Kansas City shows its strength as a leading design city with 25 inspiring events,
which kick off on Earth Day April 22

Open to the public, tickets are available at kcdesignweek.org;
KC Design Week offers both free and paid events

KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Center for Architecture & Design (CfAD) will host KC Design Week April 22-30, a series of creative, thought-provoking events that offer the community unique opportunities to learn about all areas of design. Since 2010, KC Design Week has informed, connected and inspired thousands of design enthusiasts through programs featuring experts from fields such as architecture, graphics, interiors, products, landscape architecture, planning and urban environments. KC Design Week is open to the public, and tickets may be purchased online at kcdesignweek.org.

“Our dedicated committee volunteers of design professionals invest nine months of creativity and passion into planning, culminating in 25 inspiring events over the course of just nine days!” said Dawn Taylor, executive director for CfAD, a nonprofit organization.

Held each spring, organizers plan KC Design Week to include Earth Day (April 22), as it provides the perfect backdrop to showcase the commitment to sustainable design across design disciplines.  This year’s KC Design Week kicks off on Earth Day with the following sustainability events:

• Full Circle: Rethinking Sustainable Furniture – Millions of tons of furniture end up in landfills every year. How are manufacturers working to change this? Beyond reducing waste, how does sustainable furniture design add value to our spaces and businesses? Join industry experts who are leading the charge in sustainable furniture design as they discuss the innovations that are shaping the industry and how sustainable design can come full circle.
  
  
• Brew & Renew – Join us for an inside look at Boulevard Brewing Co.’s commitment to eco-friendly practices and learn how each pint is brewed with the planet in mind. During this guided tour, Boulevard will showcase the company’s zero-landfill facilities, Ripple Glass partnership and see firsthand how the brewery integrates eco-friendly practices into beer production. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of sustainable brewing practices and how small changes can make a big environmental impact.

KC Design Week celebrates the value of design in our lives – from buildings to products and landscapes – and highlights its societal impacts. The week-long event draws an average annual audience of 1,800 individuals from the Kansas City metro and surrounding areas. Thousands of graphic designers, architects, industrial designers, interior designers, university students and faculty, advertising professionals, urban planners and design enthusiasts attend KC Design Week events that sell out every year.

“Participants will gain valuable new skills and hear from top design professionals on topics applicable to their lives, careers, and work,” said Maggie Newlin, senior graphic designer at HDR, Inc. and co-chair of KC Design Week. “Every year, I’m truly amazed by the quality of speakers and the impact of the events.”

KC Design Week curates new, distinctive events each year at a range of price points. CfAD and the KC Design Week committee believe reasonable ticket prices are key to enabling people to attend multiple events during the week. In addition, KC Design Week remains committed to offering free events each year. This year, 11 of the 25 events are free to reach an even broader audience. Visit kcdesignweek.org for the full schedule.

“We’ve curated an exceptional lineup of engaging and exciting events,” said Peggy Bennett, managing partner at GastingerWalker& and co-chair of KC Design Week. “It’s inspiring to see the incredible talent on display and to learn how design plays a vital role in shaping the culture of our Kansas City community.”

Multi-Discipline Approach

KC Design Week is unique in the United States, if not the world, by virtue of its multi-disciplinary approach. It is produced by seven distinct design organizations comprising the Center for Architecture & Design, which include:

• American Institute of Architects Kansas City (AIA Kansas City)
• American Institute of Graphic Arts Kansas City (AIGA Kansas City)
• American Society of Landscape Architects, Prairie Gateway Chapter (PGASLA)
• Industrial Designers Society of America Kansas City (IDSA-KC)
• International Interior Design Association Mid-America (IIDA M-A)
• Kansas City Metropolitan Section of the American Planning Association (KCAPA)
• Society for Experiential Graphic Design Kansas City (SEGD KC)

Members from each of these seven organizations plan KC Design Week. Each organization sends up to three representatives to serve on the planning committee, and in 2025 three organizations (AIA Kansas City, AIGA Kansas City, and IIDA Mid-America) comprise the co-chair leadership of KCDW. This ensures balance and variety in programming.

“KC Design Week showcases the incredible design talent across Kansas City to the entire community,” said Brooke Craig, AIA, associate principal at Populous and co-chair of KC Design Week. “What I love most is seeing the diverse range of people who attend, each bringing their own backgrounds and unique perspectives.”

About Center for Architecture & Design
Launched in 2014, Kansas City’s Center for Architecture & Design (CfAD) is a 501(c)6 nonprofit organization that plans programs and experiences that spotlight creativity and engage a wide community audience in discussions about architecture and design. CfAD’s seven individual professional design organizations unite to teach design thinking to all ages, celebrate the achievements of good design, and help Kansas City reach its full potential. CfAD’s signature annual program is KC Design Week. Visit www.cfadkc.org to learn more.

SOURCE Center for Architecture & Design (CfAD)