Saint-Etienne, a UNESCO Creative City of Design, chose Detroit, its counterpart designated in 2015, as the guest of honor of the 10th International Design Biennial of Saint-Etienne, held from 9 March to 9 April 2017. 

Three exhibitions have been organized by Detroit Creative Corridor Centre, Public Design Trust, Akoaki and Creative Many Michigan: “Footwork”, “Out of Site” and “ShiftSpace”. Panel discussions, music performances, discussions with designers and local actors, workshops and conversations in the Detroit-style coffee shop were all warmly welcomed by local actors and Biennial audience.

More than 60 Detroiters attended the Biennale, including city officials, designers, architects, directors, design schools professors, entrepreneurs, artists, students and urban farmers. Detroit shared with Saint-Étienne its experience as a resilient city, in the midst of shifting work paradigms, leading to fruitful exchanges.