Upcoming Events

2024

Events
CPS All-City Visual Arts Exhibitions 2024 (Opening!)
May 3
CPS All-City Visual Arts Exhibitions 2024 (Opening!)

Fri, May 3, 2024, 3–6:00pm
DMoC, 72 E Randolph

Great Ideas of Humanity: Students for the Future
May 9
Great Ideas of Humanity: Students for the Future

Thurs, May 9, 2024, 6–9:00pm
DMoC, 72 E Randolph

Designing a Better Chicago: A NeoCon After Party
Jun 11
Designing a Better Chicago: A NeoCon After Party

Tues, June 11, 2024, 6–9:00pm
Secrist Beach, 1801 W Hubbard

Designing a Better Chicago: A Conversation with 2024 Grantees
Jun 12
Designing a Better Chicago: A Conversation with 2024 Grantees

Weds, June 12, 2024, 11:30am–12:30pm
NeoCon, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza

Chicago Designs: Teaching Community-Based Histories
Jun 17
Chicago Designs: Teaching Community-Based Histories

June 17-21, 2024
Museums, archives, and community sites across Chicago

Field Day at Navy Pier
Jul 27
Field Day at Navy Pier

Sat, July 27, 2024, 10:00am–3:00pm
Navy Pier, Polk Bros Park, 600 E Grand

Design Together: Galavant 2024
Oct 17
Design Together: Galavant 2024

Thurs, October 17, 2024, 6–9:00pm
Wildman BT, 3020 W Carroll

Our events are thought-provoking, interactive, inspirational, and wildly different! Have an idea for an event you’d like to see? Let us know!

 

Past events

2024

Featured
Opening, Celebration
Bradley University Senior Graphic Design Portfolio Show
Opening, Celebration
Opening, Celebration
Tour
Bertoia in Chicago: Walking Tour with Celia Bertoia
Tour
Tour
Performance
Patterns: Comedy + Design
Performance
Performance
Lecture
Design The Future Inch by Inch
Lecture
Lecture
 

2023

Featured
Opening
SOLVE: Puzzle Design Exhibition (Opening!)
Opening
Opening
Conversation
Confronting Complexity through Design; Ambition of Change
Conversation
Conversation
Fundraiser
Design Together: Galavant 2023
Fundraiser
Fundraiser
Panel Discussion
Inside Norway Now
Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion
Workshop
After Antartica Film Screening
Workshop
Workshop
Workshop
‘At the Precipice’ Volunteer Session at Happy Returns Studio
Workshop
Workshop
Pop-up, Celebration
Field Day at Navy Pier
Pop-up, Celebration
Pop-up, Celebration
Panel Discussion
'At the Precipice' Artist Talk: Art + Climate Justice (Virtual)
Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion
Celebration, Mixer
Let's Have a Coffee: The Chicago Blend Launch Party
Celebration, Mixer
Celebration, Mixer
Conversation
Community Led, Design Followed: Community Food Navigator
Conversation
Conversation
Workshop
Yoga by Design at Guild Row
Workshop
Workshop
Conversation
Community Led, Design Followed: Delta Institute
Conversation
Conversation
Opening
At the Precipice: Exhibition Opening
Opening
Opening
Performance
Patterns: Comedy & Design
Performance
Performance
Panel Discussion
NeoCon: Designing a Better Chicago
Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion
NeoCon: Positivity in Public Art
Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion
Workshop
Yoga by Design at Radio Flyer
Workshop
Workshop
Opening
Rod Hunting: Transcendental Aesthetic
Opening
Opening
Pop-up, Opening
Mind the Grid: SAIC Senior Design Exhibit
Pop-up, Opening
Pop-up, Opening
Conversation
Community Led, Design Followed: Rebuilding Exchange
Conversation
Conversation
Opening, Celebration
CPS All-City Visual Arts — Opening Reception
Opening, Celebration
Opening, Celebration
The Intersection of Intellectual Property and Design
Conversation
Community Led, Design Followed: Chicago Architecture Club
Conversation
Conversation
Pop-up
The Art Kickback
Pop-up
Pop-up
Mixer, Celebration
Voices Embodied: Uplifted Closing Reception
Mixer, Celebration
Mixer, Celebration
Conversation
Community Led, Design Followed: Bronzeville Winery
Conversation
Conversation
Mixer
Chicago Mechanical Keyboard Meetup
Mixer
Mixer
Lecture
Design For All: Italian Design Day
Lecture
Lecture
Conversation
Community Led, Design Followed: MANO
Conversation
Conversation
 

