Detroit will once again transform into a citywide celebration of design as Design Core Detroit hosts the 16th edition of the Detroit Month of Design, running throughout September 2026. This year’s theme, “Design Moves the Future”, marks a shift from theory to application, examining how design can function as an active tool for navigating our rapidly changing world.
Recognized as the only UNESCO City of Design in the United States, the city will welcome community members and visitors alike into its neighbourhoods, studios and public spaces through an expansive series of exhibitions, installations, open studio tours, new product debuts, panel discussions, creative workshops and more.
The full program, curated by Design Core Detroit with additional events to be announced, brings together both established institutions and grassroots initiatives alike to honour Detroit’s design heritage while ushering in its next chapter.
Highlights include:
- Design exhibitions and initiatives from Cranbrook Academy of Art, Design Core Detroit, Michigan Central, Detroit Institute of Arts and I.M. Weiss Gallery
- Community-driven activations from Hope for Flowers, Solar Party Detroit, Cadillac Arts Centre, Ideate Cultural Arts Festival, Pophouse and Lions & Rabbits Center for the Arts
- Talks from influential voices such as Daniel Liden (Designer and Author), Tracy Reese (Designer) and Elise DeChard (Architect and Founder of END Studio), as well as panel discussions presented by Gensler Detroit, Stamps MDes, FOR THE LOVE OF and more
