September 9

San Diego Design Week is now underway! The week is what you make of it: you can engage as little or as much as you’d like, with whoever you’d like. We’re just happy you’re here. To help inspire you, we’ve put together three sample itineraries based on three different scenarios: with kiddos, on a date or for foodies. But trust us, the sky’s the limit with over 100 events to choose from. We can’t wait to follow along with how you’re engaging throughout the week. Make sure to tag us at @sddesignweek to show us what your #sddesignweek looks like.

For foodies:
There are a solid number of food-focused events, so while we think you should try to catch them all, here’s our take on how to put a few together. All week long, you can have access to Inside Restaurant Design with Paul Basile, the designer behind some of San Diego’s most prolific restaurants, from Born & Raised to Puesto. This is a rare inside look for the public to see how he creates some of the most ornate dining out experiences in the city. On Saturday, September 12 tune in to Equality by Design: Food & Drink from 1 to 2 p.m. for a conversation with local industry leaders committed to centering and serving diverse communities. Topics discussed will be roadblocks to access and ownership and an exploration of equity in the food, beverage and restaurant industries. Then, on the final day of Design Week (Sunday, September 13), check out Chef K’s Virtual Dinner Party. Invite three friends and bring a dish that describes you as a person.

With kiddos:
· There are several workshops you can do at home with the kids, starting with artist and design Miki Iwasaki’s model making workshop
based on the design of Facetime, one of his most recent public art installations located at Liberty Station, created in partnership with NTC Foundation and Mingei International Museum. In the video, which is accessible anytime during design week, students will learn how to assemble a miniature planar quadrilateral model at home. The New Children’s Museum has put together some great programming during design week, including a virtual tour for toddlers and kids of Tanya Aguiniga’s tikitiko. Kids can see an illustrator in action at a live drawing party with local illustrator Susie Ghehremani, who will be working during a Crowdcast from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, September 11.

On a date:
So many SDDW events could be date material, but we’ve got a few suggestions to get you started. Follow Susan Merritt’s self-guided tour Public Spaces by Design: Balboa Park, an outdoor excursion that will help you discover some of the park’s tightly packed history and highlight its landscape design and architecture. Merritt is a Professor Emerita of SDSU’s School of Art + Design and a founding member of AIGA San Diego. When you’re finished, walk over to the newly opened Civico by the Park and either grab a table outside or take one of their pinsas to-go to enjoy at the park, which is just a block away. The Design Week special is pinsa romana with zucchini blossom, local prawns tartare, Burrata cheese and pistachio. Another idea is to stop by the Projecting Futures exterior installation at the Hunter & Maddox building in Little Italy from 8 to 9 p.m. any evening of Design Week. The visual display features 2D graphic works by San Diego and Tijuana designers and students projected on the façade of the building. Afterwards, stop by Carruth Cellars Wine Garden. During Design Week, they’re highlighting their Sinatra wood-fired pizza (mozzarella, oregano, crumbled sausage, topped with fresh basil, shaved fennel and honey drizzle). It pairs well with their 2017 Dry Creek Merlot. Tasting notes: dried cranberries, pomegranate, and fennel.