The highly anticipated NYCxDESIGN Festival returns in 2025, bringing together thousands of global design leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts for a week-long celebration of creativity, community, and inspiration. Taking place May 15-21, New York City will be transformed into a vibrant hub of design, featuring a dynamic lineup of exciting events, talks, exhibits, and gatherings. This year’s unifying theme, ‘Design is for Everyone,’ exemplifies NYCxDESIGN’s commitment to inclusivity and the power of design to create a positive impact for all.
“The NYCxDESIGN Festival is more than a showcase of our city’s extraordinary creative talent—it is a powerful unifier of the many design disciplines that make up the largest design community in the world,” said Ilene Shaw, Executive Director of NYCxDESIGN. “Together, the Festival’s diverse and dynamic events reflect the energy, innovation, and boundless creativity that define New York City. By bringing designers, brands, and visionaries from around the globe into conversation and collaboration, we are not only defining Design and its future—we are creating extraordinary bonds right now because design is for everyone.”
With an exciting programming schedule across all five boroughs, NYCxDESIGN will showcase and amplify the city’s creative energy. The full program will be easily accessible and navigable in the new dynamic NYCxDESIGN app available in the App Store and Google play starting April 15th.
Key events, at a glance, include:
- May 10-19 – Lexus Design Pavilion at Hudson Yards’ Public Square and Gardens
- May 15 – NYCxDESIGN Festival Opening Night Party at The Refinery at Domino
- May 15 – NYCxDESIGN Festival After Party
- May 15-21 – NYCxDESIGN xSouvenir Exhibition partnered with Cool Hunting, sponsored by Kikkerland Design, and exhibit designed by Boym Partners
- May 15 – NYCxDESIGN Keynote presented by Coca-Cola
- May 16 – NYCxDESIGN Keynote presented by IBM
- May 17 – NYCxDESIGN Keynote on Wellness x Design with Life Time Fitness
- May 17-19 – Shelter by Afternoon Light at the Starrett-Lehigh Building
- May 18-20 – International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) and WANTED at The Javits Convention Center
- May 19 – NYCxDESIGN Awards Ceremony presented by Interior Design at Penn One
- May 21 – Dumbo Festival Closing Party
- And a vast array of 280+ events in diverse design disciplines across the boroughs
“The return of the NYCxDESIGN Festival is a testament to New York City’s unparalleled creative talent and its role as a global innovation hub,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “The design community is integral to the city’s economic future, and NYCEDC is thrilled to continue partnering with industry leaders and our city’s academic institutions to drive equitable innovation and inspire the next generation of design pioneers.”
“Investing in and celebrating New York City’s design and architecture community is crucial to maintaining the city’s vibrancy and livability for tens of millions of locals and visitors,” said Betsy Smith, President & CEO, Central Park Conservancy. “In Central Park this spring we will introduce a reimagined north end anchored by the Davis Center at the Harlem Meer, which illustrates how landscape design, architecture, and community can come together to deliver something meaningful and useful for communities and neighbors.”
2025 Festival highlights, in detail, include:
Design Pavilion
For the first time in years, Design Pavilion, New York’s premier public design exhibition, will coincide with NYCxDESIGN, presenting an immersive, interactive experience in partnership with luxury automotive brand Lexus. “Lexus Ambiance” will offer visitors a glimpse into the future of design and interactivity, allowing them to create their own personalized environments using light as their medium and their presence in the space as their muse. Design Pavilion will be at Hudson Yards, May 10-19.
“Art and architecture are a cornerstone of Hudson Yards’ and we are thrilled to host NYCxDESIGN’s 2025 Design Pavilion welcoming its vibrant multi-disciplinary community to the Public Square and Gardens,” said Stephanie Fink, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Partnership and Events for Hudson Yards. “Our continued partnership with NYCxDESIGN underscores our commitment to advancing the local arts and design industry and infusing great cultural moments throughout our neighborhood.”