2022

Featured
Performance
Laughter By Design
Performance
Performance
Mixer
Chicago Mechanical Keyboard Meetup
Mixer
Mixer
Opening
Free + Open Exhibition Opening
Opening
Opening
Performance
Laughter By Design
Performance
Performance
Panel Discussion, Opening
ID @ 85 Exhibition Opening Talk & Reception
Panel Discussion, Opening
Panel Discussion, Opening
Fundraiser
10th Anniversary Soirée
Fundraiser
Fundraiser
Film Screening
Metropolis Film Screening at Guild Row
Film Screening
Film Screening
Performance
Live Performance with Jeff Kolar
Performance
Performance
Find the Time: A Walking Tour of Clocks with City Historian Tim Samuelson
Quirky Clock Show and Tell with Barb Koenen and Tim Samuelson
The Correct Time Exhibition Virtual Walkthrough (Zoom)
Opening
The Correct Time - Exhibition Opening
Opening
Opening
Designing a Better Chicago: Panel Discussion
Design at a Precipice: An info-panel on Crypto, NFTs, and Web3
Power Source: Journaling to Ignite Your Creativity. By Ken Carbone
PULP-POURRI
Acoustic Ornament Book launch party and talk by Zackery Belanger
Conversation
A Conversation on Why Design Matters with Debbie Millman
Conversation
Conversation
Virtual Workshop
Design, Empathy, Strategy & Connection: A How-To Workshop
Virtual Workshop
Virtual Workshop
Great Ideas of Humanity: Posters for Thought Virtual Artist Panel Discussion
 

2021

Featured
Celebration, Opening
Kick-Off Reception — All Together Now — Meet the Artists
Celebration, Opening
Celebration, Opening
Conversation
A Discussion with Chicago's Cultural Changemakers
Conversation
Conversation
Portfolio Review
Think Outside the Grid 2-Day Virtual Portfolio Review
Portfolio Review
Portfolio Review
Fundraiser
All Together Now: Design Museum of Chicago's Annual Fundraiser
Fundraiser
Fundraiser
Workshop
Unbounded: A Booklet Folding Workshop for Limitless Storytelling
Workshop
Workshop
Workshop
Let's Make Letters, Chicago!
Workshop
Workshop
Celebration
A Designed Life: A Last Look
Celebration
Celebration
Virtual Workshop
Lean Business Planning Workshop for Creative Companies
Virtual Workshop
Virtual Workshop
Virtual Workshop
Emotional Structures Workshop
Virtual Workshop
Virtual Workshop
Lecture
Chicago Design at Mid Century: A Tapestry
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Wallpaper Design Post WWII with Bassett & Vollum
Lecture
Lecture
Workshop
Weaving on a Cardboard Loom
Workshop
Workshop
Lecture
Design Museum x Office of Experience: Fight Bias with Content Strategy
Lecture
Lecture
Portfolio Review
Think Outside the Grid Virtual Portfolio Review: Day 2
Portfolio Review
Portfolio Review
Portfolio Review, Lecture
Think Outside the Grid Virtual Portfolio Review: Day 1
Portfolio Review, Lecture
Portfolio Review, Lecture
Virtual Workshop
Nature Inside Out: A Creative Workshop
Virtual Workshop
Virtual Workshop
Poster Exchange
Poster Exchange: Swap & Shop
Poster Exchange
Poster Exchange
 

