Vancouver takes a step away from its No Fun City appellative tonight, Saturday, and Sunday, with Vancouver Design Week(end). VDW is an interdisciplinary not-for-profit festival aimed at showcasing the benefits that design can bring to the public and private realm. This year brings particular cause for celebration, as VDW becomes an official member of World Design Weekend. Jennifer Cutbill, director + co-founder of VDW explains:
"The UK has a National Design Council. Helsinki has a Chief Design Officer. Barcelona has a Design Centre - with a mandate to invest in design as a strategic tool for innovation, economic excellence, and improving quality of life. Beyond attracting international attention to our world class design talent; participation in the WDWN gives us the opportunity to bring back inspiring examples of what’s possible when cities invest in the transformative power of design."
The weekend is separated into three walkable zones:
- East Vancouver, Railtown, and Strathcona
- Gastown, Chinatown, Crosstown, Downtown, and Yaletown
- South of False Creek
Events include:
Open Houses - A chance to experience some of Vancouver’s stand out spaces in a way beyond the everyday - through the lens of the dynamic design teams that created them. Some Open Buildings require registration, but all are worth the trip.
Open Studios - A unique opportunity to go behind the scenes with local design talent. Open Studios invite you to drop by (no RSVP required) to meet and greet designers in their working environment. See work in progress, learn how different designers approach problems in their domain, and make some new friends along the way.
Tastings - Gastronomic experiences are influenced by great design; and the collaborations between design palettes create dynamic conversations about taste and place. Tastings are a chance to access the inspirations behind the local lounges we love... amidst signature samples and a design conscious crowd. Some Tastings require registration.
Open Calls - Events created and produced by local designers, design organizations, design thinkers and makers! From portfolio critique to panel discussions to special VDW(knd)-editions of regular events, bring your mind and voice to the discussion. Some events require registration.
The calendar of events includes a dramatic range of worthwhile activities and is available here!
VDW Media Release:
Vancouver Design Week(end) 2017
Showcasing stand out design talent from the edge of the world
Vancouver, B.C. — Vancouver's official interdisciplinary design festival is back. After a successful first installation in 2014, Vancouver Design Week (VDW) is returning to showcase Vancouver’s defining design talent. This year’s festival will be an abridged program - a Vancouver Design Week(end) from May 12th - 14th. VDW will kick off with a public launch party Friday May 12th, co-presented by VIVA Vancouver, HCMA, the DVBIA, Roaming Dragon, Faculty Brewing and others; and will follow with two days of open door programming, featuring: Open Studios, Open Buildings, Tastings and an Open Call. Together these events will allow the public to engage with over 45 established and emerging talents from across the broad spectrum of Vancouver’s design community.
The full schedule and program is now live on our website.
