Please join the Association of Architecture Organizations (AAO) for the 2023 Design Matters Conference this March 16-18 at the Center for Architecture. This annual meeting is produced to support professional networking and idea sharing among architecture organization staff and individuals interested in expanding public dialogue and public engagement on issues concerning the role of architecture, planning, and design in service to society.
The majority of 2023 Design Matters Conference sessions will focus on ways we can drive collective impact in our field. Over the past few years, many of us have had to relearn the seemingly simple facts that in-person meetings should be reserved for activities where place and sustained dialogue and interpersonal dynamics are privileged, while virtual offerings should be more succinct and presentational in nature. And so, we have crafted this year’s meeting to take full advantage of the unique resources and thought leadership available to us in New York City.
We will explore strategies designed for collective impact from multiple perspectives. First, in conversation with noted grantmakers, then with organization leaders re-engaging city life with new programming at different scales, and finally by hearing from the vanguard of architecture media who are tasked with sharing stories of architecture’s larger relevance.
In other words, this year’s conference will consider:
- Why we fund the work of architecture and design organizations and the many independent designers and talented individuals and civic and community entities that engage with architecture organizations.
- What we choose to do with our limited resources to conceive and deliver programming that can achieve our desired outcomes, both temporal and enduring.
- How we choose to author and celebrate and interrogate our work in an ever-changing media landscape.
As with all Association of Architecture Organizations (AAO) events, we are mindful to be efficient with our schedule and frugal in the expenses being asked of our attendees. The 2023 conference is structured with optional activities beginning the afternoon of Thursday, March 16, plus post-conference dialogues the morning of Saturday, March 18. And the conference schedule also includes regular allowances for networking and affinity groups to take place in smaller settings. With several architecture organizations dotting New York, plus so many exhibits and tours and events taking place this March, we want you to take full advantage of the new experiences and new connections we can deliver for you in this unique gathering with your peers.
We look forward to seeing you in New York this March 16-18!
Who Should Attend
The Design Matters conference is perfect for architecture organization staff (at all levels), as well as design professionals, educators, and independent curators and consultants interested in public dialogue/public engagement and related issues concerning the role of architecture, planning, and design in service to society.
Registration Rates
$175 AAO Member Conference Pass
$215 Non-Member Conference Pass
$100 Small Group Dine Around Single Ticket
Saturday Architecture Tours (schedule and rates to be announced in late February)
This event is offered in person; COVID-19 vaccinations and face masks are strongly encouraged for all visitors. Read our full Health and Safety Protocol here.
Association of Architecture Organizations (AAO); Center for Architecture
