a clean, focused approach to contemporary and traditional projects. The firm has a staff of 20 architects and designers to assure highly personalized attention to each client. The company currently works on projects around the world, including decades-long clients in London, San Francisco and Honolulu.
BCJ architects, ending with a reception.
BOHLIN CYWINSKI JACKSON: Founded in 1965, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson is an architecture practice with studios in Wilkes-Barre, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Francisco, and New York. We work with our clients to understand the nature of their unique circumstance—the people, place, and materials that inform each design—to help translate collective aspirations into built environments that are greater than the sum of their parts. The resulting architecture feels simultaneously grounded and transcendent, carefully crafted to embody resiliency, and adapt to an ever-changing world. Our work has received more than 800 regional, national, and international awards for design, including four American Institute of Architects (AIA) COTE Top Ten Awards

About Diane Dorrans Saeks:
Learn more about Diane Dorrans Saeks on Instagram @dianedorranssaeks
Diane is the best-selling author of 25 design books, including ‘Michael S, Smith Elements of Style’ (Rizzoli) and her two most recent, “Jean-Louis Deniot Interiors’ (Rizzoli) and ‘Parisian by Design (Rizzoli). She is currently working on new books on design, style and interiors.

Diane is a founding editor with C California Style magazine, and the Design Editor of PAPERCITY magazine. She has written for Vogue, Vogue Living, The New York Times, the Financial Times, Veranda, Harper’s Bazaar, the Nob Hill Gazette, and many others.

Addresses AND LOCATIONS provided upon ticket purchase: Car pooling planned
Please note, locations are not suitable for children. All guests must bring a photo ID with them to the event that matches the name you registered under. Attendees will be emailed details on meeting location prior to the event.

ABOUT THE DYNAMIC MINDS SERIES:
The Dynamic Minds Seminars Series produced by Diane Dorrans Saeks is 4 separate afternoon events over a week from June 1 through June 8 2024.. Please acquire an ‘all access pass”; and then register for each event.
Creativity, ideas, inspiration and exploration, balanced with in-depth knowledge, remain essential elements in today’s interiors and architecture.
Inspiration and intense engagement are evident throughout four special afternoon seminars at the studios of leading California architects, a new showroom, and interior designers in San Francisco.
During the architecture and design studio on-site events in the series, attendees will meet San Francisco’s leading architecture and design practitioners and view work and discuss process.
Studios include Aidlin Darling Design, The Wiseman Group, BCJ, ODADA, Geoff de Sousa Design and de Sousa Hughes, and BAMO, Ken Fulk, Martin Kobus, Studio Collins Weir and The Office of Charles de Lisle. These 4 intense on-site seminars take place on different afternoons over 4 days and require separate ticketing. In each intense on-site seminar, we have a program to meet the designers and architects, to engage with new projects, and new highlights from work on the boards.
Each studio visit is an opportunity to encounter advanced ideas, creative procedures, and design and architecture concepts and advanced thinking.
Attendees will experience the full range of aesthetics, from pure modernism to richly informed classical design, traditional, bold, minimal, and eclectic expression. All are based on intellectual and intuitive disciplines. A highlight will be viewing and discussing works in process, as well as newly completed interiors and unpublished new residences.
We will see how studios fully use newest technical advances such as VR and AI, and 3D printing (and continue to sketch) in their design concepts and in interactions with their clients. Participants will view and engage with latest thinking on sustainability, ‘green’ practices, and the use of tech and an appreciation for sketching.
At the end of each day, participants are invited to a private in-studio reception and celebration, offering the opportunity to meet designers and their staff and to discuss in-depth ideas and views.

Led by best-selling author and leading interior design journalist/ author Diane Dorrans Saeks, this year’s interior designer program follows on the great success of last ten year’s programs.

Diane’s seminars offer a very rare opportunity to tour top architecture and interior design studios, meet with designers and architects one-on-one.
Dynamic San Francisco architecture and design firms on the seminar roster include Aidlin Darling Design, BAMO, and The Wiseman Group and BCJ, as well as leading interior designers Ken Fulk, Martin Kobus, Charles de Lisle, Susan Collins Weir, ODADA. A special visit to the new De Sousa Hughes NEW showroom is a highlight.

Each highly accomplished designer and architect will speak of works in progress, new work, and what they see happening in the near future. Studio visits celebrate achievement, creativity, the power of ideas, and the power of optimism. This program is not appropriate for children under 16, as they are architecture & design study tours of studios, with formal presentations made by company principals.

ADDITIONAL SEMINARS:
Learn more about other events in the series –
June 4, 1pm too 5pm: San Francisco
A studio visit is led by best-selling author Diane Dorrans Saeks at the Magic Factory headquarters of Ken Fulk, and his recently restored St Joseph’s Arts Society church, which is a studio/ atelier/ entertainment place. The venue is a lavish site for discussions on design, altruism and philanthropy.
June 7, 1 pm to 5 pm: Sausalito
Studio visits to The Office of Charles de Lisle, Studio Collins Weir, and culminating with a reception and refreshments at Martin Kobus Studio:
June 8, 1 pm to 5 pm: San Francisco
The design studios of The Wiseman Group and BAMO, and Geoffrey de Sousa Design and de Sousa Hughes, new showroom to view newest projects including modern and classical design, architectural historic restoration, and new design collections. BAMO has invited us to end the day with a reception.

