DC Design Week 2022
Industry: Art and Design
Overview: DC Design Week is an annual celebration of the DMV’s creative community, hosted by the American Institute of Graphic Arts. In collaboration with the DC Design Week team, I planned an in-person pop-up shop which featured the work of 20 local and emerging artists and 13 local art studios. With over 350 guests in attendance, attendees were given the opportunity to view and purchase work from each artist while also participating in a number of activities, such as block printing, dance instruction, and collage making. Guests were also given a number of giveaways from our event partners Artechouse, Custom Ink, and AIGA DC.
Ultimately, the pop-up event provided a wonderful platform to help showcase and celebrate the work of local artisans, with each exhibitor raising an average of $700 in sales within a 3-hour timeframe.
Responsibilities: Idea Conceptualization, Proposal Development, Artist Outreach, Venue Research
Neighborhood
The event was located within the Catholic University-Brookland neighborhood of Northeast Washington, D.C. As a popular arts district, this neighborhood provided quick and easy access to local art organizations and artisans who could serve as potential partners to help facilitate this event. It also gave the event the advantage of being closer to its target audience of local creatives, who would then be more inclined to attend given their close proximity to the event’s location.
Site Plan
As the event was hosted in partnership with the Brookland Arts Walk, 11 of its studios agreed to remain open during the event to host one pop-up exhibitor each directly in front of their storefront. Pop-up exhibitors were then given 6’x9’ tables, which they used to set-up the merchandise they intended to sell.
As 9 out of 20 pop-up exhibitors did not have previous experience selling their own merchandise, they were given the option of selling their merchandise on consignment with the help of participating studios. These studios would then place the items of of their assigned exhibitor on their store shelves and sell these items using their own POS systems.
Activations
The following activations were made available during the event:
Pop-Up Shop: Guests were provided an opportunity to purchase artwork from local artists and studios.
Block Print Workshop: Guests were taught to block print images onto t-shirts, tote bags, and other forms of merchandise.
Hip Hop Dance Instruction: Guests were taught the foundational grooves of Hip Hop dances from the 90’s and how they connect with the steps and grooves that derive from House dance culture.
Voter Registration: Guests were invited to register to vote with AIGA DC's Get Out to Vote team.
Giveaway Opportunities: Guests were given merchandise, discount codes and goodies from Artechouse, AIGA DC, Custom Ink, and Baked and Whisked!.
Venue
The event was ultimately hosted in partnership with the Brookland Arts Walk - a privately-owned pedestrian promenade, consisting of 27 art studios and museums. In accordance with this partnership, the DC Design Week team was permitted to host the event alongside the Brookland Arts Walk - free of charge - in exchange for the venue’s promotion within our event communications.
Marketplace Photography
Press Clips
October 20, 2022
Best Things to Do in the DC Area 10/20-10/23: Takoma Park Festival, Design Week Block Party, and LGBTQ Awards
DC Design Week Block Party. DC Design Week is hosting a pop-up block party with local creative Terratorie Maps + Goods. Guests can create their own custom block-print sketches, tote bags, and T-shirts, and enter to win ticket prizes to Artechouse (Fri, free, Brookland). In addition to the party, there will be wellness and design workshops throughout the weekend (Thurs-Fri, $20+, Downtown and Rock Creek Park).
October 20, 2022
12 Virtual And IRL Things To Do Around D.C. This Weekend
DESIGN BLOCK PARTY: DC Design Week is coming to a close, and they’re going out with a party. This Friday evening, they’re hosting a block party along Brookland Arts Walk. You’ll be able to block print a t-shirt or tote bag, take a design skills class and buy art from local vendors. (Brookland Arts Walk; 6 p.m.; FREE)