Philly (Heart) Design.
Designing an exhibition to engage and grow the Philadelphia design community.
Client: Design Philadelphia Festival
Industry: Events
Services: Product & Service Design, Experiential and Visual Design, Sourcing and Manufacturing, Strategy Development
Design Brief.
Despite having a long and storied history as “the factory of the world,” Philadelphia did not have a design-focused festival. The founders of Design Philadelphia set out to change that and asked us to participate, so FutureTogether created an exhibition to showcase the work of local designers in our city.
Outcome.
Design Philadelphia featured Philly (Heart) Design as a signature event for the two years it was produced. This free, fun, and social event helped bolster the importance of a design amongst the local design community, curious citizens, and the press. The event was also a good incentive for students, makers, and professionals to showcase their talent in a curated and exciting venue.
Social Impact.
FutureTogether designed and managed the production of this highly successful event to put Philadelphia designers on the map. Our team scouted locations, managed the permits and designed the exhibitions, curating the design of hundreds of Philadelphia designers and makers. Philly (Heart) Design specifically provided young creatives a platform for their work and a place to meet other professionals, potential clients, and employers. Together we showed the diversity and creativity of an emerging design city.
Environmental Impact.
The event was held at multiple locations that were retrofitted for the exhibition with minimal intervention. All the displays were made from materials that would then be reused after the exhibitions ended.
Zero Waste.
Each exhibition was constructed with materials that could be reused at the end of the show. The use of materials such as cardboard boxes, polyester strapping, and pallets eliminated the waste associated with producing events as these were then used by our sister company, MIO This approach also helped keep our budget lean and the submission process free to all designers.
Dreamers & Makers.
The curation process involved our entire team. Our mission was show work with high visual impact and strong process; The objects constructed became a way to engage citizens with the design community and celebrate the innovation hidden behind studio doors.
Links & Press.