Navigating Uncertainty: Insights from UX Frontlines
2024-06-03 11:00 - 12:00 | California
As the design industry grapples with the aftermath of widespread layoffs and a challenging job market, there’s a pressing need to address the experiences, insights, and concerns of designers and researchers. Join our group of diverse, industry leading designers and researchers as they share their journeys, lessons learned, and advice for navigating these turbulent times in the product industry.
We’ll also talk about the work they do; the industries they’re in; their day to day; the critical need for diversity and inclusion; and what keeps them going. These are people who are doing the work; pushing pixels; interviewing; launching. Join and connect with the folks doing the work and navigating the market every day.

Event format
An hour long, virtual panel. The audience will be able to submit questions throughout that will be addressed in the second half of the discussion.

Meet the panel
Moderator: Mariam Khan is a seasoned product and design leader with over 16 years of experience. Passionate about mission-driven work, Mariam champions people-first approaches and has a proven track record of delivering next-gen products across all company stages. Dedicated to fostering growth and innovation within the design community, she also serves as a mentor and advisor, supporting startups and nonprofits in scaling teams and finding product-market fit, while fostering professional growth along the way.
Panelists:
Jason Branch is a designer, creator and storyteller with over ten years of experience designing for financial inclusion and economic empowerment . As a senior product designer at Square he leads design for debit/credit card and trust experiences.
Connie Wong is a Full-Stack Product Designer and Design Leader with 25 years of experience in Design and Tech in Silicon Valley, from Dot.com to Web3. She has launched award-winning products and applications used by millions and has led design teams at all stages of company growth along with running her own design studio. Trained by Nielsen-Norman Group, she’s an advocate for intuitive design processes. An artist and creator by nature, she is also a world-renowned Electronic Dance Music DJ and producer.
Sarah Fathallah is a designer, researcher, and educator, who specializes in applying participatory research and design in the social sector. Their work has included projects in over 25 countries with nonprofits, governments, and social enterprises such as the International Domestic Workers Federation and the International Rescue Committee, on topics ranging from labor rights, to reproductive health, housing justice, and foster care. Drawing from this body of work, they write and speak about engaging vulnerable communities, design ethics, trauma-responsive approaches to design, and the need for an ethic of care and an abolitionist politic in design. In addition to their research and design practice, Sarah also currently serves as faculty at the California College of the Arts and Pratt Institute.
Key Takeaways

Gain insights into the challenges and opportunities presented by layoffs in the UX industry.
Explore representation and diversity in fostering inclusive design practices.
Receive actionable advice and strategies for navigating the current job market and advancing in UX careers.
Engage with a diverse panel of industry experts, spanning both for-profit and non-profit sectors, to gain multifaceted perspectives.

(REGISTRATION ENDS FRIDAY 5/31) Beyond the Sparkles: Tips on building a “boring” product equity practice with Adobe
2024-06-03 16:00 - 17:15 | Adobe, 601 Townsend St, San Francisco, CA, 94103, United States
REGISTRATION ENDS FRIDAY 5/31 so we can send the list to security at Adobe!
Developing a product equity and inclusion practice is often an effort that attracts many passionate volunteers, yet few people who can dedicate themselves full-time to the work. Because of that, there can be pressure to create shiny, quick wins that lead to practitioner burnout and miss the mark with communities we strive to serve.

In this session, Es Braziel, Staff Experience Researcher, Product Equity, Adobe, will illustrate what it means to do product equity work with cross-functional teams and drive a sustainable practice. The session will include small group discussions, where attendees will be invited to reflect on learnings with those around them.

Doors at 4pm
Presentation from 4:15-4:45
Mixer 4:45-5:15
Want to add on the Adobe Create Now event starting at 5:30pm? See below!!!

Attendees will be treated to food, drink, and swag and are welcome to stay for the Adobe Create Now event directly after Beyond the Sparkles (register here for the additional Adobe Create Now event which starts at 5:30pm).

The Emergency Was Curiosity: In Defense of Useless Projects
2024-06-04 10:00 - 11:00 | FourOneNine, 419 10th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103, United States
A talk and Q&A with investor and producer Christie George about The Emergency Was Curiosity, an illustrated book report inspired by Jenny Odell’s How to Do Nothing. Christie’s project could be categorized as useless – there was no client, no publisher, no commissioning editor; she did this project for no other reason than that she wanted to.
During the summer of 2020, inspired by ideas about attention in Jenny’s book, Christie began making hand-drawn illustrations, watercolors, and collages as a creative response and a means to develop her own practice of attention. What began for her as a “book report” turned into a body of artwork, an exhibition, an event series and, more recently, a group project.
This talk will ask each of us: what is worth paying attention to? Christie will mount a defense of your most useless projects – the work that is hard to categorize, commodify, or sell – and challenge you to honor and follow your own creative attention.
Speakers:
Christie George, Investor/Producer

Innovations in Immersive Reality Experiences
2024-06-04 10:00 - 11:00 | FourOneNine, 419 10th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103, United States
On June 4, 2024, the designers and artists of the Captivate Exhibition will have presentations and conversations about their work in person at 10:00am in the Four One Nine library and outdoor garden area upstairs.
The subject matter of attention is on our minds–how it’s limited, the new oil, too short, precious–the list goes on and on. The assortment of interactive experiences featured in Captivate aim to provoke discourse and introspection about what captivates our attention, and the myriad outcomes those engagements have in our lives. From serious to playful, deeply personal to highly public, speculative to practical, delightful to utilitarian, these diverse works have something to captivate each of you!
Presented by California College of the Arts, EPACENTER, and Mortati Design

NOTE: This event requires climbing 2 flights of stairs to attend. There is no elevator or lift available.

