Design Core Detroit is back to present the 15th annual Detroit Month of Design from September 1—30, 2025. Recognized as the only UNESCO City of Design in the United States, Detroit will once again transform into a citywide design destination, activating neighborhoods with a dynamic lineup of exhibitions, installations, studio tours, product launches, artist talks, hands-on workshops and design-forward gatherings.
This year’s theme, “City of Design,” honors Detroit’s global design legacy while showcasing the community shaping the future of how we live, move, build and connect. The month-long program encompasses design from industrial to furniture to architecture to interiors to everything in between — music, arts and culture.
“Detroit’s design story is constantly evolving, rooted in a deep legacy but driven by experimentation, collaboration and community,” says Kiana Wenzell, co-executive director of Design Core Detroit. “This year’s Month of Design reflects the city’s creative momentum from major institutions to neighborhood-led projects, showing how Detroit’s designers are reimagining everything from public space to product design, and shaping a future that’s more connected, inclusive and innovative.”
The full program, curated by Design Core Detroit, includes legacy brands, institutions, as well as community-driven activations and partners celebrating Detroit’s design history and future. Highlights include:
- Design exhibitions and initiatives from Cranbrook Academy of Art, Woodward Throwbacks, Design Core Detroit, Michigan Central and I.M. Weiss Gallery
- Community-driven activations from Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Belle Isle Conservancy, Solar Party Detroit and Black Bottom Archives
- Talk initiatives from influential voices such as Michael Ford (Architect and Educator), Ini Archibong (Industrial Designer and Artist) and Brittanie Dabney (Founder of Ecosphere Organics and Environmental Scientist, Ph.D)
- Amy Auscherman, Director of Brand Archives and Heritage at MillerKnoll, joins as an honorary member for 2025
See the full event details here.
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