(page 44) SEPTEMBER 2015
THE SCOOP BY LEAH VANDEN BOSCH
DEFINING DESIGN The exposed, skeleton structure, original brick walls, and clean interior lines of the Sioux Falls Design Center have you unconsciously thinking about design before the topic is even brought up.
Located in the historic Boyce Greeley Building in downtown Sioux Falls, the SFDC was founded in 2012 by Koch Hazard Architects, a local group of professionals who saw a need for something of its kind. The overall purpose of the space is to support local design, while the opportunities to do so are fluid and endless. The Sioux Falls Design Center works with a handful of sponsors; in return for their financial support, each sponsor has access the space as they desire. The gallery wall allows for the room to be transformed into an art exhibit, the chairs provided can be set up into a meeting or classroom format, and the white dry-erase wall is utilized as a screen for video conferences. “It doesn't seem like it exists in the real world – a place where designers can come to just hang out and create, but it does exist, and it's right here in Sioux Falls,” said SFDC director Kellen Boice. Serving as the liaison between sponsors, Boice coordinates SFDC events. Both the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University have two months of the year to fill the space. They host gallery nights, exposing students to potential employers in the Sioux Falls area, partner with other universities to put on workshops, and meet with professionals and professors via Skype.
“We pride ourselves in being a meeting space for the two universities,” explained Boice. “The Design Center allows them learning opportunities outside of classroom walls.” In between sponsor galleries and meetings, SFDC hosts an emerging artist series. Local artists submit their work for nomination and are given a month to display their artistry on the gallery wall. In return for exposing their work, the Design Center asks they give a PechaKucha presentation to kick off their allotted time. Originating in Tokyo, a PechaKucha presentation is an opportunity for artists to showcase their work in a timely fashion – a six minute and forty second presentation that is made up of 20 slides shown for 20 seconds at a time. The slides can either encompass the artist's work as a whole or a single piece that has inspired them. “It's informal and incredibly engaging...a great way to learn a lot in a little amount of time,” described Boice. All PechaKucha events are open to the public and free of admission. With the hope of getting more of the public involved, the sponsors of the SFDC came together and created the first annual Sioux Falls Design Week last year. Each sponsor chooses a day of the week to host an event, whether inside or out of the
SFDC space. Last year's events included design workshops, lectures, and movies, all free and open to the public. This year's Sioux Falls Design Week is scheduled for October 2-9, with the “Build a Better Birdhouse” competition headlining the event. The contest is open to all age groups, with categories ranging from kids 12 and under to a professional designer level. Submission forms and vouchers are available at JAM Art and Supplies, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and the SFDC. The birdhouses will be on display throughout the week for voting. After the winners are announced, they will be auctioned off online, with all proceeds going back into the Design Center's efforts to bring public awareness to design and it's importance in our community. As Sioux Falls continues to grow, Boice emphasizes the importance of the SFDC growing right along with it. “With all of our recent development, it's crucial we provide a structure that supports design and our city's advancement. It's exciting to see the city is focused on really improving and building a place we can be proud of living in. There is so much potential in Sioux Falls, and we want to be a part of progressing that.” For more information and details on all events, visit siouxfallsdesigncenter.org.