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SDF 2026 Call for Proposals
SDF 2026: August 15-20
Proposals Due: May 27, 5pm PT
Seattle is a city in a state of transition. Cultural shifts, ecological change, new technologies, and changing communities reshape the places we inhabit every day. Design does not exist outside of this movement — it responds to it, questions it, and helps guide what comes next.
The 2026 Seattle Design Festival theme, IN[FLUX], recognizes that we are living in a moment of transition. Flux suggests movement, instability, and possibility all at once. It reflects the ways our city is evolving and the role design can play in navigating change.
This year’s theme invites designers, artists, community members, and thinkers to explore four lenses within this shared framework:
- IN[FLUX] How can design respond to constant change and uncertainty?
- IN[HABIT] How do our routines, behaviors, and systems shape the way we live?
- IN[FORM] How do ideas take physical shape through design, materials, and space?
- IN[TENSION] How can design engage conflict, difference, and competing priorities?
Together, these lenses explore the forces that shape our city: movement and stability, structure and experimentation, agreement and disagreement. Through installations, conversations, and experiences across Seattle, the Festival invites our community to examine how design operates within these conditions and how it can help us imagine what comes next.
Who Is Invited to Submit?
Seattle Design Festival invites you to see yourself as a partner in shaping this year’s experience. Whether you’re a designer, artist, thinker, or maker—at any stage of your journey—we welcome ideas from everyone. If you have a creative way of engaging with the world, there’s a place for you here.
How can you share your passion for design and help us unleash the design thinker in everyone?
What Can You Propose?
SDF is looking for proposals to program the SDF Block Party — a two-day street fair at Lake Union Park, August 15 & 16, 10am-7pm. Proposals should demonstrate the relevance of design, promote a culture of collaboration, and empower communities to leverage design to make change. Your proposal doesn’t have to be polished! It is a place to bring forward your creativity and curiosity. SDF is a community for all levels of designers. Learn more about the Festival Goals here ➔.
Mainstage Program➔
Propose a talk, skill share, or film
Pop-Up Experience➔
Propose an outdoor activity, an informal talk, or a thought-provoking demonstration
Built Installation➔
Propose a temporary outdoor Built Installation
Key Dates & Deadlines
April 9 — Design Mixer @ citizenM SLU➔
May 7 — Design Mixer @ citizenM SLU➔
May 19 — Design Mixer @ Smith Tower➔
May 27 — Call for Proposals Closes
June 5 — Notification of Festival Acceptance
June 15 — Final Marketing Material Edits Due
July 30 — SDF Partner Social
August 14 — Built Installation Load-In @ Lake Union Park
August 15-16 — SDF Block Party
The Festival kicks off with our flagship event- the SDF Block Party- but the celebration continues through August 20, featuring additional Mixers and of course, our Closing Party August 20!
How Are Proposals Selected?
The Seattle Design Festival is shaped by its community and organized by volunteers, many emerging designers, who create the Call for Proposals each year. Submissions are reviewed by the Festival Planning Team, which selects those that:
- Align with the annual theme
- Highlight design thinking
- Empower communities
- Foster collaboration and promote interdisciplinary design
Proposals are assessed for:
- Quality: Is the concept well-developed and thoughtful?
- Feasibility: Can it be successfully executed within the constraints?
- Engagement: Does it create meaningful interactions with visitors?
- Clarity: Is it well-structured and participatory?
- Process: Does it communicate the design process?
- Accessibility: Does it ensure inclusion for diverse participants?
Each year, over 100 program partners—including designers, firms, nonprofits, and students—contribute to the festival. The best proposals often come from collaborations between designers and community groups, creating lasting impact.
Accepted Festival Partners will be notified by June 5.
Proposal Tips
- Start early! The most successful proposals develop over time
- Attend a mixer! Our Spring Design Mixers provide invaluable feedback
- Be specific about how your proposal connects to this year’s theme
- Consider accessibility from the beginning of your design process
- Partner up with community organizations for greater impact
- Ask questions if you’re unsure about any requirements
Submission Fees & Support
In order to submit your proposal, you are required to pay a non-refundable submission fee. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, your proposal fee supports our commitment to successfully promote and sustain the Festival and ensures it is free and/or affordable to everyone. Need funding support? Non-profit/emerging creatives can apply for up to $500 in financial assistance.
Sponsors submit for FREE
Sponsorship starts at just $1,000! See our 2026 Prospectus➔ to learn more about the benefits of Becoming a Sponsor➔. As one of the many benefits of sponsorship, submission fees are waived!
Funding support
Funding support is available for Non-Profit/Emerging Designer submitters only. Applications will be reviewed by the Festival planning committee. Support of up to $500 will be awarded to selected partners, shortly after acceptance to enhance the inclusivity and access of the Festival. To apply, simply indicate your interest and share the impact these funds will have on your submission form.
Questions?
Connect with the Planning Team + Other Potential Festival Partners
The Spring Design Mixers➔ are spaces for the Seattle design community to respond to the way we see our world. Come with your ideas, find your collaborators, and leave with inspiration. This is a gathering of the city’s most creative minds coming together to connect and fuel the Seattle Design Festival’s energy.
Review Past Festival Experiences
Each Festival element has highlighted successful experiences you can look to for inspiration in our 2025 SDF Archive➔ (scroll down there to see Mainstage➔, Pop-Up➔, Built Installations➔ event pages) . You can also visit the SDF YouTube channel➔ to get a sense of what the Festival is like!
The Festival Planning Team➔ is here to answer ALL your questions via the Submittable messaging system. You can reply to the emails you receive from that system or login at seadesignfest.submittable.com➔.
SDF 2026 FAQ
The Festival Planning Team evaluates all submissions based on alignment with the annual theme, design thinking, community empowerment, collaboration, quality, feasibility, engagement, and accessibility. All applicants receive feedback upon acceptance.
Join us for our Spring Design Mixers➔, review the resources linked out in this document, and visit the SDF YouTube channel➔ to get a better sense of what the Festival is like!
Yes, you can and should communicate consistently with the Festival Planning Team to finalize scheduling, logistics information, and any updates to your proposal.
An equitable, inclusive, and accessible festival experience creates meaningful participation opportunities for everyone, regardless of their abilities, backgrounds, socioeconomic status, or identities. Considerations could include, but are not limited to:
- Content developed by and representing diverse cultures, perspectives, and traditions
- Multi-sensory engagement options (touchable elements, audio components)
- Audio descriptions available via QR codes to describe built installations
- Accommodation for different heights and mobility needs
Refer to our Accessibility Page➔ and Universal Score for practical recommendations and tips to ensure your installation is inclusive.
No. Product marketing is prohibited, and you are not allowed to sell items. Participation in the Festival is driven by the goals that align with our mission.
Fees are automatically waived for non-profit organizations and students. For-profit organizations can get fees waived by Becoming a Sponsor➔ (starting at $1,000).
You can find links to examples throughout this Call for Proposals on the Mainstage➔, Pop-Up➔ and Built Installation➔ pages, through videos from past partners are available on SDF YouTube channel➔ or via last year’s event pages found as you scroll down on the SDF 2025 Archive page➔.
