Hot on the heels of May’s packed agenda, the design set will certainly be staying busy this June. There’s a wide range of events to check out, kicking off with the London Festival of Architecture and Barcelona Design Week, and you can bet that everyone will be jetting off to Switzerland mid-month for the array of satellite fairs and activities that pop-up around the tentpole events, Art Basel and DesignMiami/.
Fairgoers at Design District in the Netherlands.
Ahead, AD PRO gathers up this month’s hottest design events to keep you in the know.
London Festival of Architecture
When: June 1–30
Where: London
Website: www. londonfestivalofarchitecture. org
The London Festival of Architecture bills itself as “the world’s largest annual architecture festival,” and with over 400 events around the city – most of which are free – it’s going to be major. Highlights include London Bridge Station walking tours; open studios in Clerkenwell, Fitzrovia, and other artsy neighborhoods; and the Great Architectural Bake Off.
Barcelona Design Week
When: June 5–14
Where: Barcelona
Website: www. barcelonadesignweek. com
The theme of this year’s Barcelona Design Week is “revaluing,” meant to encourage participants to be mindful about re-evaluating past models and ideas with fresh eyes. In its 13th year, the festival is co-organized by the Barcelona Design Center and Fostering Arts Design, and it will feature over 100 events all around the city.
Design District
When: June 6–8
Where: Van Nelle Fabriek, Rotterdam
Website: www. designdistrict. nl
More than just a trade show, Design District serves as the Netherland’s premier design event. For three days, Rotterdam’s Van Nelle Fabriek will play host to exhibitions from design academies, presentations from young designers, a lecture series, and more.
A booth from 2017’s Design District.
LA Design Festival
When: June 7–10
Where: Los Angeles
Website: www. ladesignfestival. org
The eighth annual LA Design Festival celebrates the City of Angels’ rich design culture with over 50 events, a podcast, and awards. This year will feature three pop-ups with returning label Atmosphere, as well as newcomers Tenzo and LA Original.
San Francisco Design Week
When: June 7–15
Where: San Francisco
Website:
This weeklong festival celebrates the Bay Area’s entrepreneurial spirit with a series of studio tours and other events showcasing architecture, product design, digital services, fashion, and more. Expect panels on AI and immersive design, designing for social good, and the future of mobility experiences, among other events.
Attendees at NeoCon in Chicago.
NeoCon
When: June 11–13
Where: Chicago
Website: www. neocon. com
Chicago’s most important commercial design fair is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with a series of celebrations, awards, exhibitions, and events. The three-day event is expected to draw 50,000 industry insiders to see the latest developments from 500 companies that specialize in hospitality, retail, healthcare, workplace, education, government, and public space.
DesignMiami/Basel
When: June 12–17
Where:Basel, Switzerland
Website:basel2018. designmiami. com
As the design counterpart to the iconic Swiss fair, DesignMiami/Basel is a global forum for collectors, gallerists, designers, critics, and curators. Balancing a competitive marketplace with robust cultural programming, the fair is known for presenting the best of high design, intermixed with art, fashion, and architecture twice a year in Miami and Basel.
The Future Perfect’s 2016 booth at DesignMiami/.
Art Basel
When: June 14–17
Where: Basel, Switzerland
Website: www. artbasel. com
The legendary Art Basel returns to Switzerland this year, showcasing work by 4,000 artists represented by 291 of the world’s leading galleries, including Paula Cooper Gallery, Gagosian, Hauser Wirth, Perrotin, and others.
Medellín Design Week
When: June 20–24
Where: Medellín, Colombia
Website: www. 4. medellindesignweek. com
The fourth annual edition of Medellín Design Week will feature a series of exhibitions, conferences, workshops, open studios, and a design forum. Though the festival is fairly young, it offers a chance to engage with Colombia’s emerging architects, designers, and urban planners.
303’s booth at Art Basel, 2017.
AIA Conference on Architecture
When: June 21–23
Where: New York
Website: www. conferenceonarchitecture. com
For design professionals looking to network and get inspired, this is the place to rub shoulders with leading architects, including Sir David Adjaye, Todd Williams, and Billie Tsien. In addition to seminars, the conference will host a series of workshops, tours, and networking events.
Malta International Arts Festival
When: June 23–July 15
Where: Valletta, Malta
Website: www. maltaartsfestival. org
As this year’s European Capital of Culture, Valletta is pulling out all the stops. There are cultural events happening year-round, but the best time to go is for the annual Arts Festival, which will include visual installations, dance performances, and concerts by Maltese and international artists at venues around the city.