2020

Featured
Poster Exchange
Poster Exchange: Swap & Shop
Poster Exchange
Poster Exchange
Conversation, Panel Discussion
Chicagoland: A Laboratory for 20th Century Design Innovation
Conversation, Panel Discussion
Conversation, Panel Discussion
Conference
Re:treat #3 – Reset and Remix
Conference
Conference
Demonstration
Virtual Cooking Demo with The Chopping Block
Demonstration
Demonstration
Conference
Intersect Chicago 2020: Design
Conference
Conference
Conversation
Raising Products: Virtual Conversation Series, Part IV
Conversation
Conversation
Celebration
Postcards to Chicago: Annual Fundraiser
Celebration
Celebration
Virtual Workshop, Lecture, Conference
Re:treat #2 — Reflect & Refresh
Virtual Workshop, Lecture, Conference
Virtual Workshop, Lecture, Conference
Virtual Workshop
Learn Graffiti Typography: A 2-Day Workshop
Virtual Workshop
Virtual Workshop
Conference
Re:treat — Two-Day Self Care Conference
Conference
Conference
Conversation, Panel Discussion
Raising Products: Virtual Conversation Series, Part III
Conversation, Panel Discussion
Conversation, Panel Discussion
Workshop
Design Museum Works with Office of Experience: Paper + Thread Bookbinding Workshop
Workshop
Workshop
Conversation, Panel Discussion
Raising Products: Virtual Conversation Series, Part II
Conversation, Panel Discussion
Conversation, Panel Discussion
Conversation, Panel Discussion
Raising Products: Virtual Conversation Series, Part I
Conversation, Panel Discussion
Conversation, Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion, Conversation
In Conversation: Designing Experiences
Panel Discussion, Conversation
Panel Discussion, Conversation
 

2019

Featured
Celebration
Peek inside 50,000 feet
Celebration
Celebration
Conversation
A Creative Conversation with Silk Road Rising
Conversation
Conversation
Film Screening
Film Screening: Endless Letterpress
Film Screening
Film Screening
Conversation
Design in Theatre: From Idea to Ideal
Conversation
Conversation
Celebration, Opening
Setting the Stage — Exhibition Debut
Celebration, Opening
Celebration, Opening
Celebration
Bring Down the Lights with the Design Museum
Celebration
Celebration
Celebration, Fundraiser
On Art Run: Chicago
Celebration, Fundraiser
Celebration, Fundraiser
Panel Discussion
In Conversation: Maria Pinto & Carrie Secrist
Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion
Celebration, Opening
Opening: All-City Elementary School Visual Arts Exhibition
Celebration, Opening
Celebration, Opening
Celebration, Opening
Opening: All-City High School Visual Arts Exhibition
Celebration, Opening
Celebration, Opening
Conversation
Design Museum Presents: Creating and Strengthening Communities
Conversation
Conversation
Conversation
Design Museum Presents: Biking for Change and Empowerment
Conversation
Conversation
Workshop
Design Museum Works with Office of Experience: Enzo Mari Furniture Building Workshop
Workshop
Workshop
 

2018

Featured
Conversation
From Bloomers to Pedal Pushers to Rompers: Riding Bikes in Style
Conversation
Conversation
Lecture
Beauty and the Bike: The Impact of Recreational Changes on Park Designs
Lecture
Lecture
Celebration, Opening
Chain Reaction
Celebration, Opening
Celebration, Opening
Celebration, Fundraiser
Keep Moving with the Design Museum
Celebration, Fundraiser
Celebration, Fundraiser
Lecture
Chicago Cycles: 150 Years of Bicycle Design and Innovation
Lecture
Lecture
Celebration
Party! Keep Moving at Expo 72
Celebration
Celebration
Conversation
Design Museum Presents: Bikes, Modernity, and Urban Landscape
Conversation
Conversation
Workshop
Design Museum Works with Office of Experience: Design Your Story
Workshop
Workshop
Celebration
The Shape of Chicago: John Massey’s 1968 Banners Revisited Launch Celebration
Celebration
Celebration
Lecture
ChiDM Presents: Clutch Gallery
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
ChiDM Presents: Lara Allison
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
ChiDM Presents: What Does “Modern” Mean in Chicago?
Lecture
Lecture
Workshop
ChiDM Works with Office of Experience
Workshop
Workshop
Conversation
ChiDM Presents: Public Art and Commercial Collaboration
Conversation
Conversation
Lecture
ChiDM Presents: Designing Great Minds for Democracy: Mortimer J. Adler, Great Books, and Mid-century Citizenship
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
ChiDM Presents: Amalgam Journal
Lecture
Lecture
Conversation
Art Design Chicago Storytelling Series
Conversation
Conversation
Pop-up
Risograph: Redesigned
Pop-up
Pop-up
Celebration, Opening
Great Ideas Kick-off Party
Celebration, Opening
Celebration, Opening
Lecture
AIA Chicago: Anthony Viola, 2017 Dubin Family Young Architect Award Recipient
Lecture
Lecture
Workshop
Amazon’s Kryptonite: How Emotional Branding Creates Customers for Life
Workshop
Workshop
Celebration, Opening
Great Ideas of Humanity at Lost Arts!
Celebration, Opening
Celebration, Opening
Conversation
Envisioning New Spatial Organizations by MAS Context
Conversation
Conversation
Celebration, Conversation
Not Just Another Book… Mapping Swiss Graphic Design History
Celebration, Conversation
Celebration, Conversation
Lecture
ChiDM Presents: Tiffany Funk and Chris Totten
Lecture
Lecture
Playtest
Mystery League Playtest: The Unknown Islands
Playtest
Playtest
Playtest
Mystery League Playtest: The Unknown Islands
Playtest
Playtest
Lecture
ChiDM Presents: VGA Gallery with Jonathan Kinkley
Lecture
Lecture
 

