On Wednesday, July 21 at Office Environments of New England, Design Museum Boston held it’s first UNITE@ event. UNITE@ events are all about bringing designers and non-designers together at unique locations throughout the city to connect around design and learn about the museum’s programs.

Over 200 people filled the stunningly modern Office Environments showroom to connect with each other, as well as to learn about and support the museum. The crowd was a generous mix of creative people networking across industries. Two great local brands supplied the food and drink for the evening. Boloco provided attendees with a variety of mini-burritos and Harpoon Brewery supported the event with bottles of their UFO beers.

The evening was filled with great conversation around design and the museum. Halfway through the evening, Design Museum Boston co-founders, Sam Aquillano and Derek Cascio addressed attendees with a presentation on the museum’s mission and current programs. They unveiled plans for their inaugural exhibit, Creative Capital, which will open at Boston City Hall this September. They also introduced Designing A Difference, a program in which Design Museum Boston pairs talented local designers with local nonprofits in need of design services. The premier screening of a short film documenting their first charrette was met with rousing applause from the crowd.

“I was so pleased to see and hear the community get excited about our programs and have them understand our unique approach to a design museum,” said Aquillano. Cascio commented, “I knew folks were excited when I started hearing ideas for future programs and exhibits, the design community here will drive this project forward.”

Throughout the night many attendees became members of the museum’s social network, designingamuseum.org and generously donated at computer kiosks around the showroom. Office Environments and Steelcase also raffled an i2i chair with the proceeds benefiting the museum.

Thanks to all the attendees and our generous sponsors, Office Environments, Steelcase, Harpoon, and Boloco, the night was a great success. “We were able to have fun and show the community everything we’re working on,” expressed Aquillano. Stay tuned for more UNITE@ events at interesting design locations through Boston and New England.

Images by Ben Gebo.

Images by Cory White.

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