The Seattle Design Festival (SDF), formerly known as Design in Public, was founded in 2011 to celebrate all the ways that design makes life better for Seattle, and to nurture relationships among multidisciplinary designers, civic leaders, business innovators, community organizers, educators, artists, and activists.
Through a broad range of events developed by our community partners, we are able to engage a diverse cross-section of the people that live, work, and play in our city. SDF believes that design is for everyone, and its benefits should be accessible, intersectional, and informed by a diverse public.
To learn more about past Festivals, visit our Festival Archive page.
SDF 2023 at a Glance:
- 10,660 Attendees*
- 6 days of Festival programming + 6 mixers throughout the year!
- 30 Festival Sponsors
- 95 Festival Partners
- 348 designers, including some from multiple cities and over 4 different countries
- 13+ design disciplines
- 79 Festival Programs: 1 Closing Party; 6 Mixers; 37 Built Installations; 28 Pop Up Experiences; 7 Virtual Mainstage Programs
- Covered by major Seattle publications in 32 press mentions, including The Seattle Times, The Urbanist, Crosscut, International Examiner, and on air at KNKX.
Volunteer your time to bring the Festival together! We will be soliciting applications for our Festival Planning Team in the next few months if you’re looking for a long-term commitment. If not, consider joining us next summer as a day-of volunteer!
Sponsor the Festival to demonstrate your commitment to the Seattle design community, and help us unleash the design thinker in everyone to illuminate Seattle’s challenges and ignite action.
Respond to our call for proposals in the spring to be considered for the 2024 Seattle Design Festival. Last year we had partners propose over 60 installations, pop-up experiences, virtual discussions, and mixers that will be happening during the Festival.
We aren’t just a single moment in time! There are SDF activities running through the year. Are you subscribed to our e-news? If not, you might be missing our Design in Community series, updates about public planning meetings, and other exciting engagement opportunities.
On board for all of that, but also want to know about the annual Festival?
February- Annual Theme Announced
April- Call for Proposals Opens
May- Close for Proposal Closes
June- Festival Calendar Launches
August- 2024 Seattle Design Festival Connect with community and emerging designers at our Festival events!
Seattle Design Festival envisions a culture of design that fosters equitable, resilient, and thriving communities. To achieve this vision, it is critical that we cultivate and sustain an inclusive environment rooted in trust, mutual respect, and accountability.
To support this, SDF and AIA Seattle worked together to develop a Community Standard, to support our growth as members of this shared community.
It is the expectation that all Seattle Design Festival contributors agree to uphold and integrate these standards in all Seattle Design Festival-related activities and shared spaces (committees, site visits, programs, discussions, community events, etc.). We are grateful to everyone for helping further our mission, values, and goals!
We prioritize accessibility as we plan all of our Festival events, and require all Festival Partners to prioritize safety, inclusivity, equity, and accessibility when designing their experiences. However, we are constantly aiming to increase support to our community. If you have any specific concerns that aren’t addressed on event pages, please reach out to us at info@seadesignfest.org.
The Festival is only possible through generous support from our donors and sponsors. Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and other ways to give.
When you attend Seattle Design Festival events, you are entering an area where group photography, audio, and video recording may occur. By entering the event premises, you consent to such recording media and its release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction thereafter.
When 4 or less adults are being photographed in an image – or any number of children – our photographers will inform the subjects verbally of their representing the festival and asking for consent/parental consent. They will also have individuals fill out photo release forms.
These media materials may be utilized in SDF publications, news releases, online platforms, and other communications aligned with SDF’s mission only.
Contact info@seadesignfest.org with any additional questions.