Please read our FAQ below before applying

San Francisco Design Week is produced by Design Bay Area

Call for Proposals: FAQ

What is the Call for Event Proposals and who is it for?

The Call for Event Proposals are for individuals, studios, in-house teams and organizations who want to produce their own event to be featured during the festival. Only approved Community Event Proposals will be listed on the official San Francisco Design Week event calendar and will be given authorization to use San Francisco Design Week name and branding.

This page is NOT for individuals who want to register to attend San Francisco Design Week. Please visit our Attend Page for info on how to Attend San Francisco Design Week.

Early Bird Tickets to Attend will be available March 5, 2025. Tickets are discounted while we curate the calendar.

What are the dates of San Francisco Design Week 2025?

SFDW will take place June 2 through June 10, 2025

What is San Francisco Design Week?

San Francisco Design Week is a festival which has taken place for the past 19 years, with hundreds of events taking place at different locations throughout the city. It’s an opportunity to see behind the scenes of our communities top studios, design firms, universities, corporations and museums. Our goal is to raise public awareness of the impact design has on innovation and our collective future as a society while exploring emerging disciplines and technology driven design in San Francisco and around the world. Design and adjacent creative industries in San Francisco is thriving and the future continues to here.

The Call for Proposals for our Community Event Calendar is for studios and designers to apply to produce an official event for the festival. The festival is highly curated and only the best of the best can secure a spot to showcase their thought leadership on our calendar and be given access to use our branding for their event.

Who organizes SFDW?

SFDW is organized by Design Bay Area, a nonprofit 501c3 organization focused on community building. Design Bay Area brings together the San Francisco Bay Area design community, local and national design associations, local consulates, design universities, neighborhood associations and museums under one umbrella for the festival.

Who gets involved?

SFDW represents a a diverse and vibrant industry across many design disciplines. Each year the list of participants grows and includes individuals, design studios, brands, in-house design teams, start-ups, galleries and art organizations, local retail and restaurants and design-adjacent industries.

I’m not a designer, but I want to involve my design-savvy business or organization. Is there a way for me to do that?

ABSOLUTELY! Consider submitting your business or organization to our Design Site Page or Design Resource Directory or host an event by applying for our Call for Community Hosts.

>> Design Site Page
>> Design Resource Directory

>> Host an Official San Francisco Design Week Event

Types of Events

The annual festival program contains in person events including but not limited to: Panel discussions, Conversations/Fireside Chats, Presentations, Workshops, Brand Activations, Product Launches, Podcasts, Open Studios (not a part of the Studio Crawls), Game Shows, Walking Tours, Trivia Night, Live Art Installations, Field Trips, Networking/Happy Hours/parties and our infamous 2 Nights of Studio Crawls.

If you would like to host a hybrid event with both in-person and streaming formats, please add a note on your application or reach out to our team at events@sfdesignweek.org

Host your own Community Event during SF Design Week

Hosting an event is an opportunity for you to produce your own original programming! The most well-attended events tend to engage a topic that provides valuable takeaways or includes speakers. Priority will be given to unique relevant topics which are top of mind to designers. Priority acceptance also goes towards event ideas which were created specifically for San Francisco Design Week and not recycled from existing talks. Priority will also be given to events which promote accessibility and diversity of thought leadership.

Are you a member of a historically underrepresented community and want to participate but do not have the resources necessary? Contact us so we can help connect you with resources you can use to participate!

Types of Events we DO NOT accept:

• We do not accept Conferences, Full-Day or Multi-Day events during San Francisco Design Week. Our attendees want to be out attending as many events as possible during the festival and not sitting in the same room all day. If you’d like to partner on an all day, or multi-day event please contact us to discuss co-hosting or supporting your event at a different time of the year.

Apply to Host an Event

What is the deadline to apply to host?

April 25th, 2025

What dates can I host an event?

