Design Miami recently announced its events for its 20th anniversary year, including a new initiative which aims to highlight local design communities.
Design Miami will hold a one-day event in Aspen in July, a new 14-day exhibition in Seoul in September, a third edition of its fair in Paris in October, and the 21st edition of its flagship fair in Miami Beach in December.
In an emailed statement to ARTnews, CEO Jen Roberts said the year’s programming marked the organization’s largest expansion of its global footprint and its “most ambitious program to date, with more destinations, diverse formats, and a deeper engagement with our community”.
The Design Miami.In Situ event in Aspen is curated by Ashlee Harrison and will take place alongside the Aspen Art Museum’s annual ArtCrush event.
The event in Seoul is a collaboration with the Seoul Design Foundation that will focus on Korean collectible design. The event will be curated by Hyeyoung Cho—the current chairperson of the Korea Association of Art & Design—and take place in the Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
When ARTnews asked how the concept for Design Miami.In Situ originated, Roberts wrote in an email that it “evolved organically” after the organization had “explored new modes for presenting our fairs” in recent years, and Paris offered “a compelling case study” for a “a deeply localized, context-sensitive approach”
“We found that presenting the fair in an architecturally meaningful setting created an intimate and culturally relevant experience,” Roberts wrote. “In Situ builds on this concept – it offers us an opportunity to have a presence in different localities, and the flexibility to present in new and experimental ways.”
Roberts noted the location of the Seoul exhibition at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, designed by Zaha Hadid, “is a major international landmark of architecture and culture, not only significant to Hadid’s renowned body of work, but also a symbol of Seoul’s fusion of transition and future.”
“So while we remain steadfast and confident in our traditional fair setting, In Situ offers an exciting next step for Design Miami to further cultivate design communities internationally, in ways that feel authentic and immersive to the respective surroundings,” Roberts wrote.
Over the last two decades, Roberts said attendance at Design Miami events has become more international, interdisciplinary and grown to reflect “the evolution of the collectible design market itself.”
In addition to emerging and seasoned collectors, new and renowned gallerists, and other professionals in the design world, Roberts also noted attendance from the fashion, architecture, and music industries. “For example, we’ve also seen a steady increase of luxury fashion houses engaging in the collectible design market, which as a result brings new audiences to Design Miami,” she wrote. “It will be interesting to experience how In Situ projects will allow us to connect with new audiences in their localized settings.”
Finally, when ARTnews asked about the impact of tariffs and ongoing litigation over an earlier decision by the US Court on International Trade, Roberts said Design Miami was “continuing to monitor the situation, and remain closely informed on these developments – working alongside our other fair colleagues to share resources. We recognize our role in supporting our galleries and collectors through providing a stable and connected marketplace; ultimately, our mission is to ensure that Design Miami remains a reliable space for global exchange.”