Captivate: 1 Day Exhibition
2024-06-04 10:00 - 21:00 | FourOneNine, 419 10th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103, United States
On June 4, 2024, come and view this exhibit by the designers and artists listed below at our main space at FourOneNine. No registration needed, just swing by and let the check in volunteer know you are here to see the exhibit or register for the one of the events taking place in the same space as the exhibit. The exhibit will also be on display during the Official San Francisco Design Weeks Opening Party, also at FourOneNine.
The subject matter of attention is on our minds–how it’s limited, the new oil, too short, precious–the list goes on and on. The assortment of interactive experiences featured in Captivate aim to provoke discourse and introspection about what captivates our attention, and the myriad outcomes those engagements have in our lives. From serious to playful, deeply personal to highly public, speculative to practical, delightful to utilitarian, these diverse works have something to captivate each of you!

Memory Care Experience Station
Maria Mortati and Scott Minneman
The Experience Station provides multisensory media experiences to people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, captivating them with sensations from activities, places, and things from their past. Memory care clients exhibit a marked uptick in mood, social engagement and attentiveness, based on hundreds of trial sessions with the prototype.

BY YOU
Thomas Euyang
By You explores a speculative media landscape where shows are not only recommended based on tastes and preferences but also remade in real time to fit a viewer’s emotions. Through the lens of a reporter, the project examines how this technology and its downstream effects through four organizations: Limbic, Neulu, the American Federation of Audiences, and CINE46.

NEW EARTH HOTLINE
Cole Ryder
New Earth Hotline is an ongoing public art project conducted on the streets of San Francisco that solicits voicemail messages from the city’s inhabitants, creating a vast repository of public opinion. At the heart of the project is a deceptively simple, but incredibly important, question: “What do you know is true in this world?”

Wanderer’s Guide to the Ocean and Islands
Mingrui Cao
Wanderer’s Guide to the Ocean and Islands is an expansive multimedia narrative that delves into the interplay between memory, geography, and identity through the metaphor of the ocean. This project not only serves as a storytelling platform but also engages users in an immersive experience, prompting them to navigate and discover the fluid landscapes of memory and imagination.

Emotopia: A Journey of Self-discovery
Yuxuan Lei
Emotopia: A Journey to Self-Discovery is an interactive experience inspired by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Journalling, and Mindfulness. By perceiving one’s emotions through personal reflection and engaging gameplay, this experience aims to captivate and guide players towards deeper self-awareness and empathy

Lantern: The Light Guiding ADHD to focus
Patrick Qiu
“Lantern” is a mixed reality experience designed to harness the unique cognitive strengths of adults with ADHD, providing immersive attention guidance and task management to enhance productivity and emotional regulation. Leveraging the benefits of mixed reality, Lantern supports ADHD users’ work in an obliging way — by captivating their attention — highlighting their potential and supporting effective workflow management.

Focused Breath
Farzad Kargaran
Focused Breath explores the convergence of technology and human experience, using breath and embodiment to captivate attention and reveal the beauty of our humanity. Through engaging human-machine interactions, it aims to challenge preconceptions and invite a deeper connection to ourselves and the world around us.

Moon | Stars | Flora | Fauna | Electrical Box Stories
EpaCenter, Sara Aguilar, Vida Amanat, JD Beltran, & Helen Hererra
For this public art project, the City of East Palo Alto commissioned Epacenter’s Sara Aguilar, Vida Amanat, JD Beltran, and Helen Hererra to collaborate in creating original paintings of flora, fauna, and space themes that will adorn all of the city’s electrical boxes and serve as backdrops for a delightful AR public art experience. The artist team worked with hundreds of children and youth in East Palo Alto public schools from kindergarten through high school, who created claymation sculptures which—upon the passing public activating the electrical boxes with their phones through a QR code—will dance, crawl, swim, shine, and sparkle, all to an original soundtrack created by East Palo Alto high school bands and musicians.
EPACENTER, Sara Aguilar, Vida Amanat, JD Beltran, Valarie Duran, Helen Hererra-Montano, Alysa Madrigal, Cristina Velazquez, and Trishia Ybarreche-DeLuna
For this public art project, the California Arts Council and the City of East Palo Alto commissioned EPACENTER’s Sara Aguilar, Vida Amanat, JD Beltran, Valarie Duran, Helen Hererra-Montano, Alysa Madrigal, Cristina Velazquez, and Trishia Ybarreche-DeLuna to collaborate in creating original paintings of flora, fauna, and space themes that will adorn all of the city’s electrical boxes and serve as backdrops for a delightful AR public art experience. The artist team worked with hundreds of children and youth in the community and in East Palo Alto public schools, from kindergarten through high school, to create claymation sculptures that will activate and dance, crawl, swim, shine, and sparkle on the electrical boxes when an embedded QR code is scanned, all to an original soundtrack created by East Palo Alto high school bands and musicians.
Epacenter.org

On June 4, 2024, the designers and artists will have presentations and conversations about their work in person at 10:00am in the Four One Nine library and outdoor garden area upstairs.

Attending to Intuition
2024-06-04 11:00 - 12:00 | FourOneNine, 419 10th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103, United States
An interactive workshop helping creatives hear, recognize, strengthen and pay attention to their intuition with Four One Nine founder and creative consultant and coach, Sonya Yu.
Our inner voices are constantly begging for our attention. In the face of strong (and not always accurate) emotions like fear, anxiety, excitement, and even joy, how do we notice and recognize our intuitive voice, allowing it to guide us to authentic, aligned decision-making?
In this hour-long workshop, Sonya will help participants articulate these inner voices and feelings, work through real-life situations they’re encountering, and ultimately answer the questions: What does authentic intuition sound like and how do I learn to trust it?

NOTE: This event requires climbing 2 flights of stairs to attend. There is no elevator or lift available.

