Hip-Hop design talk is tonight

The annual Detroit Design Festival was scheduled to hold its kickoff party yesterday, Sept. 23, but that’s just the start of the celebration.

The festival is one of North America’s biggest happenings celebrating independent design and artists.

It is an awesome way to see art and fashion, hear music and enjoy yourself in the fall, according to organizers.

In a partnership, the Detroit Creative Corridor Center and College of Creative Studies (CCS) put on this festival once a year to bring the independent art community together.

This year over 500 designers will be showcased throughout the week.

Peppered throughout different parts of Detroit's west side and Midtown, the festival involves many organizations, colleges and galleries throughout the city.

University of Detroit Mercy will be hosting a lecture and exhibition on Hip Hop Architecture at the School of Architecture on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 5 p.m.

There will be an opening reception hosted by the Detroit chapter of the Organization of Minority of Architects and a lecture by Michael Ford, a Highland Park native.

An art exhibition also will be held in the School of Architecture, sponsored by the Tap Gallery of Street Art from Southwest Detroit.

Detroit's Midtown is known for its art already with museums like the Detroit Institute of the Arts (DIA), Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) and art galleries like the Untitled Bottega and the Tangent Gallery.

The festival aims to tie all of the different art in the city with art from all around the world.

There will be lectures, workshops, panel discussions, exhibitions, parties and many more activities at various locations.

Most of activities are free, and going on all day long.

“The Detroit Design Festival has become essential in the emerging-art scene that is reviving Detroit right now,” said Detroit native and rapper Chavis Chandler. “There is so much to see, do, and my favorite part, discover.”

For more information about the festival and a complete listing of events check out detroitdesignfestival.com.