2017

Featured
Celebration
Chicago Design Market: Holiday Happy Hour
Celebration
Celebration
Playtest
Mystery League Playtest: The Unknown Islands
Playtest
Playtest
Celebration
50,000feet Holiday Open House
Celebration
Celebration
Playtest
Mystery League Playtest: The Unknown Islands
Playtest
Playtest
Lecture
ChiDM Presents: Evolution of Pac-Man with Tim Lapetino
Lecture
Lecture
Workshop
ChiDM Presents: Hey! Make! with LeAnne Wagner
Workshop
Workshop
Lecture
ChiDM Presents: VGA Gallery with Chaz Evans
Lecture
Lecture
Celebration, Fundraiser
On Art Run: Chicago
Celebration, Fundraiser
Celebration, Fundraiser
Celebration, Opening
Opening—HEY! PLAY! Games in Modern Culture
Celebration, Opening
Celebration, Opening
Lecture
The Lineage of Inspiration: From Tradition to Innovation
Lecture
Lecture
Workshop
Bamboo Bundling Craft Workshop
Workshop
Workshop
Workshop
Play Lab to Experiment with Home Space
Workshop
Workshop
Conversation
Fragment(s): Live
Conversation
Conversation
Celebration
Preview—Confluence • 20+ Creative Ecologies of Hong Kong
Celebration
Celebration
Celebration
Second Coffee Too Soon—Screenprints by Jay Ryan
Celebration
Celebration
Celebration
Chicago Design Market Happy Hour
Celebration
Celebration
Celebration
ChiDM Volunteer Celebration!
Celebration
Celebration
Lecture
ChiDM Presents: TypeHike
Lecture
Lecture
Conversation
Confrontations Season 3, No. 2 — Not Not Political
Conversation
Conversation
Conversation
ChiDM Presents: Openbox
Conversation
Conversation
Performance
An evening with the Jason Seed Stringtet
Performance
Performance
Lecture
ChiDM Presents: Organizing for Action
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
ChiDM Presents: Frank Lloyd Wright Trust
Lecture
Lecture
Workshop
ChiDM Works with Office of Experience! Color Theory
Workshop
Workshop
Celebration
Happy Hour at Chicago Design Market
Celebration
Celebration
Lecture
ChiDM Presents: Chicago Children’s Museum
Lecture
Lecture
Tour
Architectural Walking Tour & Pub Crawl
Tour
Tour
Demonstration, Workshop
ChiDM Works: The Art of the Risograph
Demonstration, Workshop
Demonstration, Workshop
Conversation
Beats and Beets: Hip-Hop as a Gateway to Food Education by Native Tongue Magazine
Conversation
Conversation
 