ABOUT SONYA:

Sonya Yu is the founder and visionary behind Four One Nine, a thriving creative ecosystem that is dedicated to fostering culture and supporting artists. As a creative coach and consultant, she frequently speaks at arts and educational institutions on protecting and expressing one’s ingenuity.

Named one of ArtNews’ Top 200 Collectors of 2023 and one of Cultured Magazine’s 2023 Young Collectors, Sonya currently serves on the nonprofit boards of SFMOMA, The Hammer Museum and is an active member of the Dia Leadership Committee.

Analog Intelligence with Everett Katigbak / Anthropic
2024-06-04 11:00 - 12:00 | Four One Nine, 419 10th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103, United States
Everett will explore the need for human craft and creativity in the age of AI. While artificial intelligence has made exponential strides, the talk will discuss how the best AI future should augment and amplify human skills, not replace them. As more AI companies emerge, designing for AI brands doesn’t mean everything must be AI-generated, but rather, the design process can be more collaborative and efficient with clients, teammates, and AI assistants.
Everett is the Creative Director at Anthropic, and was previously the Executive Producer at Stripe where he helped build their publishing arm, Stripe Press. He’s also a co-founder if the Analog Research Laboratory, a print studio that integrated analog techniques into Facebook’s brand and company culture.

This event is hosted by DesignBayArea.

Begin with the end
2024-06-04 12:30 - 13:30 | FourOneNine, 419 10th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103, United States
PROWL is an industrial design and research studio creating new solutions for people and the planet by employing materials, processes, and technology more responsibly. Our approach to regenerative design is holistic, derived from a system-wide perspective that uncovers new solutions through knowledge-sharing across industries and distinct expertise. Instead of asking how we can do “less bad,” we ask how we can do “the most good”. To that end, we begin with the end –– to fully understand what the next life of each product, material, or space we design could become. Because we expect an afterlife that gives equal weight to design and its regeneration.
In this conversation, we will talk through our methodologies, some common hurdles that exist that get in the way of building responsible products, and how we approach pushing past them.
Lauryn Menard + Baillie, Co-Founders

Event hosted by DesignBayArea

Let’s Make Book Reports! A Zine-Making Workshop
2024-06-04 12:30 - 13:30 | FourOneNine, 419 10th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103, United States
Inspired by Christie George’s book report The Emergency Was Curiosity, we’re going to make our own. Bring a beloved book or find inspiration in one of the books in the Four One Nine Library. It doesn’t have to be your favorite book, just a book you’d like to remember.
We all have things that we’re paying attention to, that we’d like to remember and that we’d like to share with others. A book report is a way to focus your attention on what you most loved about a book and how you felt when you read it. We’ll talk about book reports as a way to practice paying deep attention and learn how to make a simple zine from a single sheet of paper!
Christie will be joined by designer Julie Tinker from Hope Lab who collaborated with her to make a DIY book report station at the enchanting Clio’s Bookstore in Oakland.
What to bring: Bring a book you’d like to remember. We’ll provide the rest of the materials.
NOTE: This event requires climbing 2 flights of stairs to attend. There is no elevator or lift available.

Dynamic Minds: Creative Brilliance Seminar Series | KEN FULK studio: St. Joseph’s Arts Society
2024-06-04 13:00 - 17:00 | San Francisco, CA, San Francisco, CA, United States
A studio visit is led by best-selling author Diane Dorrans Saeks at the Magic Factory headquarters of Ken Fulk, and his recently restored St Joseph’s Arts Society church, which is a studio/ atelier/ entertainment place. The venue is a lavish site for discussions on design, altruism and philanthropy.
The tour includes a visit St. Joseph’s Arts Society (tour led by new director, Martin Strickland), and a visit to the Julian Lennon photography exhibit. This is a restored former basilica. The visit also details the restoration, re-design and re-purpose of this historic structure.
About Ken Fulk:
Ken Fulk and his 80-person firm recently restored an historic Classical 1913 basilica to launch the Saint Joseph’s Art Society, a nonprofit where artists in varied media can create and show their works in a soaring sunlit space, superbly restored from floor to cupola. International artists’ multi-media work is presented. The venue is a design showcase and a community gathering space.
Ken Fulk is a celebrated designer renowned for his intricate interiors and memorable hospitality brands. Over the past 25 years, his firm, Ken Fulk Inc., with a team of 80 in San Francisco and New York, has achieved global recognition for its diverse projects, from residential spaces in Mexico to hotels in Provence. Fulk, listed on Architectural Digest’s AD 100 and other prestigious design lists, has also creatively directed numerous personal events such as weddings and anniversaries. Besides his design work, he operates as a co-proprietor and creative director for various notable properties, and in 2018, he founded Saint Joseph’s Arts Foundation to support local artists. His future projects include launching a plant-based restaurant and a performance venue in Wine Country, and reopening The Chrysler Building’s Cloud Club.

“This creative polymath’s extraordinary visual imagination has vaulted him to the peak of the interior design profession.”
— Cara Greenberg, Introspective magazine (May 30, 2022)

About Diane Dorrans Saeks:
Learn more about Diane Dorrans Saeks on Instagram @dianedorranssaeks
Diane is the best-selling author of 25 design books, including ‘Michael S, Smith Elements of Style’ (Rizzoli) and her two most recent, “Jean-Louis Deniot Interiors’ (Rizzoli) and ‘Parisian by Design (Rizzoli). She is currently working on new books on design, style and interiors.

Diane is a founding editor with C California Style magazine, and the Design Editor of PAPERCITY magazine. She has written for Vogue, Vogue Living, The New York Times, the Financial Times, Veranda, Harper’s Bazaar, the Nob Hill Gazette, and many others.