NYCxDESIGN xSouvenir
For the second consecutive year, in partnership with Cool Hunting and exhibition design by Boym Partners, the NYCxDESIGN xSouvenir exhibition will once again be a memorable highlight of the Festival. Featuring works from 73 artists—including Joey Zeledon, Karim Rashid, and David Weeks—the 2025 showcase will present unique and creative collectible pieces directly inspired by New York City and many of these one-of-a-kind objects will be available for purchase. The initiative is sponsored by Kikkerland Design.
NYCxDESIGN Keynotes
Building on the success of last year’s sold-out inaugural edition, the 2025 NYCxDESIGN Keynote Series will deliver another inspiring lineup of engaging panelists and top brands from around the world. This year’s program will explore the intersection of design with photography, AI, and wellness. On May 15th, Coca-Cola will kick off the series with a Keynote at the International Center of Photography to launch Contour, a milestone exhibition celebrating 110 years of the brand’s iconic contour bottle and featuring photography by Guy Aroch and Anna Palma. On May 16th, IBM will present AI: Sci-Fi to Society, an exclusive look at how artificial intelligence and automation are transforming design, hosted at the company’s brand-new NYC headquarters. The series concludes on May 17th with a collaboration between NYCxDESIGN and Life Time Fitness, exploring how design influences wellness in hospitality, culinary experiences, and travel. Tickets will be available to the public and design community through nycxdesign.org.
District and Neighborhood Spotlights
Creativity will course through communities across all five boroughs, uniting neighborhoods for a week brimming with vibrant art and design. The celebration will feature tours, activations, and design events at showrooms and galleries throughout the city.
In Harlem, NYCxDESIGN and The Central Park Conservancy have partnered to offer Festival-goers a first look at the Davis Center at the Harlem Meer with a special tour. As one of the largest construction projects in Central Park’s history, this extraordinary transformation restores access to a landscape that was once obstructed, and reconnects the community with nature, underscoring the importance of inclusive design in public spaces. The surrounding neighborhood will also boast a vibrant lineup of gallery events, exhibitions, and celebrations throughout the Festival. New York’s evolving urbanscape also welcomes Grand Central Madison, the most revolutionary change to Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) service in over a century. On May 18th, a special tour will highlight this groundbreaking project, which brings LIRR trains directly to Grand Central Terminal for the first time. Built 17 stories underground, the terminal is home to striking permanent and temporary art installations through the MTA Arts & Design program, including mosaic murals by renowned artists, digital works on LED screens, and rotating exhibitions.
The NoMad Design District will be buzzing with a curated mix of events celebrating the neighborhood’s vibrant creative spirit. On May 16, NoMad Design Day will feature select talks, special artist collaborations, and the debut of several new showrooms alongside established brands. Stretching across Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, and Boerum Hill, Atlantic Avenue will welcome visitors on May 17 to explore a dynamic collection of small, independently owned Brooklyn-based design businesses. In SoHo on May 17, the SoHo Design District will host a district-wide Open House, featuring new introductions from Scavolini, Salvatori, Foscarini, Safavieh, Thuma, and more. On the Upper East Side, the third annual Madison Avenue Design Week’s dates will match the Festival’s, and boast exhibitions, talks, bespoke collection viewings, and a curated Spring Gallery Walk on May 17, showcasing nearly sixty galleries. In addition to Design Pavilion, Hudson Yards will host an art and architecture tour showcasing the work of designers, architects, and artists inspired by the innovation Hudson Yards has brought to the area. Meanwhile, the Architecture + Design Film Festival will present outdoor screenings on the Hudson Yards Public Square and Gardens during NYCxDESIGN.
Across the river in Brooklyn, Dumbo will celebrate the neighborhood’s designation as NYC’s newest design district. Dumbo x Design’s inaugural celebration will occur on May 21 shining a spotlight on more than 150 design and architecture companies and featuring programming including grand openings, studio visits, panels, book signings, a walking tour of indie design shops, an epic NYCxDESIGN closing party, and stunning evening art projections on the Manhattan Bridge.
