Late last week, throngs of designers and design fans bustled into Pier 27. Forming a line that ran down the street, they were there for the opening gala of the largest design festival on the West Coast: San Francisco Design Week.
The evening started with remarks from Dawn Zidonis, San Francisco Design Week's executive director, and August de los Reyes, president of the AIGA SF and director of user experience at Google. Local design blogger Diane Dorrans Saeks announced the design awards for the evening, with Aidlin Darling Design, Fuseproject, and Studio O+A taking home honors. The winners’ projects were also displayed in an exhibition on view during the evening.
“This year’s theme encompasses who we are as designers, and how we can come together to make a change in the world, if we use our skills collaboratively,” Zidonis told the crowd. “Based on the theme of CommUNITY, we've created opportunities for artists and makers to explore the intersection between art, design, and technology.”
When the public reception began at 6:30 p.m., attendees filed in and were immediately drawn to PCH and Adrien Rovero's “Shore” installation. A collection of inflatable modules were piled in an area for guests to sit on, play with, and more. The objects could easily be flipped, moved, and stacked for guests. Needless to say, it was the perfect Instagram moment for the night.
Guests were also drawn to the multiple installations from Marpi Studio and Britelite Immersive, in which screens showing organic shapes responded to body movements. Paintzen also hosted a mural painting throughout the night, with hues inspired by PPG's Color of the Year: Chinese Porcelain.
Upstairs, a DJ spun upbeat hip-hop and dance music for a crowd. Meanwhile, other guests bid in a silent auction of items from more than 130 designers spanning 17 countries, all centered on the “CommUNITY” theme.