Addresses AND LOCATIONS provided upon ticket purchase: Car pooling planned
Please note, locations are not suitable for children. All guests must bring a photo ID with them to the event that matches the name you registered under. Attendees will be emailed details on meeting location prior to the event.

ABOUT THE DYNAMIC MINDS SERIES:
The Dynamic Minds Seminars Series produced by Diane Dorrans Saeks is 4 separate afternoon events over a week from June 1 through June 8 2024.. Please acquire an ‘all access pass”; and then register for each event.
Creativity, ideas, inspiration and exploration, balanced with in-depth knowledge, remain essential elements in today’s interiors and architecture.
Inspiration and intense engagement are evident throughout four special afternoon seminars at the studios of leading California architects, a new showroom, and interior designers in San Francisco.
During the architecture and design studio on-site events in the series, attendees will meet San Francisco’s leading architecture and design practitioners and view work and discuss process.
Studios include Aidlin Darling Design, The Wiseman Group, BCJ, ODADA, Geoff de Sousa Design and de Sousa Hughes, and BAMO, Ken Fulk, Martin Kobus, Studio Collins Weir and The Office of Charles de Lisle. These 4 intense on-site seminars take place on different afternoons over 4 days and require separate ticketing. In each intense on-site seminar, we have a program to meet the designers and architects, to engage with new projects, and new highlights from work on the boards.
Each studio visit is an opportunity to encounter advanced ideas, creative procedures, and design and architecture concepts and advanced thinking.
Attendees will experience the full range of aesthetics, from pure modernism to richly informed classical design, traditional, bold, minimal, and eclectic expression. All are based on intellectual and intuitive disciplines. A highlight will be viewing and discussing works in process, as well as newly completed interiors and unpublished new residences.
We will see how studios fully use newest technical advances such as VR and AI, and 3D printing (and continue to sketch) in their design concepts and in interactions with their clients. Participants will view and engage with latest thinking on sustainability, ‘green’ practices, and the use of tech and an appreciation for sketching.
At the end of each day, participants are invited to a private in-studio reception and celebration, offering the opportunity to meet designers and their staff and to discuss in-depth ideas and views.

Led by best-selling author and leading interior design journalist/ author Diane Dorrans Saeks, this year’s interior designer program follows on the great success of last ten year’s programs.

Diane’s seminars offer a very rare opportunity to tour top architecture and interior design studios, meet with designers and architects one-on-one.
Dynamic San Francisco architecture and design firms on the seminar roster include Aidlin Darling Design, BAMO, and The Wiseman Group and BCJ, as well as leading interior designers Ken Fulk, Martin Kobus, Charles de Lisle, Susan Collins Weir, ODADA. A special visit to the new De Sousa Hughes NEW showroom is a highlight.

Each highly accomplished designer and architect will speak of works in progress, new work, and what they see happening in the near future. Studio visits celebrate achievement, creativity, the power of ideas, and the power of optimism. This program is not appropriate for children under 16, as they are architecture & design study tours of studios, with formal presentations made by company principals.

ADDITIONAL SEMINARS:
Learn more about other events in the series –
June 1, 1pm-5pm: San Francisco
Studio visits to Aidlin Darling Design, ODADA and BCJ
5pm Reception. Participation will converse, meet, discuss idea, and meet the designers and architects.
June 7, 1 pm to 5 pm: Sausalito
Studio visits to The Office of Charles de Lisle, Studio Collins Weir, and culminating with a reception and refreshments at Martin Kobus Studio:
June 8, 1 pm to 5 pm: San Francisco
The design studios of The Wiseman Group and BAMO, and Geoffrey de Sousa Design and de Sousa Hughes, new showroom to view newest projects including modern and classical design, architectural historic restoration, and new design collections. BAMO has invited us to end the day with a reception.

Attention: A Design x Venture Panel with Founders & Funders
2024-06-04 13:30 - 14:30 | FourOneNine, 419 10th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103, United States
Hosted by DesignBayArea, you’ll hear from founders, funders, and design executives at some of the most exciting startups and funds in the Bay Area in an exciting fireside chat.
Panelists:

Jo Marini CEO, Founder & MBA Professor at Mothership Materials: a climate-era ingredients manufacturer that’s designing biodegradable next-generation materials for consumer goods products through its patented, flexible nanotechnology platform.
Elizabeth Laraki Design Partner, Electric Capital: over 15 years of executive experience leading design teams and shaping core products at Facebook, Google, and YouTube. A few of the key projects she’s led include building Facebook’s Social Impact products, evolving Facebook’s privacy tools, and shaping the first versions of Google Maps.
Jenny Ji, Head of Design at Orb

Moderated by:

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Tara Tan

General Partner at

Strange Ventures

Climate Carrot or Sustainability Stick? SFSU Explores Strategies for Shifting to Sustainable Design Practices
2024-06-04 13:30 - 14:30 | FourOneNine, 419 10th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103, United States
This fall, San Francisco State University School of Design will launch the first materials library on the West Coast dedicated solely to sustainable materials: the SFSU Sustainable Materials Learning Library. SFSU Students and faculty in design have spent the last two years collecting physical material samples from groundbreaking sustainable materials innovators in countries as far flung as Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Germany. The sustainable materials in the library now include “leathers” made from cactus, kombucha, mushrooms, and pythons, concrete from hemp, band-aids from bamboo, and even sustainable bio-glitter!
In this conversation, SFSU Professor Fernando Carvalho and students Cole Galvin and Maria Nguyen discuss persuasive design strategies for creators, product designers, and architects—like developing products from biomaterials or offering a resource such as the SFSU Materials Learning Library, as well as a current effort underway to compel education on sustainable building materials for all new building construction in collaboration with the University of California, San Francisco and the City of San Francisco. In this conversation we will discuss strategies of both persuasion and regulation in hopes of compelling the creative community to make the critical shift to more sustainable design products and practices.

