A Cake-Off, Paper Gone Wild, Sonic Trace; It’s All At The LA Design Festival and Dwell On Design

For a long time designers have wondered why LA doesn’t have its own Milan Furniture Fair or ICFF or 100% Design. Well, just as LA is evolving in its own sweet time and way (Joan Didion might say “slouching”) towards a public transit network and other hallmarks of older, denser cultural capitals, so its large, but disparate, Modern and contemporary design community is evolving towards a signature design fair; through the convergence of Dwell on Design and multiple related design events, promoted under the banner of Los Angeles Design Festival. LADF, which opened this week with a party at The Standard, is taking place in locations all over the region through June 30;  DOD will be at the Convention Center June 22 – 24.

Dwell on Design — its Modern design ethos still going strong after more than ten years and a deep recession — will showcase the latest in homes and interiors, as well as an updated Airstream with interiors by Chris Deam, new variants on prefab housing (promising to be more affordable than the prior generation of custom prefabs proved to be), talks from designers and activists including Architecture For Humanity‘s charismatic founder Cameron Sinclair, as well as Screenplay, an installation by the Silver Lake firm of Oyler Wu, especially commissioned by DOD, that transforms 2-d patterning into an intriguing “wall” made of metal frame and handwoven rope (above, top left).

Also, on display will be a showcase of entries for our very own Sonic Trace soundbooth competition. We’ll announce the winner on this Tuesday’s DnA, and will showcase all the entries at DOD. The competition attracted a big response and some fantastic ideas. We are thrilled to be part of DOD and to share the concepts there.

DOD is also hosting a few advance events. One takes place Saturday at DOD sponsor Art Center College of Design; it’s a panel that will discuss “how innovative design can influence social change.” John Peterson, Founder and President of Public Architecture, will give a keynote address to be followed by a panel moderated by DOD’s managing director Michael Sylvester (who also manages, in the face of organizing a huge event, to be very witty and entertaining.) I’ll be on the panel along with Mariana Amatullo, Vice President, Designmatters and David Mocarski, Chair, Environmental Design.

The list of attractions over the coming fortnight is genuinely endless, but following are a few tasters, assembled by our friends at Design East of La Brea (de LaB). Go to LADF’s web site for a comprehensive list.

Dwell on Design Eastside Home Tour (June 16, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) As part of Dwell on Design, this home tour takes you inside five different homes on our side of town (including a few featured on our home tour if you missed it!).

American Cement Building Studio Tour (June 21, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.) Step inside the iconic Westlake building for a peek inside the studios of eight architecture firms, sponsored by our friends at The Architect’s Newspaper.

AIA LA Design Conference (June 22 and 23, 9:00 to 5:00 p.m.) Now in its sixth year, this two-day conference focuses on financial value to the built environment and enhancing well-being through the power of design.

Dwell on Design (June 22, 23 and 24). The West Coast’s premiere design event includes a massive trade show at the LA Convention Center, plus panels, parties and workshops.

Cake Off at Materials & Applications (June 23, 2:00 to 8:00 p.m.) The 10th anniversary gala for one of our favorite Silver Lake institutions features an architectural bike ride followed by a raffle of cakes made by famous local architects (see invite above).

Big Parade Mashup Walk (June 24, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) Follow Big Parade leader Dan Koeppel on this 12-mile walk through ramps, freeways, tunnels and a few Victorians. Plenty of mini-loops for those who don’t want to do the whole walk.

Andrew Byrom In Conversation (June 29, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.) Remember our awesome tour of the Eames Words exhibition at the A+D Museum? Meet the co-curator, typographer and experience designer behind this and many other projects.

Chinatown Design Night (June 30, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.) The festival closes with a celebration in Chinatown featuring many of the studios, galleries and stores we’ve visited on our Design-n-Dim Sum tours over the years.

Layer: A Loose Horizon (through October 14, 2012). Further experimentation with the sensory possibilities of digital design in this striking installation (shown right), by Lisa Little and Emily White of LA-based architectural practice Layer at the Pasadena Museum of California Art.

Paper Gone Wild (June 20 and June 27, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.) Head to Ilan Dei Studio inVenice Beachfor these crafty workshops showcasing the possibilities of paper, taught by architect and designer Aaron Neubert.

Artists X Architects (June 14 through July 30.) Grab a bite at Joe’s Restaurant and take in the one of a kind exhibition curated by Tibby Rothman that pairs high-profile artists and architects together. More on that at Artbound, here:

LA’s Faces of EcoFashion (June 19). You are what you wear, so stop by MINK Shoes in Venice to learn more about how some young designers are working hard to re-humanize the fashion industry, one gorgeous dress, accessory, or pair of shoes at a time.  Also, don’t miss your chance to get a sneak peek at the world’s first virtual ocean.