Looking back on AIGA Design Week + Design MRKT 2015

Last week Louisville hosted its first AIGA sponsored Design Week: 5 days of learning and networking sponsored by the nation’s largest organization that supports the graphic arts industry. The purpose of Design Week is to celebrate our industry and promote awareness of the specific disciplines in our region in which design plays a role.

The inaugural weeklong event was supported by the appearance and keynote speech from the notorious Stefan Sagmeister. VIA Studio was invited to host the closing party at our offices, which was a joy and an honor.

Design MRKT

The theme of our event was ‘Design MRKT.’ The idea: to give the public a chance to meet and purchase goods from designers in the community and to see examples of how design can be integrated into various aspects of everyday life. Two architecture firms shared installation pieces, DJ Mo Money brought some tunes, (Mo McKnight Howe, owner of Revelry Gallery), there were fancy food trucks, a delightful Tiki bar with custom cocktails and a mural installation that lasted three days. Overall we had an estimated 300 people through our doors, and a good time was had by all. You know it was a real party because the cops showed up to tell us to turn the music down!

The overwhelming positivity and feedback from the event goes to show how great the design community in Louisville really is. All types of designers, architects, fashion designers, agency owners from the midwest attended. It was great to see our industry come together to celebrate and interact.

So this was fun yesterday #viastudio #designmrkt #AIGALouDW

A post shared by Emilee Dover (@emdove2) on Jun 13, 2015 at 8:19am PDT

Because we can @jaredslouky #designmrkt @viastudio #lipservice #beyondthecocktail

A post shared by Barhaus (@barha.us) on Jun 12, 2015 at 12:48pm PDT

If you have a window, we have #DesignMRKT posters! #viastudio

A post shared by Jason Clark (@cjasonclark) on May 29, 2015 at 1:03pm PDT

Stoking the Fires of the Imagination

Timing was on our side, as we had just made friends with the fine fellows at BroCoLoco. BroCoLoco is an international firm that tells brand stories through art and architecture. Hailing from Washington, DC and Lexington, KY, they were looking to get introduced to the Louisville design community. They offered to paint something on our building. The result was a huge mural, that got tons of praise from the community, and will probably continue to garner praise for years to come.

BroCoLoCo Louisville Design Week Mural Timelapse #AIGALouDW from Jason Clark on Vimeo.

Other Design Week events

The VIA Studio gang attended several other Design Week events, including a CreativeMornings presentation by Kentucky for Kentucky, the highly entertaining folks behind the “Kentucky Kicks Ass” campaign. We also had the pleasure of having dinner with Stefan Sagmeister after his keynote, where I got to trumpet my accomplishments as a punk rock singer back in the early 90’s. Our friends from AtomicDust joined us, and we had a great lunch & learn agency knowledge share on Friday.

Check out the full schedule of events from Design Week 2015.

Ass. #kentuckykicksass #resurfacedlouisville #creativemornings #cmlou @kentuckyforkentucky

A post shared by Jason Clark (@cjasonclark) on Jun 12, 2015 at 6:36am PDT

Hello, Stefan Sagmeister. #AIGALouDW @aigalou

A post shared by Ryan Cayabyab (@rcayabyab) on Jun 11, 2015 at 6:17pm PDT

Agency collaboration with AtomicDust, BroCoLoco, and VIA Studio. #viastudio #AIGALouDW

A post shared by Jason Clark (@cjasonclark) on Jun 12, 2015 at 8:58am PDT

Press for Design Week:

Next year, plus other events at VIA Studio

Moving into our new building has offered us this fantastic opportunity to engage with the community in more meaningful ways, such as Design Week. Because of the success of Design MRKT, we hope to do it again next year. And we hope to support other industry events throughout the year. Check out our Twitter or Facebook pages for announcements!

Thanks to all our friends, vendors, and participants!

AIGA Louisville
Anchal Project
A.W.T.B.
Boss Hogg’s BBQ
BroCoLoco
Gunnar Deatherage
Hound Dog Press
Kentucky for Kentucky
Lip Service Longshot Lobsta
Revelry Boutique Gallery
Many Photons
Misc Goods Co
Robby Davis
Tasty Tuxedo Treats
VBNA Architects
WorK Architecture + Design
Young Advertising Professionals of Louisville

Thanks again to #VIAStudio for hosting that rad Design Week closing party and Design MRKT! #AIGALouDW

A post shared by AIGA LOUISVILLE (@aigalou) on Jun 14, 2015 at 7:23am PDT