The history of New York City Design Festival

From May 15th to 21st, in New York City, NYCxDESIGN 2025 is back. Let’s learn something about its history. In 2011, a Bloomberg Administration survey revealed the vast scale and influence of NYC’s design community, prompting a City Council initiative to establish NYCxDESIGN. Spearheaded by Edward Hogikyan under the leadership of NYC & Company (now NYC Tourism + Conventions) and NYCEDC, NYCxDESIGN launched its inaugural festival in May 2012. The event highlighted major design fairs like ICFF and WantedDesign and quickly gained international recognition.

Discover the map of the NYCxDESIGN Festival 2025

Over the following decade, the Festival expanded to include cornerstone programs such as Design Pavilion, the NYCxDESIGN Awards (in partnership with Interior Design magazine), and the NYCxDESIGN Student Showcase. In 2020, with the support of SANDOW, NYCxDESIGN transitioned to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, enabling greater long-term impact and community focus.

Today, NYCxDESIGN is led by an Executive Director and staff, governed by a Board of Directors, and advised by a Steering Committee of industry, academic, and community leaders.

As the world’s largest and most diverse design community, New York offers a unique ecosystem where creative ideas thrive and global innovations take root. 

Discover NYCxDESIGN 2024

NYCxDESIGN 2025: the Festival

The NYCxDESIGN Festival makes its much-anticipated return from May 15–21, 2025, uniting global designers, innovators, and enthusiasts for a dynamic week of creativity and collaboration. With the theme “Design is for Everyone,” this year’s edition underscores inclusivity and design’s power to positively impact all communities.

“The Festival is not just a showcase—it’s a celebration of the diversity and vitality of New York’s design scene,” said Ilene Shaw, Executive Director of NYCxDESIGN. “It brings together voices from across disciplines to inspire, connect, and shape the future of design.”

Events will span all five boroughs, offering over 280+ programs including exhibitions, talks, studio tours, and parties.

Discover ICFF + Wanted 2025

Key Festival Highlights NYCxDESIGN 2025

May 10–19 – Lexus Design Pavilion at Hudson Yards

May 15–21 – xSouvenir Exhibition, in partnership with Cool Hunting and Boym Partners

May 15 – Coca-Cola Keynote at International Center of Photography

May 16 – IBM Keynote on AI & Design

May 17–19 – Shelter by Afternoon Light at Starrett-Lehigh

May 18–20 – ICFF & WANTED at Javits Center

May 19 – NYCxDESIGN Awards by Interior Design at Penn One

May 20 – Wellness x Design keynote with Life Time

Spotlight: Design Pavilion

Back in full force, Design Pavilion (May 10–19 at Hudson Yards) partners with Lexus to deliver “Lexus Ambiance”, a light-based interactive installation exploring the future of immersive design.

Discover Milan Design Week 2025 

xSouvenir Exhibition

Returning for its second year, this curated collection features 73 NYC-inspired collectible pieces by renowned artists like Joey Zeledon, Karim Rashid, and David Weeks, available for purchase. 

Keynote Series

NYCxDESIGN’s Keynote Series (May 15, 16, 20) explores intersections of design, AI, wellness, and photography:

May 15: Coca-Cola’s “Contour” photo exhibition at the ICP

May 16: IBM presents “AI: Sci-Fi to Society”

May 20: Wellness x Design panel with Life Time

Design Districts

Across NYC, design districts will come alive:

Harlem: Special tour of the Davis Center at Harlem Meer

Hudson Yards: Art & architecture tours + outdoor film screenings

NoMad (May 16): Design Day with new showroom debuts

Atlantic Ave (May 17): Brooklyn design pop-ups

SoHo (May 17): District-wide Open House

Madison Ave (May 15 – 21): Gallery Walk + exhibitions

Dumbo (May 21): Inaugural Dumbo x Design Day with 150+ creative studios, culminating in a Festival Closing Party

NYCxDESIGN will spotlight student work from top institutions:

Cornell Tech: Startup Awards + MakerLAB exhibits (May 16)

Pratt Institute: Design Show (May 15–20)

Parsons, SVA, FIT, and NYIT: Student showcases across the week

Plus, a guided High School Tour Program supported by Adobe

International Focus

NYCxDESIGN expands global collaborations:

INTERNI returns with Big Italy in New York and Italian flagship store activations

Villa Albertine’s Oui Design! celebrates French craftsmanship with studio tours and demos at Payne Whitney Mansion (May 15)

ICFF (May 18–20): Features Designing in Harmony, multicultural innovation, Launch Pad, Design Schools Workshop, and ICFF Awards (May 18, 5:30 PM)

Additional Notable Events

Check the NYCxDESIGN app for more, including:

May 12 – 16: Union Square’s Mural on 14th Street

May 15 – 21: Cooper Hewitt’s “Making Home”

May 15: D+D Building Spring Market

May 18: Fractured Horizons by VSDesign & ALT Alliance

May 21: Destination Design Day at New York Design Center

Why visit

NYCxDESIGN brings together and elevates the design community as it gathers in New York City this week. Founded in 2012, the Festival has earned an international reputation and serves as the city’s official annual celebration of design. With around 190 events, it features exhibitions from New York’s renowned museums and art and design schools. Through a vibrant mix of exhibitions, talks, and installations, the Festival highlights the talents of local designers, creators, and makers, along with innovative design firms, creative districts, and academic institutions.

Attracting over 300,000 visitors, the Festival offers hundreds of events focused on design and innovation, creativity, culture, inclusivity, and sustainability. It also provides a unique opportunity to step off the traditional tourist path and explore design studios and showrooms across the city. As a result, New York continues to strengthen its position as a global hub for design.

NYCxDESIGN, New York, May 20-22, 2025

For professionals and general public
Size: around 280 events, 300,000 visitors
Various locations 
Visit NYCxDESIGN.org for info

Some images from NYCxDESIGN 2024