The Los Angeles Design Festival (www.ladesignfestival.org) (LADF) is proud to announce the line-up of events for 2013. With over 40 events planned throughout the city from June 13 – 30, 2013, the LADF – now in its third year - continues to grow, proving that the City of Angels has embraced its global status as a design capital. Events range in size and scope from special exhibitions, symposia, and film screenings to design tours, conferences and even a design-themed Ping Pong party. Also new this year, LADF has launched a new mobile app that allows visitors to receive updates about LADF events in real-time.
“We’re thrilled to see such a variety of events on the calendar,” states LADF CoFounder Michael Sylvester. “LADF is a young festival that is only just beginning to scratch the surface, so to speak. It’s a reflection of the rich diversity of creative talent in this city and we can’t wait to see how it will continue to grow.”
LADF 2013 Highlights include (in chronological order):
Pacific Standard Time Presents: Modern Architecture in LA
(June 13-30 | Throughout LA)
Pacific Standard Time Presents: Modern Architecture in L.A., an initiative of the Getty, is a collaborative celebration of Southern California’s lasting impact on modern architecture. It includes exhibitions and accompanying programs presented by seventeen area cultural institutions from April through July 2013. June programs are listed on the LADF calendar.
LA Design Caravan hosted by Chris Nichols and Lyft
(June 15 | Tour starts and ends at Griffith Park)
Author, civic booster, and LA magazine columnist Chris Nichols will lead guests on a special tour of LA’s hidden design gems; historical, current, and oddball. Lyft will provide complimentary pink-mustached rides. The design caravan will depart Griffith Park at 10am and return in time for a late picnic lunch at the Observatory. Tickets are $25/person and go on sale May 23.
DMI: Design Thinking Conference
(June 17-19 | Fairmont Miramar Hotel, Santa Monica)
The Design Management Institute brings its annual Design Thinking Conference to Los Angeles for the first time this year. The conference engages educators, researchers, designers, and leaders from every design discipline and every industry in an important dialogue about how design is transforming business, transportation, education and the public sector.
Big City Forum
(June 19 | Standard, Downtown)
Big City Forum is an interdisciplinary project that encourages conversation at the intersection of creative knowledge making and social engagement. This special LADF session will explore how design is intrinsically linked to visual language. The panel discussion will feature leading designers, publishers, and art historians in exploring and defining key questions dealing with design, history, identity, and community. Features speakers include Lauren Mackler and Brian Roettinger. The conversation will be moderated by LACMA’s Lisa Mark.
Never Built Preview Party
(June 20 | Union Station Harvey House, Downtown LA)
Join Never Built Los Angeles curators Greg Goldin and Sam Lubell for an exclusive preview of the upcoming exhibition at the Harvey House. Proceeds from the event go to support the Never Built Los Angeles exhibition that opens officially in July at the A+D Museum. Tickets cost $75.
Dwell on Design
(June 21-23 | LA Convention Center)
Dwell on Design is America’s largest modern design event. With more than 400 exhibitors, 200 speakers, 2000 products and an expected 30,000 attendees, Dwell on Design demonstrates how influential design is in every aspect of our modern world. A 2-day weekend pass costs $40.
AUS/USA/LAX 2013
(June 22 | Kim Sing Theater, Chinatown)
Quench and Flagship co-host AUS/USA/LAX 2013, an event highlighting the leading edge of Australian products, design, and culture. Moving beyond the stereotypes, Quench and Flagship have curated a scintillating mix of exciting next generation Australian designers and brands. AUS/USA/LAX 2013 features furniture, design objects, motorcycles and bicycles, electronics, fashion, food, wine and much more.
Pecha Kucha x Ping Pong
(June 26 | SPiN @ Standard, Downtown)
Pecha Kucha Night was devised in Tokyo in February 2003 as an event for young designers to meet, network, and show their work in public. This very special LADF Pecha Kucha, cohosted by de LaB and curated by Santino Medina, will give presenters from across the design disciplines 20 seconds to show 20 images, followed by a Ping Pong party hosted at SPiN LA, Susan Sarandon’s Ping Pong social club at the iconic downtown Standard hotel. Tickets cost $15/person and go on sale May 23.
Design Shopping Night
(June 27 | Throughout LA)
Selected design shops throughout Los Angeles open their doors for LADF visitors. Participating shops and showrooms will offer discounts, nosh and maybe even a bit of bubbly. Shop the best in modern design and discover new neighborhood shops with other design fans. Participating stores include A+R, HD Buttercup, Ilan Dei Venice, Matters of Space, Ligne Roset, Poketo, and more.
Chinatown Design Night
(June 29 | Chung King Road, Chinatown)
Chung King Road galleries, shops and studios open their doors late for an evening of art, design, and music. The annual design street party also serves as the official closing party for LADF. Among the highlights, TBWA\Chiat\Day’s Let There Be Dragons will host a rare open “house”, showcasing their bus-turned-mobile-creative-studio. Fifth Floor Gallery and California Home and Design magazine will host a closing party for Craft + Design, a special exhibition for the Furniture Society Symposium.
LADF has also launched a new mobile app for iPhone and Android phones. The app can be downloaded for free from iTunes or Google Play to get the latest breaking news and festival updates. It also features directions to the various event locations and exclusive notifications for smart phone users.
For a full list of events or to download the new app, go to www.ladesignfestival.org.
ABOUT LADF (www.ladesignfestival.org)
Los Angeles Design FestivalTM is an annual series of events staged around greater Los Angeles celebrating outstanding local and international design talent, organized by a brand agnostic non-profit organization of the same name.