NOTE: This event requires climbing 2 flights of stairs to attend. There is no elevator or lift available.
————————————————
“Climate Carrot or Sustainability Stick? SFSU Explores Strategies for Shifting to Sustainable Design Practices”

San Francisco State University School of Design
Professor Fernando Carvalho
Maria Nguyen [SFSU Student]
Cole Galvin [SFSU Student]
https://www.sfsusustainablematerials.org/

Curating Curiosity: How Technology Engages Us with Art w/ Cheng Xu the Asian Art Museums First Curator for Games and Tech
2024-06-04 14:30 - 15:30 | FourOneNine, 419 10th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103, United States
Join Cheng Xu, an artist and engineer who creates tools for facilitating self-expression, as she reflects on her recent transition into a curatorial practice at the Asian Art Museum. Watch voices take shape, strangers make eye contact, and museum visitors attempt to sandwalk, all by the magic wand of tech. Cheng will share insights about technology’s role in the context of a contemporary museum and its potential to spark curiosity, encourage creativity, and engender deep reflection on our society.
https://floating.pt/
January 2024 Cheng Xu Joins Asian Art Museum as First Curator for Games and Technology
Event hosted by DesignBayArea

Shifting the Venture Status Quo Workshop
2024-06-04 15:00 - 16:30 | FourOneNine, 419 10th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103, United States
Using design to shift the venture status quo today and building for the future, hosted by DesignBayArea.
Join our workshop, led by:

Jo Marini Jo Marini CEO & Founder at Mothership Materials, MBA Professor at CCA MBA in Design Strategy & Parsons The New School. Mothership Materials transforms food processing waste into the world’s most sustainable ingredients, fuels, and feedstocks through Trace™, their patented technology platform.
Jinney Kho, Director of Experience Design & Strategic Initiatives at Mothership Materials
Laura Ogle, Futurist and Innovation Strategist

NOTE: This event requires climbing 2 flights of stairs to attend. There is no elevator or lift available.

Generative AI Panel w/ Adobe, Uber, Uber Freight
2024-06-04 15:30 - 16:30 | FourOneNine, 419 10th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103, United States
Join us for a lively discussion around Design, Strategy, AI, and Emerging Tech with some of the most exciting startups and design companies in the Bay Area in this exciting fireside chat.
Moderator:
Alana Washington, Product Design Director, Board Chair at Design Bay Area
Panelists:
Danielle Morimoto, Sr Design Manager, Machine Intelligence and New Technologies (MINT), Adobe Design
John Lunsford , PhD Lead Researcher, Personal Safety and AI at Uber Design
Isaac Leverett, Senior Product Designer, Uber Freight

This event is hosted by DesignBayArea

(Re)Designing Obama
2024-06-04 16:30 - 17:30 | Four One Nine, 419 10th St, San Francisco, California, 94107, United States
In one of their proudest moments in the studio’s trajectory, Manual has evolved the Obama Foundation brand identity with a comprehensive redesign ahead of the Obama Presidential Center’s opening in 2026. Join Hashem Bajwa, Chief Creative Officer of the Obama Foundation, alongside Tom Crabtree, Founder, and Vanessa Lam, Design Director, from Manual. We’ll share the story behind the identity, talk about the role of design in helping engage and mobilize people, and share the beginnings of the dynamic design system Manual is proud to have created with the Foundation.

Service Design Network Happy Hour
2024-06-04 16:30 - 18:30 | Gott’s Roadside Embarcadero, One Ferry Building The Embarcadero S, San Francisco, CA, 94111, United States
The SF Chapter of the Service Design Network would like to formally invite you to mingle with fellow designers at the Gott’s Roadside at the Ferry Building for a Happy Hour, on June 4th, 4:30-6:30p. Hoping the whether is nice there is outdoor seating that we will gather at, with the option of indoor seating if we aren’t so lucky. Gott’s has a great selection of alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as food that you can choose from. We look forward to seeing you there.
Join us in celebrating the global Service Design Day with this year’s theme of “Do Good – Give Back.” During this event, we’ll gather to explore how service design can be used for good in our communities. Whether you’re a service design pro or new to the field, come mingle and exchange ideas during this happy hour.

She wants more: How FemTech is gaining, and keeping, women's attention
2024-06-04 17:30 - 18:30 | Four One Nine, 419 10th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103, United States
A showcase of the top FemTech products now and in the future
With Theresa Neil Founder of Femovate

Official Design Week Opening Night Party
2024-06-04 18:30 - 21:00 | Four One Nine, 419 10th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103, United States
Join us for the Official San Francisco Design Week Opening Party, hosted by DesignBayArea. We’ll gather, see old friends and make new connections! Many of our speakers and VIPs will be in attendance. Join us for live music by DJ heyLove, socializing, a photo wall and an exhibition and swag. Tickets are limited so make sure to register before it sells out! This event is included in your OnePass!
Beverages and light snacks courtesy of our awesome partners in printing, Hemlock!