“Brooklyn is defined by the artistic and cultural talent that flows through every corner of our great borough. I’m thrilled to see Brooklyn take center stage at this year’s NYCxDESIGN Festival with the first ever Dumbo x Design Day in addition to so many other exciting programs celebrating Brooklyn’s creatives. I encourage locals and visitors alike to check out this year’s NYCxDESIGN Festival to engage with exciting art, build community, and find new sources of inspiration,” said Brooklyn Borough President, Antonio Reynoso.
School Exhibitions
As a key pillar of NYCxDESIGN’s mission, the Festival aligns with multiple New York City student showcase exhibitions, supporting emerging innovators and the future of the design industry. New this year, Cornell Tech is partnering with NYCxDESIGN to spotlight its Roosevelt Island campus as a featured destination. On May 16, the campus will host the Cornell Tech Startup Awards, offering public access to its labs and other typically private spaces. During the Festival, Cornell Tech will also present an exhibition of student work from its Design Tech program in the new MakerLAB, alongside a series of Design Talks and a guided architectural tour of its striking campus, and the adjacent Four Freedoms Park designed by Louis Kahn.
Student design exhibitions will also be on view at Pratt Institute (Design Show, May 15-20), Parsons School of Design (Constructed Environments Exhibit, May 14-20), the School of Visual Arts, Fashion Institute of Technology, and the New York Institute of Technology (May 15-21). In an exciting new initiative, NYCxDESIGN has organized a guided tour for high school students, offering exclusive access to these schools and their exhibitions, with faculty and design students leading the experience, supported by Adobe.
International Spotlight
NYCxDESIGN has significantly expanded its international presence at the Festival, collaborating with leading design destinations such as Italy and France.
Building on the success of last year’s inaugural edition marking its 70th anniversary, INTERNI will once again activate in New York this May with a special international issue dedicated to the U.S. and Big Italy in New York, a vibrant series of events featuring over 50 Italian design flagship stores. The Italian Trade Agency (ITA) will also spotlight Italian showrooms, showcasing their latest designs for the U.S. market. Meanwhile, in its third year, Villa Albertine’s Oui Design! will celebrate French design and craftsmanship with a curated program of open studios across Manhattan and Brooklyn, along with live craft demonstrations at the iconic Payne Whitney Mansion on May 15.
The upcoming edition of the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF), themed Designing in Harmony, will transform the Javits Center, celebrating human-centered, multi-sensory, and multicultural design from around the world from May 18-20. At ICFF, WANTED will once again serve as a platform for emerging creative leaders, featuring the Schools Showcase, Look Book portfolio, the international Launch Pad, and the Design Schools Workshop challenge. The show’s dynamic programming will also include the annual ICFF Awards, taking place on May 18 at 5:30 PM.
Download the NYCxDESIGN App to see additional events such as:
- May 12-16 – Union Square Partnership’s 5th Annual Mural on 14th Street
- May 15-21 – Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum’s “Making Home-Smithsonian Design Triennial”
- May 15 – The D+D Building’s Spring Market
- May 15-21 – A+D Building’s Open House
- May 16 – Kouros x Dezeen Hug Chair Launch Party
- May 18 – Fractured Horizons, the future of heritage and innovation, presented by VSDesign and ALT Alliance, partnered with NetEase
- May 20 – The New York Design Center’s Destination Design Day
Special Thanks to Key Supporters
NYCxDESIGN thanks its 2025 international supporters that make the Festival possible, including NYC Economic Development Corporation, New York State Council on the Arts, Lexus, Coca-Cola, IBM, Life Time Fitness, aspire design and home, Interior Design, Italian Trade Agency (ITA), Hudson Yards, Kikkerland Design, Architecture & Design Film Festival, Dumbo BID, ALT Alliance, Adobe, and Bloomberg Connects. This year’s media partners include Interni, Cool Hunting, Metropolis, Luxe Interiors + Design, Design Milk, Dezeen, The Architect’s Newspaper, D5, Exclama, Design Diffusion (DDN) and IFDM.
Header: The Cooper Union, photo by Ryan Brenizer