Featured
Demonstration, Workshop
Longhand: A hand- and letter-writing workshop
Demonstration, Workshop
Demonstration, Workshop
Tour
Private Tour + Open Studio—Glasner Studio
Tour
Tour
Conversation
(Re)Defining Design—Toward Innovation with Purpose
Conversation
Conversation
Lecture
ChiDM Presents: Chris Pullman on Dan Friedman
Lecture
Lecture
Celebration, Opening
Opening Party for Dan Friedman: Radical Modernist
Celebration, Opening
Celebration, Opening
Conversation
Type Tectonics: Typography, Technology, and the Transformation of Work— A public interview
Conversation
Conversation
Playtest
Test Play for Competition Kitchen
Playtest
Playtest
Film Screening
Movie Night: Between the Folds
Film Screening
Film Screening
Celebration
City of Ideas: Happy Hour!
Celebration
Celebration
Conversation
Colonizing Heritage: Adaptive Reuse of Myanmar’s Architecture
Conversation
Conversation
Conversation
Dgenerator Confrontations
Conversation
Conversation
Demonstration, Workshop
ChiDM Loves Color!
Demonstration, Workshop
Demonstration, Workshop
Lecture
ChiDM Presents: Archeworks, Disruptive Intent
Lecture
Lecture
Conversation
Canada: Modern Architectures in History
Conversation
Conversation
Lecture
Edgar Miller: The Designer
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
ChiDM Presents: Graphic Conservation Company
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
ChiDM Presents: Fresh Futures: Vladimir Radutny, AIA
Lecture
Lecture
 

2016

Featured
Celebration
Second Annual Holiday Yard Sale
Celebration
Celebration
Celebration
50k Open House, featuring ChiDM
Celebration
Celebration
Lecture
ChiDM Presents: Poetry Foundation, Poetry and Architecture
Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
ChiDM Presents: Douglas Snider
Lecture
Lecture
Workshop
Art of the Risograph—Student Members
Workshop
Workshop
Celebration
Volunteer Appreciation event at the Whistler
Celebration
Celebration
Tour
Members Only Tour of Spectacular Vernacular
Tour
Tour
Lecture
MAS Context: Couplings
Lecture
Lecture
Performance
ChiDM Presents: Seed/Armstrong Duet: Writing Dancing Music About Architecture
Performance
Performance
Workshop
Journey Mapping for Better Experience Design
Workshop
Workshop
Conference
Seek Conference 2016
Conference
Conference
Lecture
ChiDM Presents: Vladimir Belogolovsky
Lecture
Lecture
Celebration, Opening
City of Ideas: Opening Night Party!
Celebration, Opening
Celebration, Opening
Celebration
Chicago Cultural Mile Halloween Gathering Parade
Celebration
Celebration
Workshop
Chicago Ideas Week Lab: Office of Experience
Workshop
Workshop
Workshop
Open Source Furniture: Enzo Mari Workshop at Lost Arts
Workshop
Workshop
Workshop
Chicago Design Works: Office of Experience
Workshop
Workshop
Conversation
Behind the Scenes with Cards Against Humanity
Conversation
Conversation
Celebration
Unfolded Closing Reception—Summer’s not over!
Celebration
Celebration
Workshop
Chicago Design Works: Student bookbinding workshop
Workshop
Workshop
Workshop
Origami Workshop with Katy Higgins
Workshop
Workshop
Lecture
Mohawk presents: The Strathmore Archive
Lecture
Lecture
Workshop
Art of the Risograph: Free Workshop!
Workshop
Workshop
Lecture
Wide Range: ChiDM × AIA Lecture
Lecture
Lecture
Workshop
ChiDM × STA Chicago: Risograph Workshop
Workshop
Workshop
Conversation
Your Stories: Live Podcast with the Nerdologues, Design Week Edition
Conversation
Conversation
Celebration, Breakfast
AIGA Chicago: Breakfast Club at ChiDM
Celebration, Breakfast
Celebration, Breakfast
Workshop
ChiDM × Pantone: Intro to Color Theory Workshop
Workshop
Workshop
Celebration
Design Week Kick-off at Chicago Athletic Association!
Celebration
Celebration
Celebration, Opening
Unfolded Opening Reception: Spring Fling
Celebration, Opening
Celebration, Opening
 

