News Summary
San Diego Design Week will take place from September 17-21, highlighting the theme ‘Design for Impact.’ Organized by the Design Forward Alliance, the event will feature a range of activities showcasing innovative leaders in design, architecture, and community initiatives. Key projects will be displayed, fostering collaboration and engagement among professionals and the public alike, and coinciding with the World Design Experience, promising vibrant participation and creativity across the region.
San Diego – San Diego Design Week (SDDW) will kick off on September 17, 2025, bringing together design enthusiasts, professionals, and community members under the theme of “Design for Impact.” Organized by the Design Forward Alliance, this week-long celebration focuses on showcasing innovative leaders who are transforming San Diego’s built environment, public spaces, and cultural landscape.
The event aims to foster connection, inspire creativity, and tackle some of today’s most pressing challenges through purposeful design solutions. Multidisciplinary collaborations will be highlighted, featuring contributions from architects, planners, technologists, artists, environmentalists, and community leaders. Honorees for this year include prominent firms like MIG, OJB, IQHQ, and BASILE Studio, which will be recognized for their impactful work.
Throughout SDDW, the Signature Projects Shaping Our City series will serve as a focal point, showcasing projects that exemplify San Diego’s innovative spirit. These selected projects will be on display during the opening night and throughout the week, presented in a variety of formats including tours, panel discussions, and presentations. A Digital Archive of Signature Projects will also be launched, serving as a permanent record of San Diego’s notable design contributions.
The event will take place from September 17-21, featuring a diverse lineup of exhibitions, talks, workshops, and collaborative initiatives that are open to the public. SDDW is designed to facilitate mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and cross-cultural exchange, creating opportunities for professionals, students, and the general public to engage and share ideas.
Key events during the week include an opening celebration at the Exchange Pavilion on September 19, which will feature music and design displays. San Diego Design Week will also coincide with the World Design Experience, a series of events from September 18-25, that is part of the San Diego-Tijuana World Design Capital 2024 designation. This designation is significant, marking the first time a cross-border region has been honored with such a title.
More than 80 events are expected as part of the World Design Experience, encompassing pop-ups, festivals, and workshops. Most activities will be free of charge, although some may require advance registration or tickets. One of the highlights includes a playful interaction with a mobile caterpillar sculpture in Balboa Park, while another workshop in Tijuana will address transformative design solutions to social, environmental, and economic challenges.
A guided tour of murals in La Jolla is scheduled for September 22, while the Park(ing) Day initiative will invite participants to turn curbside areas into mini-parks and social spaces, enhancing community engagement.
The overarching goal of SDDW and the World Design Experience is to enhance civic engagement, attract business and tourism, and showcase best practices in design policy and innovation. Organizers anticipate approximately 5,000 attendees will participate in the events, contributing to a vibrant atmosphere that celebrates design as a powerful driver of change.
Design Forward Alliance, the organizing body behind SDDW, is a non-profit (501(c)(3)) established in 2016, dedicated to promoting design-driven innovations across multiple industries. Sponsors for the 2025 event include A Designed Space, BluPeak, Border UX, Learning Designed, MIG, Perkins Eastman, Shine Bloom Creative, and Qualcomm.
As San Diego prepares for a week of impactful design, the community is poised to experience the deep connections between creativity and the solutions needed to address contemporary challenges.
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Additional Resources
- San Diego Times: SD Design Week Debuts Signature Projects
- San Diego Union Tribune: Design Week Events
- Travel and Tour World: New in San Diego this Fall
- Wikipedia: San Diego
- Forbes: San Diego-Tijuana World Design Capital 2024
- Google Search: San Diego Design Week
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SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
