ABOUT ADF

We want everyone to understand the value of design as much as we do.

The Alaska Design Forum (ADF) is a non-profit, all volunteer organization of architects, artists, and designers formed to broaden the range of discussion of design and the built environment.

As an educational group, ADF presents programs that expose the community to leading edge design and art ideas. Our goal is to encourage more discussion about the relevance of design to life in Alaska.

Notable Past Speakers

James Turell
Andy Goldsworthy
Jenny Holzer
Peter Eisenman
Juhani Pallasmaa
Karen Finley
James Carpenter
Rick Joy
Peter Zumthor
Shigeru Ban

David Chipperfield
Karim Rashid
Yves Behar
Stefan Sagmeister
David Adjaye
Einar Jarmund
Claesson Koivisto Rune
Cameron Sinclair
Jessica Hische

 

History

The ADF was founded in 1992 as a non-profit organization of architects, artists, and designers formed to broaden the range of discussion of the design of the built environment. See full list of past lectures, exhibitions and other programs. The goal of the ADF is to motivate people to discuss, think, and ultimately act to create a built environment that inspires the soul and protects the body.

Alaska is in a unique geographic, climatic and social setting. We as individuals and as a community constantly strive to develop a unique and appropriate design response.

As an organization, we encourage the discussion of design in various forums. The core of our program is the annual lecture series. Each year, we present between six and eight lectures – by nationally and internationally recognized architects, designers and artists – in Fairbanks, Anchorage and Juneau.

Accomplishments

  • Presented ‘Fly by Design’ tour of Iceland, connecting travelers with artists, designers and architects through studio and guided tours.

  • Recognized as a recipient of the AIA Collaborative Achievement Award (2010) and the Mayor’s Arts Awards (2006).

  • Commissioned original art installations and artist-in-residence programs.

  • Presented avant-garde performances of dance and music.

  • Sponsored design competitions, including “Imagine Anchorage.”

  • Published Simultaneous Landscapes, a journal of Alaska design and culture.

  • Promoted informal discussion groups, which has been codified as our Third Tuesdays program.

  • Organized workshops and forums of particular relevance to the north.

Multi-City Reach

We have active volunteers in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau, and have also presented programs in other Alaskan locations. Almost all lecturers we bring to Alaska speak in both Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau.

We make a great effort to have our programs accessible to those who are not close to our active chapters, which in a state with such a dispersed audience is no small feat. An example of this is maintaining an ever-expanding video library (of the lectures we present).

Programs

The Alaska Design Forum presents a variety of programs, all of which support our mission of exposing the community to leading-edge design and art ideas and encouraging discussion on the relevance of these ideas to life and design in our state.

Speaker Series

Our cornerstone program – the annual lecture series – brings internationally renowned designers, artists and architects to Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau. We typically bring eight lecturers to Alaska for each lecture series, and our lecture season runs from October to April.

Film Screenings

These screenings often highlight works that explore the intersection of design, art, and cinema, providing audiences with an opportunity to appreciate the intricate details of design, art, architecture, landscape architecture, industrial design, and planning.

Design Challenge

Biennially, ADF issues design challenges to engage our community in a fun way. A design prompt directs individuals and sometimes teams, to create novel solutions and responses. In the past, these targeted efforts have ranged from creating art, to designing buildings and developing games. These events showcase local talent and demonstrate the value of design in a playful and engaging way.

PechaKucha

The Alaska Design Forum is the Anchorage PechaKucha champion. It is a presentation format where speakers show 20 slides, each for 20 seconds, resulting in a concise and fast-paced talk. The format was devised in Tokyo by Klein Dytham Architecture. PechaKucha has become a beloved program and is a great way to highlight our local community members while creating opportunities for networking and beyond.

Board of Directors

James Bibb – Trustee
Tamás Deák - Treasurer, Trustee
Corey DiRutigliano - Trustee
Julia Foland – President, Trustee
Renee Fredericks – Trustee
Erin Hamilton – Trustee
Zane Jones - Secretary, Trustee

Consider joining our board! Of course we know that the act of service is it’s own greatest reward, but the ADF board has specific benefits:

  • Enjoy one-on-one experiences with world-class designers

  • Be in the center of the local design community

  • Meet other design lovers

  • Be constantly inspired

  • Gain leadership skills

  • Grow your professional network

Join us in elevating everyday life through design. Alaska’s design community may be small, but it’s full of impact—and being part of building it is incredibly rewarding.

Not ready to join a board? We’re looking for volunteers, and we have opportunities for everyone. Are you outgoing, reserved, or somewhere in between? We have a role for you! We could use help with big things like hosting events, or small things like setting up chairs,. We also have needs behind the scenes, like helping with social media or filming our lectures. If this sounds like something you'd love to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.