DesignPhiladelphia: tech picks from the festival

DesignPhiladelphia, the annual design festival, has just gotten underway. Here’s a bunch of tech events for you to attend. Find the full event guide here.

TOMORROW:

• Mural Dedication: Black Hole by Ryan McGinness. University City Science Center, 3711 Market Street. 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. “World-renowned artist Ryan McGinness’ monumental mural at the University City Science Center features layers of ‘event horizons,’ creating a feeling of portals into an infinite inner space, and a strong gravitational pull on the senses. McGinness’ “Black Holes” series is an exploration of how ideas of outer space and mind space can intertwine.”

Oct. 15

• Service Jam: Brainstorming a Better Philadelphia Through One of the 5 Senses. A&G/Neiman Labs, 1619 Walnut Street, 4th Floor. 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. “Could a smell improve education? How might sound have an effect on transportation? In this Service Jam, join us at the intersection of creative thinking and “doing good” to design new conceptual services and experiences that could make Philadelphia better. In concert with this year’s Festival theme, each participating team will be required to use one of the 5 senses – scent, sight, touch, taste, or smell – to identify a new way to innovate public school education. Also present will be ‘subject matter experts’ – a few actual teachers, students, and parents – to give their perspectives as the teams generate creative ideas to innovate Philadelphia schools. Think big, far-fetched and ‘sensually.'”

Oct. 17

• Philadelphia Fashion Incubator Exhibit Reception. Broad Street and Market Street. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. “Join the Philadelphia Fashion Incubator for the opening reception of their fashion exhibit highlighting the 2012 & 2013 Designers-in-Residence and learn more about this exciting program!”
  
• Open House: Hack This Classroom! Asian Arts Initiative, 1219 Vine Street. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. “Through a rigorous design-thinking process facilitated by Public Workshop, Mural Arts’ Artrepreneurs Program students ages 14-18 “hacked” their classroom at Asian Arts Initiative, imagining a new future for their studio as a place of artistic entrepreneurship.  An Open House will welcome visitors to the new space and will feature youth-designed art, workshops and performances.”
• University City Science Center’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. Hotel Monaco, 433 Chestnut Street. 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. “What do nylon stockings, the geodesic dome and the rabies vaccine have in common? All were discovered or developed by innovators with a connection to the Greater Philadelphia region! The University City Science Center is celebrating innovation in the STEAM sectors of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math with an Innovators Walk of Fame. Join us as the first ‘class’ is announced at the Science Center’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Oct. 17 at Philadelphia’s Hotel Monaco.” [Sold out]
• Yards Tap Handle Throwdown. NextFab Studio, 2025 Washington Ave. 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. “‘And, the winner is…’ This is the night! Come check out the tap handle designs for Yards Brewery, our proud partner. Don’t miss out this opportunity to vote for your favorite design, which will be featured in local popular bars. Also the winner will get many many more prizes… for more detail, please check our website. Beer and light refreshments will be provided.”
• Philly Pixel Party: A Live Photographic Experience. VIUS, 1639 N. Hancock Street. 6:01 p.m. – 11:59 p.m. “Give your phone a break for one night and let us take care of the photography. Enjoy libations, munchies, music and ping-pong while we curate a live, online photographic exhibition. Over the course of the night, strategically positioned cameras will build a psychedelic, photographic time-lapse of the evening’s revelry. The result will be a unique web experience that party-goers can enjoy long after the party’s over.”
• Infographics, Information, and Ethics. Electronic Ink, 1 South Broad Street. 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. “Designers influence how information is interpreted and what meaning is extracted by transforming facts and figures into powerful data visualizations and infographics for non-expert audiences. What is a designer’s obligation to the data? What if a tiny lie makes for a better picture? Join Electronic Ink designer Ariel Braverman in a discussion exploring challenges and tactics for visualizing data in an effective, meaningful and ethical way. “