DETROIT MONTH OF DESIGN

Throughout September, Detroit Month of Design’s “City of Design” celebrates creativity, innovation, and community through design  

(DETROIT, MI — September 2, 2025)—Design Core Detroit presents the 15th annual Detroit Month of Design, taking place through the end of September. Recognized as the only UNESCO City of Design in the United States, Detroit has transformed into a citywide design destination, activating neighborhoods with a dynamic lineup of exhibitions, installations, studio tours, product launches, artist talks, hands-on workshops, and design-forward gatherings. 

This year’s theme “City of Design” honors Detroit’s global design legacy while showcasing the community shaping the future of how we live, move, build, and connect. The month-long program encompasses design from industrial to furniture to architecture to interiors to everything in between—music, arts, and culture. 

“Detroit’s design story is constantly evolving, rooted in a deep legacy but driven by experimentation, collaboration, and community. This year’s Month of Design reflects the city’s creative momentum from major institutions to neighborhood-led projects, showing how Detroit’s designers are reimagining everything from public space to product design, and shaping a future that’s more connected, inclusive, and innovative,” says Kiana Wenzell, co-executive director of Design Core Detroit.

More than a celebration of design history and culture, Detroit Month of Design serves as a platform for dialogue, experimentation, and collective growth, amplifying local perspectives while inviting global exchange. Curated by Design Core Detroit, the month-long celebration of design offers events from legacy brands, institutions as well as community-driven activations and partners celebrating Detroit’s design history and future. Detroit Month of Design’s full event offerings can be found here, while highlights include:

• Design exhibitions and initiatives from Cranbrook Academy of Art, Design Core Detroit, Michigan Central, and I.M. Weiss Gallery 
• Community driven activations from Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Belle Isle Conservancy, and Black Bottom Archives
• Talk initiatives from influential voices such as Michael Ford, Ini Archibong, Dario Calamese, and Brittanie Dabney (Founder of Ecosphere Organics and Environmental Scientist, Ph.D) 
• Amy Auscherman, Director of Brand Archives and Heritage at MillerKnoll, and Suchi Reddy, founder of Reddymade, join as an honorary members of the Curatorial Committee for 2025

“Detroit has been central to the story of modern design, producing some of the most influential architects and designers of the twentieth century. The city’s enduring legacy of innovation and creativity continues to shape design culture today. I’m honored to support an organization that celebrates and advances this remarkable tradition,” says Amy Auscherman, Director of Global Archives and Brand Heritage at MillerKnoll.

“Detroit has long been inspiring to my own practice, and a spark plug for generations of creatives and innovators. I’m thrilled to shine a light on the incredible energy, resilience, and creativity of this place,” says Suchi Reddy, founder of Reddymade Architecture and Design. “Detroit was my first intellectual home when I moved to the United States — from my days studying architecture at the University of Detroit, SACD to winning the Spirit Lifetime Achievement Award there — and continues to be a source of inspiration and collaboration.” Reddy joins as an honorary member of the Curatorial Committee with an inclusion of her work in the Designing Detroit exhibition at the College of Creative Studies’ (CCS) Valade Family Gallery. Reddy received an honorary degree from CCS earlier this year.

DETROIT MONTH OF DESIGN BY THE NUMBERS:

• 1,000 Participants
• 21 Exhibitions
• 27 Experiences
• 4 Tours
• 28 Talks
• 7 Open Studios
• 10 Workshops
• 6 Installations

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