Kelly Taylor: Get Inspired by Design Week RI: 9/17-9/27

Attention design enthusiasts:  clear your calendars, because starting tomorrow, Rhode Island’s inaugural DESIGN WEEK RI kicks off with a string of events on Wednesday that you won’t want to miss.

It’s no secret that Rhode Island is home to one of the world’s top design schools—Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). But you may be surprised to know that the state has the third highest percentage of creative sector jobs in the nation—next to New York and California. 

A celebration of the innovative and economic impact of design practices across the state, DESIGN WEEK RI will showcase nationally recognized speakers and local Rhode Island design superstars together in a week filled with talks, showcases, studio tours, parties and more.  Whether you are a designer looking for inspiration, a design junkie, or simply someone interested to learn more about the state’s bevy of design talent, there is something on this dynamic calendar of events that you’ll want to attend. 

Highlights include:

Eugene Lee, part of DESIGN WEEK RI’s 4×4 Speaker Series

Monday, September 22, 4:00 –6:00 pm

Long-time and celebrated set designer at Trinity Repertory Theater in Providence, Eugene Leehas been the production designer for Saturday Night Live since 1974 and recently completed the new set for the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. He has received the Tony Award, Emmy Award, Pell Award and is a recent inductee to the Theatre Hall of Fame in New York.

Photo courtesy of NBC

Tour the Box Office with founder and developer Peter Case

Thursday, September 25, 12:00-2:00pm

Constructed of 32 recycled shipping containers, the Box Office is one of the most energy efficient commercial office buildings in Providence. It also happens to house some of Rhode Island’s premier design businesses, like Oomph, Libby Slader Interior Design, Truth Box, Jonathan Chambers Architects, Studio Meja, and yours truly, Kelly Taylor Interior Design.

Photo courtesy of the Box Office

Explore Design and Manufacturing in RI with designer Martin Keen

Friday, September 26, 12:00pm-2:00pm

There aren’t many people who haven’t heard of Keen shoes, Martin’ Keen’s brainchild design that changed the face of outdoor footwear.  Now he has turned his eye to another passion: the benefits of upright seating for the workplace.  Keen will talk design, process, and manufacturing in his new Quonset Point for Focal Upright furniture, on a panel along with other designers and innovators.

Photo courtesy of Focal Upright Furniture

DESIGNxRI Hall of Fame Awards Gala, The Roof of the Providence G

Thursday, September 25, 6:30-9:30pm

Celebrate the first inductees to the DESIGNxRI Hall of Fame, which will annually honor those Rhode Island designers who have shown a lifetime of achievement, commitment and mentorship within Rhode Island’s design community, earning a place in the prestigious Design Hall of Fame. The celebration is happening in one of downtown Providence’s newest hotspots—the Providence G.

Photo courtesy of Providence G

There are so many great events happening over the course of the week that it’s simply impossible to list them all. You can check out the full schedule and register for events at the DESIGN WEEK RI website.

Kelly Taylor, a founding board member of DESIGNxRI, and was honored as a New England Home 5 Under 40winner in 2012. She practices residential and commercial interior design in Providence, Rhode Island. Her work can be found at www.ktid.net, or follow her on Twitter at @ktidnet.