The following dates and times are available for hosting your event:

• Monday, June 2nd from 8:00 am – 9:30 pm
• Tuesday, June 3rd from 8:00 am – 6:30 pm*
• Wednesday, June 4th from 8:00 am – 7:00 pm**
• Wednesday, June 4th STUDIO CRAWL NIGHT APPLICANTS from 7pm to 9:30pm (South of Market: Portrero, Mission, SOMA, Castro, Bernal Heights, Noe, etc)
• Thursday, June 5th from 8:00 am – 6:30 pm**
• Thursday, June 5th STUDIO CRAWL NIGHT APPLICANTS from 7pm to 9:30pm (North of Market: Fidi, North Beach, Hayes Valley, Pacific Heights, etc)
• Friday, June 6th 8:00 am – 9:30 pm
• Saturday, June 7 from 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
• Sunday, June 8 from 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
• Monday, June 9 from 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
• Tuesday, June 10 from 9:00 am – 9:00 pm

*We are hosting a community gathering the evening of June 3rd and want you all to join us! We are not accepting Community Events on this evening. All community hosted events must end by 6:30pm

** Only Studio Crawl Events take place on June 4 and June 5 in the evening. No other community hosted events will be accepted between 7pm – 9:30pm.

Can I apply to host more than one event?

Absolutely! Think carefully in regards to how much extra time and resources will be needed to produce an event: quality over quantity. Please submit a new application for each event you plan to host. We do not offer discounts on application fees for hosting multiple events because our small but mighty team still needs to promote each event on our calendar.

What information do I need to start my application?

Make sure that you have everything you need before you fill out the submission form. We ask that you only submit complete events as the information will be used to populate your final event listing. Changes to your listing after submission may incur an Editing Fee.

What if I still have details to work out before finishing the application in time for the deadline or our speaker cancels?

The April 25th deadline is crucial for our team create your event page and properly promote each events with our PR team, as well as give attendees enough time to sign up and plan their week. If you’re struggling to finalize your event, or a speaker cancels, please contact us as soon as possible.

I have a very specific preferred date & time, but I haven’t finalized my event details. Should I submit an application anyway?

We curate the entire week to avoid similar event topics from overlapping, and need to confirm all the information for your event at the time of application submission. Partially submitted events will not be accepted. Once an application has been reviewed and approved, it goes directly into our pipeline for our team to execute next steps.

Event Title

Events with a clear, direct focus tend to be the most successful as attendees can immediately tell what they are on the event calendar when they’re visually scanning offerings. Long titles will get cut off on the SFDW site, so avoid being too descriptive. Abstract titles are clever, but have less attendance! Consider including your brand in the title!

Example Title: How Adobe Design is shaping generative AI

Example Title: Experiments in AI – A Show & Tell at IDEO

Event Description

Like your event title, your event description should make it clear what attendees will experience at your event, and what they’ll get out of attending. Include a schedule and any giveaways or special guests. Don’t bury the lead and make sure attendees know what your event is about in the first few sentences.

Event Image

Keep it simple. No text and no logos in the main event image, and we really mean it. Our site is responsive and will not render correctly which is a reflection on your brand and our festival. Your main event image is not an advertisement so don’t include info about the date, time, speaker names (these details will already be included on the event page).

Example: If your event topic is interior design, use an image of a great interior or the main designer being featured. If your event is a bit more abstract, simple colors and patterns or illustrations work really well. Remember, SFDW is for the visually-minded community, so a strong, well-designed image is important.

Preferred Dates and Times

Each year SFDW is made up of hundreds of events throughout the week. We do our best to give event hosts their preferred date and time, but sometimes we have to make adjustments based on the overall curation of the week.

