Los Angeles Design Festival (Photo – LADF)
Pasadena’s own ArtCenter College of Design is stepping into the spotlight this week as one of four official host venues for the 2025 Los Angeles Design Festival, running from June 26 through June 29.
By News Desk
With a full slate of events unfolding at its South Campus at 950 South Raymond Avenue, ArtCenter is inviting the community to explore the bold possibilities of “Design Futurism,” this year’s forward-thinking theme.
Celebrating design in all its forms, the Los Angeles Design Festival is Southern California’s premier creative event, bringing together artists, innovators, and thought leaders across disciplines. While other host sites include Row DTLA, Helms Design District, and Downtown Long Beach, the heart of Pasadena’s contribution to the four-day festival lies in ArtCenter’s dynamic programming: a rich blend of talks, panel discussions, exhibitions, workshops, and a high-energy opening night party.
The action begins Thursday, June 26, with two key talks that reflect on the transformative power of design in the digital age. At 1:00 pm, Brydon Gerus explores branding’s evolving role in “It’s a Brand New World: How Brand Has Shaped and Will Continue to Shape Everything in the Age of AI,” followed at 2:00 pm by Brittany Moffett’s keynote, “Systems Thinking for Community Care.”
Later that evening, the Mullin Transportation Design Center at ArtCenter becomes the setting for Adobe Create Now, the festival’s official opening night party from 6:00 to 9 :00 pm (RSVP required).
Friday’s highlight includes Charlie Ngov’s talk, “How to Create a Passionate Future,” at 4:00 pm, while Saturday offers a particularly vibrant lineup. A full-day greeting card design workshop, “Charming Prints,” led by Ken and Shino Charlson of Fugu Fugu Press, has already sold out, but the public can still attend their free talk at 6:00 p.m that evening.
Also on Saturday, architectural designer Lida Mahabadi will speak at 1:00 pm on the role of urban design in fostering cultural equity in “City as Connector,” followed by an engaging faculty panel at 2:00 pm, “Design Imaginaries,” featuring ArtCenter’s Media Design Practices MFA program.
Though some events will also be held at other Los Angeles locations, such as trustee Kevin Bethune’s appearances at Row DTLA, ArtCenter’s South Campus remains a critical node of inspiration for the festival’s central theme: using design to drive human connection, innovation, and a better future.
All events at the Pasadena campus are free and open to the public. However, parking is limited, and visitors are encouraged to take public transit. ArtCenter’s South Campus is conveniently located one block from Metro’s Fillmore Station on the A Line.
Los Angeles Design Festival Thursday, June 26 – Sunday, June 29, 2025 Location ArtCenter College of Design – South Campus 950 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, CA 91105
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