From the awards opening night to the always energizing block party and throughout the panels, pop-ups, showcases, workshops, house tours and other experiences during the 4 days, the LA Design Festival continues to one-up itself annually—and next weekend’s edition proves that maxim.
As a champion from its start 8 years ago, A+R marks this year with its own open house throughout the extended weekend:
We’re particularly excited about “Speed of Light: Design in a Fast Forward World,” our happy hour talk with international design stars Lukas Peet of Vancouver and Scott Bridgens and Simon James of Auckland—all 3 who are flying in exclusively for this special event, Saturday June 22 at 4pm.
Lukas Peet is a cofounder of the Canadian-based AndLight, as well as a prolific designer of everything from cutlery to carafes, room dividers to furnishings. His work for ANDlight has long been a part of the A+R catalog, and standout pieces from the brand will be part of the LADF showcase at our showroom.
Joining Lukas are pals and co-founders of the New Zealand lighting and furniture resource Resident, creative director Simon James and managing director Scott Bridgens. Another longtime fave of A+R, the Resident display is undergoing an expansion for the event, as of this writing. So do check it out.
Like his Canadian colleague, Simon has exercised his design chops in other categories and under other brands. So this conversation, hosted by A+R’s Rose Apodaca and In partnership with LADF and IDS Vancouver, is sure to be an illuminating look at the design process in this current age. Come for the talk, stay for the cocktails and meet and greet with the designers.
Of course, Friday, from 6 to 10pm, A+R, its ROW neighbors and an influx of visiting artists and designers are marking the festival with the Design Block Party, from 6 to 10pm. The ROW campus will be engaging outside and inside its dozens of storefronts and restaurants. Dublab will provide the soundtrack with its world-class deejays, and there will be site-specific performance by MashUp Contemporary Dance Company. A key note address with Brooks & Scarpa at 5pm is already sold out, but there’s plenty more happening through installations, lounges, pop-ups and other showcases happening this weekend only. Skip the night’s $20 ticket and sign up now with our courtesy code: LADFDBP19
Outside of the Design Block Party, the rest of the weekend is gratis, so take advantage of everything going on. Check out the LA Design Festival site for the full load down on everything going on at ROW DTLA and throughout the city.