A few things to keep in mind when thinking about your preferred event dates and times:

• Tuesday night, SFDW will be hosting our opening night event from 7-9pm. We do not accept events which overlap.
• If you’re worried about competing with a ton of other events, please consider avoiding evenings and hosting a morning or lunch event instead. You can also host an event earlier in the evening so that attendees can attend multiple events by stacking them. For example, if you host an event at 4:30 pm and end at 5:30 pm, attendees can still make it to another event that begins at 6:00pm. Help us help attendees get the most out of the festival!
• Mornings and daytime events are underutilized and a great way to stand out from the evening events, and can be as simple as hosting coffee with your design team. We also welcome more structured events earlier in the day such as workshops and lectures.
• We recommend that you submit a few dates and times so that we can make sure your event isn’t scheduled against another event of a similar nature. List your preferred date/time first on your application.

Length of Event

We recommend creating a sample schedule to determine the length of your event and include in your event description. For example, if you’re holding a panel discussion, consider both the check-in process, as well as discussion afterward and factor both into the total length of time of your event. If you want to go the extra mile, include the schedule in your event description.

• For virtually hosted events, keep in mind screen fatigue. Limit virtual events to one hour unless it is a workshop.
• We do not accept Conferences or Multi-Day events during San Francisco Design Week. Our attendees want to be out attending as many events as possible during the festival and these types of events limit their ability to do so.

Does SFDW cover the costs of production for my event, including supplies, food, drinks, and snacks?

No. Each Community Host is responsible for their own expenses. If providing such items is a financial burden, we encourage you to find donations from your clients, partners or sponsors whenever possible.

Does SFDW provide volunteers for my event?

You will be responsible for finding and managing your own volunteers, including attendee check in at the door. We can send out a call for volunteers and send them your way prior to the festival, but you would be responsible for interviewing and managing your volunteers.

Does SFDW provide my registration list for my event?

Yes! We will supply you with an excel document of attendees first and last name who has registered for your specific event. You can also admit your own guests to your event by keeping your own VIP List on the side, for your personal guests, staff, clients. We do not need a copy of your own attendee lists.

Can I charge a ticket fee for my event?

Unfortunately no. For the best user experience, San Francisco Design Week charges a fee for a One-Pass which allows attendees to seamlessly register for multiple events and easily manage their schedules. Proceeds from One Pass revenue covers the huge expense of our nonprofit producing the festival. Your application fees are directly supporting your efforts because we spend our budget on promoting your brand and your participation!

Venue

Can I apply to host an event if my venue isn’t confirmed yet?

We ask that you only apply once your venue has been confirmed. Host at your studio, reach out to a colleague to see if your team can utilize one of their spaces, or rent a venue.

What if I can provide a venue, but I don’t plan to host an event?

If you are offering your venue as a resource, please contact us. The events team can make the introduction if a Community Event Host has event content, but no venue. SFDW is not responsible for negotiating terms between a potential Community Event Host and a venue.

Capacity

Please indicate the actual number of attendees you can host at your event. We will add a percentage of seats to your total due to drop off rates and no-shows. Make sure to save space for your own personal guests and clients.

Application Fees for Community Hosts

Fee to host an event:

• Individual Event Hosts: $50
• Small Studios and Small Non-Profits (2-9 employees): $100
• Non profit Organization (10+ employees): $299
• For Profit Organization (10+ employees) : $399

Why do I have to pay a fee and what does it cover?

The fees allow us to support you and your event by employing a main contact to help you along the way, a Public Relations agency to promote your brand and event, and additional support as needed. We’re here for you every step of the way, so thank you for your support! As a a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we rely on registration fees, sponsorship, donations and the goodness of others to produce this community design festival.

I want to support SFDW as an official Sponsor. How do I do that?

If you’re interested in being an official sponsor of SFDW, please fill out the sponsorship form and we will reach out with more details soon!

What if I can’t afford the application fee?

Community Host Registration fees are reduced for registered nonprofit organizations with a verifiable nonprofit status. When filling out the application form, simply select nonprofit as the type of organization and enter your EIN number. Nonprofits without EIN number must include proof of a Fiscal Sponsors EIN.

San Francisco Design Week supports and encourages historically underrepresented communities to apply and be recognized on our platform. If you have any suggestions on how we might better accomplish this please contact us.

Please fill out the Event Proposal Fee Waiver form to be considered for a discount or waiver.

