Design Week Birmingham celebrates its third year this week, Oct. 19–24. With a variety of events centered on all things design, the week should prove to have something for anyone interested in Birmingham’s tradition of creative arts.
Throughout the week, participants can experience a behind-the-scenes tour of the Design Week Birmingham Headquarters where the Top 50 Architectural Project by the American Institute of Architects Birmingham Area Firms Exhibit is currently on display. There will be an opening reception from 5–7 Monday evening to kick off Design Week. DWBHM attendees will also be able to view and vote on the winner of the Birmingham City Flag Project Exhibit at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Humanities building. Voting is open all week and the winner will be announced Sat., Oct. 24.
On Tues., Oct. 20, the Birmingham Museum of Art will open its doors to Design Week participants and the general public. Museum-goers can enjoy access to the David Puxley exhibit, which highlights the talents of Wedgewood’s first studio potter, for the rest of the week. During ArtBreak, BMA curator Graham Boettcher will lead a design-centric discussion, “Streamliners to the Space Age: Transportation, Technology and Mid-Century Modern Design.”
Among other happenings, Design Week Wednesday will shine a spotlight on textile and interior design with The Insider’s Guide to Oriental Rugs presented at Kings House Oriental Rugs. The BMA will welcome Natalie Chanin, owner and designer of breakout fashion house Alabama Chanin, to speak as part of The Hiden Lecture Series. Her lecture, “Mathematics, Magic and Mid-Century,” will focus on mid-century modern design.
The week continues on Thursday with an Adobe mobile device creativity workshop at SocialVenture followed by a Drink and Draw session with Spencer Nugent at Good People Brewing Company. Friday, Design Week will host a discussion and riding tour on Zyp Bikes with the creators of the new BikeShare program. Saturday’s highlights include two opportunities to participate in a fading advertisements tour of Birmingham led by Charles Buchanan, the author of Fading Ads of Birmingham and the second-annual FEAST, a community-action farm-to-table dinner.
For more information on Design Week Birmingham, including locations, times, ticket prices and a full schedule, visit dwbhm.com.