2015

Featured
Pop-up
ChiDM Holiday Yard Sale
Pop-up
Pop-up
Celebration
Distortion Social: A topographic scene from 50k × ChiDM
Celebration
Celebration
Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion at the Arts Club: We Built this City
Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion
Performance
Message for Details: Underground improv comedy
Performance
Performance
Conversation
Chicago Emerging Museum Professionals Lab
Conversation
Conversation
Workshop
Open Source Furniture: Enzo Mari Workshop
Workshop
Workshop
Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion with New Horizon architects
Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion
Celebration, Opening
New Horizon: Opening Reception
Celebration, Opening
Celebration, Opening
Celebration, Opening
Art Paul Loves to Wonder: Opening Reception
Celebration, Opening
Celebration, Opening
Workshop
Open Source Furniture: Enzo Mari Workshop
Workshop
Workshop
Workshop
Workshop: Urban Agriculture with City Farm Chicago
Workshop
Workshop
Pop-up, Lecture
Reception to New Horizon: Architecture from Ireland
Pop-up, Lecture
Pop-up, Lecture
Lecture
A Day in the Life of a Curator: Apple Store Talk
Lecture
Lecture
Panel Discussion
The Good City Panel: What Can We Do For Chicago
Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion
Celebration
Lights Out: Design Week Closing Reception
Celebration
Celebration
Conversation
Your Stories: Live Podcast with the Nerdologues
Conversation
Conversation
Workshops
ACTIVATE with Chicago Loop Alliance
Workshops
Workshops
Celebration, Opening
The State of Detroit: Friends & Family Reception
Celebration, Opening
Celebration, Opening
Conversation
Ask me Anything! with Debbie Millman
Conversation
Conversation
Workshop, Portfolio Review
Guideline: Student Portfolio Review
Workshop, Portfolio Review
Workshop, Portfolio Review
Book Release: An Evening with John Massey
Celebration
Member Reception, Print Exchange
Celebration
Celebration
Workshops
Workshop: ChiDM Loves Fashion!
Workshops
Workshops
Workshop
Workshop: ChiDM Loves Interiors!
Workshop
Workshop
Workshop
Workshop: ChiDM Loves Color!
Workshop
Workshop
Workshop
Adobe Creative Cloud: From Print to Web to Object Designer
Workshop
Workshop
 

2014

Featured
Lecture
Lecture: ChiDM Loves Paul Prejza
Lecture
Lecture
Fundraiser
Fundraiser: Designing Hope for Chicago
Fundraiser
Fundraiser
Celebration
Deborah Sussman Loves Los Angeles! Preview Night
Celebration
Celebration
Celebration
Deborah Sussman Loves Los Angeles! Member Reception
Celebration
Celebration
Workshop, Portfolio Review
Guideline: Student Portfolio Review
Workshop, Portfolio Review
Workshop, Portfolio Review
Film Screening
Starts/Speculations in Film: Expanding the Conversation
Film Screening
Film Screening
Celebration
Starts/Speculations: Catalog Release Party
Celebration
Celebration
Conversation
Chicago Ideas Book Club Series: Veronica Roth
Conversation
Conversation
Performance, Pop-up
Neil Dixon Smith: Presented at Stage 37
Performance, Pop-up
Performance, Pop-up
Pop-up, Performance
Living in Pretend: Presented at Stage 37
Pop-up, Performance
Pop-up, Performance
Celebration, Opening
Starts/Speculations: Opening Reception
Celebration, Opening
Celebration, Opening
Celebration
Starts/Speculations: Private Member Reception
Celebration
Celebration
Lecture
Lecture: Jan en Randoald
Lecture
Lecture
 

2013

Featured
Lecture
Adobe Workshop: Create Now
Lecture
Lecture
Opening
Work at Play: Design Week Kick-off Reception
Opening
Opening
Lecture
Design Talk: Marian Bantjes
Lecture
Lecture
Celebration, Pop-up
Work at Play: Announcement Party
Celebration, Pop-up
Celebration, Pop-up
Film Screening
Typeface Screening: Hamilton Wood Type Fundraiser
Film Screening
Film Screening
 

2012