Is the Community Host Application fee refundable?

Community Event Host Application fees are non-refundable once an application is accepted. If your application has not yet been accepted, your application fee will be refunded minus 20% processing fee to cover the work which has already been accomplished on your behalf.

Editing fee

We understand that some changes to your event are out of your control, however changes to an event that has already been submitted and added to our calendar will incur an editing fee, starting at $75 and additional charges for major edits. Go easy on our small team, and finalize your details before applying.

Ticketing/Registration and Check-In

Who manages ticketing and registration?

SFDW handles ticketing for you through one consolidated platform so that the ticketing and registration process is consistent and streamlined for attendees. Each host will be given access to their event registrations (attendee names only) twice: 48 hrs and 24 hrs prior to the event, or when your event registration is full. We will also communicate with you throughout the registration process if your events registration is low and help you to promote even more to fill seats. Any communication from hosts to attendees will be managed through SFDW until we share your registration, at which point you will have your attendees registration details including email addresses.

Who collects ticket sales?

SFDW, a non-profit 501c3, requires attendees to purchase an all-access pass for the festival excludes workshops/special events (contact our team for more details) and the proceeds go to cover expenses for producing the event and is considered a donation. We’ve had a tough time surviving throughout the pandemic and during these uncertain economic times, so we appreciate your contribution so that we can continue hosting the festival for the community. Your studio name will be added to our Community Partner page for extra promotion of your brand and as a resource for Bay Area design. If your organization is hosting a workshop which requires a higher ticket price to pay the facilitator, please contact us.

How can I be sure that I will have attendees?

Once your event is live, share the event to your network and promote on social media. We will also be promoting your event on social media, on our calendar, in our emails newsletters and monitoring ticket sales. We will notify you if your registration is low and needs a little extra marketing (which we can help with). You should also promote to your network! We will also add extra tickets to your event to “oversell” in order to make sure that seats are filled. When filling out the host application, include your target amount of attendees or the limit your space can hold. We will calculate available tickets based on historical no-show rates. Live calendar events tend to sell out quickly.

Promotion, Marketing and PR

What can I do to promote my event?

Promote your SFDW presence in advance via social media with the date of your event as soon as this information is available. Make a post about your SFDW participation in your blog or on your Instagram or Facebook page and tag us to re-share. Create an Instagram competition with free giveaways to increase the number of followers. Send out an email blast and invite your studio’s friends, clients, colleagues to join or help promote and spread awareness.

How does SFDW promote my event?

PR: San Francisco Design Week enlists a public relations agency to highlight and feature some of the most interesting Community Host events so make your application count! We cover the costs of our PR agency in part from Community Event Host Application Fees and Attendee Registration, but you should still consider working with your own in-house team or PR agency to promote your event as well.

Calendar, Digital Newsletters and Social Media: We’ll publish each approved Community event to our official event calendar, utilize our email list to market your event as well as our social media channels. While you’re promoting your event on socials, please tag us so we can re-post yours! Download our brand and theme templates to create your own digital newsletters and social media to get the word out!

Spread the word about SFDW

To actively join the conversation and help us promote your brand, we encourage you to use SFDW’s handles, hashtags, and logo in your communication on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram:

Instagram: @SFdesignweek  @design.bayarea

Hashtag: #SFDW #designbayarea #SFdesignweek

LinkedIn: San Francisco Design Week

LinkedIn: Design Bay Area

X Handle: @SFdesignweek @designbayarea
Hashtag: #SFDW #designbayarea #SFdesignweek

Facebook SFDW: https://www.facebook.com/sfdesignweek/

Facebook Design Bay Area: https://www.facebook.com/designbayarea/

Only approved Event Hosts who submit an application have legal use of our name, brand and logo through August, 2025:

Contact SFDW

Read through all the FAQs but still have questions?

Contact us by filling out this form

We can answer your questions via email or schedule a time to speak to your team by phone or video! We’re here for you!

Apply Now