Design-a-thon for ALRP
2024-06-05 14:00 - 18:00 | Skona Advertising, 147 Natoma Street, San Francisco, CA, 94105, United States
Please join us in a celebration of creativity and community as we come together to bring attention to the AIDS Legal Referral Panel (ALRP), a non-profit organization that’s been close to our hearts for two decades. As part of our Sköna Forward initiative, we’ve provided the creative design concepts for ALRP’s annual gala for the past twenty years.
This year, we invite designers, creatives, and enthusiasts alike to collaborate alongside our design team in real-time to help ideate and craft the design concept for this year’s 41st anniversary gala. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a budding talent, your unique perspective and skills will make a difference in empowering ALRP to continue their invaluable work in serving the HIV/AIDS community.
Snacks and beverages will be provided to help keep those creative juices flowing. Please bring your own laptop.
2-3pm: Meet and mingle, drinks
3-5pm: Workshop
5-6pm: Wrap up

Climate Circle for Designers at the Presidio (and chance to win free yoga!)
2024-06-05 15:00 - 16:00 | Presidio Main Parade Lawn, 210 Lincoln Blvd, San Francisco, CA, 94129, United States
The climate crisis impacts us all differently. Acknowledging our climate emotions can help refresh our spirits and open the path for creativity. Join us for a restoring hour in a Climate Circle, a little pause in the Design Week buzz. Hosted by Maria of Flourish, this small gathering will take place in nature on the beautiful Main Parade Lawn in the Presidio.
This will be a guided, small group discussion. We are holding space to acknowledge our emotions around climate change, connect with others and rejuvenate. This practice builds a sense of community and shared meaning to address our climate anxiety, grief and joy.
Bring a blanket to sit comfortably on the lawn, and feel free to grab a coffee or snack from the foodtrucks beforehand. Whether you’re a climate design warrior or just looking to soak up some positive vibes, this Climate Circle is a chance to connect with each other in the beautiful outdoors. Look forward to seeing you there!
BONUS: Attendees will be entered into a raffle for a FREE 5-class pack from our generous friends at HAUM Yoga to continue your practice.

Meet on the Presidio Main Parade Lawn at Montgomery and Lincoln Blvd side across from the food trucks. Ample public transport to Presidio Transit Center or large paid parking lot. https://presidio.gov/visit/getting-to-and-around-the-park

Eventbrite Presents: The Art and Science of Human Gathering
2024-06-05 16:00 - 18:00 | Eventbrite Headquarters, Presidio SF, Building 103 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, California, 94129, United States
Join us at Eventbrite headquarters located directly in the San Francisco Presidio, directly across from the lush park green and with stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge, for an enlightening evening that explores the evolving landscape of human connection. This event delves into the changing dynamics of how we gather, influenced by technology and shifting social behaviors. Our panel of designers will discuss how these changes are considered in today’s design process to create more meaningful interactions. Join us as we explore three facets of connection and gathering through the lens of design. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights and engage with industry leaders on the future of gathering.

ERICA TANOV: The Fine Art of Collaboration — The dynamics of successful creative partnerships
2024-06-05 17:00 - 19:00 | Erica Tanov Studio, 1808 Fifth Street, Berkeley, CA, 94710, United States
Join clothing & lifestyle designer ERICA TANOV, and her collaborators for a lively conversation and visual presentation, moderated by acclaimed design writer DIANE DORRANS SAEKS. They will explore the art of creative collaboration for home design and fashion collections. In addition to Tanov, panelists include three talented creative women: interior designer ELENA DENDIBERIA, co-founder of Studio Ahead; textile artist AMY KEEFER, the ‘Beyond Trend’ Coordinator and Textiles Studio Lead of Creative Growth and artist EMILY PAYNE.
ERICA TANOV is a woman-owned company led by its namesake founder, which recently celebrated 30 years in business. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Erica Tanov is a designer of clothing and homeware collections. Working with the finest luxurious fabrics and materials, embracing meticulous construction and subtle detailing, the designer is always drawn to a raw, natural beauty. Erica Tanov collections are available at the designer’s Berkeley retail boutique, and now also at her new Berkeley studio, a carefully curated space, which showcases the full breadth of her own designs, including wallpaper, architectural tiles, furniture, bedding, and fabric collections, as well as vintage ‘finds’ (furniture, jewelry, & accessories). Instagram: @ericatanov
DIANE DORRANS SAEKS is the bestselling author of twenty-five design books, including “Parisian By Design”, “Jean-Louis Denior Interiors”, and “Michael S. Smith: Elements of Style”. She was a founding editor of Metropolitan Home and Garden Design magazines. DORRANS SAEKS is interior design editor for PaperCity and an editor with C MAGAZINE. She has long-standing creative relationships with leading California and international designers. She has a large following on her Instagram: @dianedorranssaeks
ELENA DENDIBERIA is co-founder of interior design studio Studio Ahead where she leads creative work, focusing on custom details. She is an internationally exhibited artist with a sensual approach to art and design. Elena brings together the tactile experience of her art practice with a design narrative that evolves through close collaboration with artists, craftspeople, and fabricators. Instagram: @studioahead
Textile artist AMY KEEFER, the ‘Beyond Trend’ Coordinator and Textiles Studio Lead of Creative Growth, explores the intersection of art and apparel, viewing clothing as an extension of oneself and a medium through which personal histories and allegiances are revealed. She holds an MFA from California College of the Arts. An advocate for wearable art in all forms, Keefer joined Creative Growth, a pioneering non-profit organization dedicated to supporting artists with developmental disabilities, in 2016. Since then, Creative Growth’s annual runway show has expanded into a generative fashion department within the studio, partnering with important artists, brands and designers across the country. Founded in 1974 in Oakland, California by Elias Katz and Florence Ludins-Katz, the organization was established with a mission to utilize art as a primary means for individuals with disabilities to express themselves within a safe and nurturing community and gain professional gallery exposure. Creative Growth operates as both studio and gallery that not only showcases the works of its 140+ artists but actively promotes their inclusion into major collections and institutions globally, such as MoMA, the Smithsonian and the recent historic acquisition by SFMoMA. Sales from the gallery directly fund artist support and studio operations, helping to sustain and expand this vibrant creative community. @creativegrowth
EMILY PAYNE grew up in Mill Valley, Calif., and Amherst, Mass. She received her B.A. from Oberlin College in Ohio and her M.F.A. in Printmaking and Book Arts from San Francisco State University in 1999. Her work can be seen at the Seager Gray Gallery in Mill Valley, the SFMOMA Artist Gallery in San Francisco, the Kala Art Institute and the Cecile Moochnek Gallery in Berkeley. She lives and works in Berkeley, Calif. Instagram: @emilypayneart

