Design Moves the Future - Talk + Opening Reception

EXHIBIT

Design Moves the Future spotlights the ways Detroit designers are shaping what comes next. Presented by Design Core Detroit as part of the Detroit Month of Design, the exhibition treats design as a working tool, gathering images that show it in action across the city.

Highlighting hyper-local ingenuity that moves the needle on a global scale . For sixteen years, the festival has shown the real-world value of creativity and shared Detroit's design story with the world. Design Moves the Future carries that forward, celebrating the creative minds designing our future in Detroit and beyond.

On Display September 9 - October 9, 2026 as part of Month of Design

TALK:

Sep 13, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM (followed by a reception)

A talk exploring the links between Black communities and creative cultures on both sides of the 49th parallel, featuring some of Canada and Detroit’s leading architects, artists and activists.

Moderated by Cultured Magazine's Evan Nicole Brown.

Panellists:

Dr. Kenneth Montague: Prominent Toronto-based art collector originally from Windsor, ON. Kenneth’s father, Spurgeon Montague, an educator and furniture designer, received his Master's degree in Industrial Arts from Wayne State University.

Tura Cousins Wilson: Co-founder of SOCA (Studio of Contemporary Design), Toronto-based architecture firm. His design methodology leverages historical and cultural research and is drawn towards the redemptive qualities of reconstituting existing buildings & overlooked communities.

Dion Walcott: Based in Detroit by way of Toronto, Dion Walcott is the Founder of MARTKD, an creative agency focused on celebrating the creator economy and bridging communities through partnerships, activations,and collaborations.

Kiana Wenzell: Co-Executive Director of Design Core Detroit and the Director of Detroit Month of Design, Kiana leads one of the country’s most respected design festivals. With over two decades of experience shaping cultural and design-driven initiatives, Kiana is a recognized force in Detroit’s creative economy and a key contributor to the city’s global presence as a UNESCO City of Design.

https://www.detroitmonthofdesign.org/event-details/black-culture-across-borders