Design is often defined as a plan or drawing that shows the look and function of something before it's built. It’s the blueprint of a building, the sketch of a garment, the wireframe of the next big app, the storyboard for a film, and so much more than that.

As makers and problem solvers, we constantly challenge and question what design is. Could it be art with purpose? Aesthetics backed by intent? A research-driven tool for change? A reimagined concept? A new question asked?

Maybe it’s all of the above. And maybe that’s where our ideas and our questions begin to breed chaos.

Now, the lines blur. Definitions are in flux. Identities and skillsets are up for debate. If we call ourselves designers, what does that really mean? Maybe it means embracing complexity. Being intentional, thoughtful, bold. Maybe it’s not just about making things, but envisioning what could be. Sharing that vision with clarity, not shame. With confidence, not ego.

Design is a process, and processes evolve. So too does the definition. We’re not here to land on one fixed answer.
We’re here to keep defining it, again and again.

Design doesn’t belong to one discipline, one definition, or one story.

How do you define design? What story do you tell through your expression of design? How will you share your thought process?

Submit An Event →

Submissions Are Closed

To be a part of the conversation that strengthens and unifies the vibrant design community in Nashville. To connect with others of like mind. To amplify new and innovative ideas, methodologies, or relevant and timely conversations. This community would love to engage with what you’re thinking about, how current events shape the design approach and solutions to problems, and what topics bring about inspiration and happiness?
Anyone in the creative community in Nashville. We are seeking event submissions representing industries such as, but not limited to: Animation Design, Architecture, Arts & Crafts, Culinary Arts & Design, Digital Design, Education, Environmental Design, Experiential Design, Fashion, Film, Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Illustration, Industrial Design, Interior Design, Interaction Design, Landscape Architecture, Manufacturing, Music, Photography, Product Design, Urban Design, User Experience, Visual Arts, Writing & Design Criticism, and Design Enthusiasts.
We always have volunteers working check-in for each event, but we don’t typically recruit additional support. We will do our best to accommodate volunteer requests for your event if we have enough interest and availability. You should plan to have your own team for logistics.
We suggest a minimum capacity of 50 people for each venue in accordance with official room capacity and fire code standards, and a capacity of 25 for hands-on workshops. We want you to be able to maximize your time with the NDW community and give as many people as possible the opportunity to interact with your event. In the event that your event would not be possible with that minimum or it would not be as successful due to the nature of the event, please note why. Our ultimate goal is high quality programs.
We urge all hosts to consider charging a small fee for each event. Ticket fees can help offset program expenses, they can be donated back to Nashville Design Week (a 501(c)3 organization), or to a cause of your choosing. You may also consider offering a pay what-you-can structure. Additional information will be communicated and coordinated with accepted event hosts. Ticket prices usually range between $10 - $25 based on event capacity and additional costs you may incur. The ticket price is set by the Event Host, however NDW manages all ticket sales on our platform.
Event Submissions will be blindly scored at the close of the Call for Events window, June 14th. Our Content Curator team is a diverse group of designers, design enthusiasts, experts, and community organizers that have been selected to ensure that the programming is unique, collaborative, and aligns with the mission of Nashville Design Week.
All the submitted event proposals will have any identifying information removed from them. Please do not include identifying information in the description if your event idea does not make sense without it. We will remove it regardless. This helps our Content Curators score all of the events without bias. Once the scores are submitted, the Board reviews the event proposals and further curates the calendar based on a breadth of industries, event styles, and times of day.
The Call for Event Submissions will span from May 10th until June 14th. We will have a submission form on the Nashville Design Week website to submit your event ideas with the basic information about the event and programming. The form will be available until 11:59 PM on June 14th.

You will need to state the event style you would like to host, explain how your event relates to the overall concept and prompt, and provide specific speakers that you are hoping to or already secured ahead of the submission. The more information you can provide us with, the better the Content Curators will be able to score each event.
Once your event has been chosen for the NDW ‘25 Calendar, one of our Content Production Managers will be paired with you to coordinate the event. Event Hosts with work with Content Production Managers to finish planning details and execute the event itself!
We understand that many people who are submitting events may have a company to support their efforts while others are bringing an idea as a fresh perspective with limited connections in town. However, as an event host, you are responsible for all the costs associated with planning an event.
Consider some of the components that come with the style of event you are hoping to host and what time of day you’d like to host it. Simple breakfast or lunch keynotes, panels and galleries are probably the most affordable, while happy hours and evening parties or showcases are going to be the biggest investment. Consider whether you are interested in providing speaker or participant honorariums and build that into your budget as well.
Unfortunately, as a 100% volunteer-run organization, we operate on a very tight budget contingent on the generosity of our amazing sponsors, so we cannot provide any financial support to Event Hosts at this time. All Event Hosts will receive the net ticket sales (minus the ticketing fees), so we recommend that you price your tickets accordingly.
Our Board Members and Content Production Managers (CPMs) can help share our design community connections if you are looking for additional perspectives to add to your event, but you don’t know where to find them. Our Partnerships team is able to connect you specifically with businesses and venues who have offered up their support. The CPMs are responsible for making sure you are coordinating everything in a timely manner; they are not responsible for organizing your event for you. There are strict deadlines that you must agree to upon being selected as an Event Host.
As a 100% volunteer-run organization, we appreciate in-kind contributions by means of venue spaces to hold events, food + beverage sponsorships, rentals, volunteers, and other support. Feel free to connect with us via email at partnerships@nashvilledesignweek.org.
At Nashville Design Week, we are committed to fostering a vibrant and inclusive creative community that celebrates diversity and innovation. As part of our commitment to supporting the entire Nashville design ecosystem, we strive to provide equitable platforms for all voices to be heard and celebrated.
We want to assure all applicants that our application review process will be conducted with fairness, integrity, and transparency. Each submission will be evaluated based on its alignment with the mission and goals of Nashville Design Week, as well as its potential to contribute meaningfully to the Nashville creative and design community.
To ensure fairness and impartiality, the scoring process will be blind, meaning that reviewers will not have access to identifying information about applicants during the evaluation process. This approach allows us to focus solely on the merit and relevance of each proposed event.
We believe that diversity in programming enriches our community and strengthens our collective impact. We welcome submissions from individuals and organizations representing a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and design disciplines.
Thank you for your interest in participating in Nashville Design Week. We look forward to reviewing your submissions and working together to create an inspiring and inclusive week-long event.