Photo: Molly Haas

Design Week Open House with Letterform Archive
2024-06-05 17:00 - 20:00 | Letterform Archive, 2325 3rd Street, Floor 4R, San Francisco, CA, 94107, United States
Where does your design inspiration come from? Maybe it’s time to get off the internet and into the library! Letterform Archive holds one of the world’s best collections of graphic design and typography artifacts. We’re welcoming the Design Week community for bites, drinks, and a peek into the Archive. Be here by 6:00pm for a show-and-tell of rare advertising, branding, and other attention-grabbing gems from the collection.

Product Design For A Circular Economy: A Practical Guide w/ Tact Product Dev, Whipsaw, Informal, Google, Logitech and more
2024-06-05 17:00 - 20:00 | Informal, 55 Grace Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103
Arguably, the most pressing issue our planet will face in the next 100 years is to address the massive human-created impacts from the last 100. Product designers have a lot to answer for. With so much information and opinion about “sustainability” and the “circular economy” how can a product designer cut through the chatter and the greenwashing to make informed, impactful design decisions in their daily practice?
This event is a panel discussion to help the product design community understand the importance of their role in the circular economy and to lay the groundwork for a practical approach to sustainability in new product development.
Panelists discuss highlights from their professional experiences about the complexity of implementing best practices in design for a circular economy and share examples of how product designers can drive positive change.
Panelists
Courtney (Akemi Takashima) Der, Sustainable Materials & Design Strategy
Mike Elam, Director of Mechanical Engineering, Whipsaw
Carsten Frauenheim, Repairability Engineer, iFixit
Ingve Holmung, Head of Design, Sustainability at Logitech
Jon Lake, VP of Engineering, Tact
Andrew Zee, Former Product Sustainability Lead, Google
Tom Keegan, Program Manager, Tact Product Development (Moderator)

Co-sponsored by Tact Product Development, Whipsaw, and Informal

Design Collaboration: Aer + Box Clever
2024-06-05 17:00 - 21:00 | Box Clever, 285 7TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, California, 94103, United States
Aer + Box Clever invite you to an exclusive reveal of their bay area design collaboration, Aer’s bespoke Carry-On suitcase. Join us for an inspiring evening at the Box Clever studio to see the premium product line in all 5 launch colorways, and learn about our commitment to designing and delivering a quality modern product for a new generation of smart travelers. Aer + Box Clever is a San Francisco design collaboration written in the stars. Meet the founders of Aer and Box Clever, while enjoying food, drinks, and a behind the scenes look at the design process.
The Aer Carry-On will be available starting May 13th at their retail stores (SF, NYC, London) and select retail partners globally.

Designer Swag Swap with Playbook
2024-06-05 17:30 - 20:00 | GroundfloorSF, 455 Valencia St, San Francisco, 94103, United States
Welcome to SF Design Week: Designer Swag Swap hosted by Playbook!
Come meet and greet other designers—product designers, UX/UI designers, creative directors, and art directors. Anyone in the creative industry is welcome to join! Swag NOT required, just come hang out and score some!
Join us for a fun evening of swapping designer goodies with fellow designers. Bring your team’s SWAG like stickers, prints, notebooks, and more to trade with others. This event is perfect for showing off your team’s cool SWAG and meeting new designers in the SF community. Don’t miss out on this chance to score some designer swag while saying hello to other creatives. We also have exciting speakers lined up and a fun way to share your SWAG ideas with other teams. See you there!

​Would you like a booth to lay out your SWAG and a slide to tell us about your team? Submit a request to participate as a team:
https://forms.gle/BLCKKqkf8WCRV3x47

Women in Design SF Exhibition
2024-06-05 18:00 - 21:00 | Jettison Creative, 47 Jeff Adachi Way, San Francisco, 94103, United States
IDSA’s Women in Design SF Chapter is hosting a show of outstanding work from our community of Bay Area women designers at Jettison Creative. A wide range of works will be on display – encompassing various fields such as Industrial Design, Design Research, User Experience, Architecture, Visual Design, Material Design, Textiles, Apparel, Craft, Furniture, Art, and more.

Attend to _____.
2024-06-05 19:30 - 21:45 | frog, 1011 3rd St, San Francisco, California, 94158, United States
The attention economy has you. Your focus is being monetized every minute of every day. The only escape is to slow down, put away the social media, and place your focus on ____. What should you attend to? Find the answer at frog, and enjoy smart design conversations over cocktails and eclectic beats.
Directions & Address
frog (1011 3rd St #300) is located a block up from Oracle Park’s Lot A (74 Mission Rock Street, Mission Bay San Francisco, CA 94158). Parking is $18 between 12am and 6pm. Use the QR codes that are located around the parking lot to pay or use the machines by the pedestrian entrance on 3rd street.
By Muni
If you would like to take public transportation from San Francisco frog is located between the 4th and King stop on the N MUNI line and the Mission Rock stop on the T MUNI line.
Caltrain
We are a couple blocks from the 4th and King Caltrain Station.
BART
Get off at the Embarcadero station and transfer to the N or T MUNI lines (stops listed above).Biking
There are spots to park and lock your bike up and down Third Street, you’re also welcome to store your bike inside our office.
