Proposal FAQs
What are your guidelines?
Here are some simple guidelines to help you make your proposal shine:
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Make sure your proposal aligns with our mission and this year's theme. This the single most important thing we're looking for. -
Read all of the FAQs. Even if you don't think the questions apply to you, read them anyway. -
Design your event to be something that you'd want to attend yourself. This seems like an obvious thing to point out, but is often overlooked. -
The more interactive and immersive your event is, the better! Attendees love connecting with others over a shared experience. -
Avoid proposals that are about self-promotion. Not only is it out of character with our mission, it's also really boring. -
Design your proposals with a specific audience in mind. The more diverse, the more impact your event will have. -
Consider unlikely and underused spaces as the setting for your event. There's an art to gathering people, including where we gather. -
Collaborate with others, especially those outside your usual circles. Chances are, they can offer ways to enrich the experience of your event. -
And finally: Be ambitious, but also don't lose sight of the mission. Sometimes the smallest of events can have the biggest positive impact.
Do you have examples of programming that you're looking for?
Here are some examples to inspire you:
What event categories are you offering?
What does Montclair Design Week provide for my event?
• Volunteers for all events
Does it cost anything to submit my proposal?
What is the full timeline?
Why do you have a Code of Conduct?
Montclair Design Week is committed to a kind and inclusive experience for all of its participants. Whether your an attendee, volunteer, sponsor, partner, event host, MDW representative, showcase exhibitor or organizer, we value participation that is free from harm and harrassment. Please read our full Code of Conduct here.
I'm still not sure what you're looking for. How can I get more information?
We are so excited you've made it this far! That's already a great start - you're someone who's curious and wants to make a difference with your story about design.
What is this year's theme?
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UNWRITTEN is everything we do and make without pausing to give or receive explanation--all the systems and rituals that we participate and move within, but rarely see. It’s those unspoken gestures and actions between us that make and break our community.
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UNWRITTEN is about working together to uncover what’s been hidden or forgotten. It calls us to lay it bare, unearth, get naked, be curious. To encounter each other.
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UNWRITTEN means that nothing is set in stone--that when we connect, we can discover things we never could have imagined. It means we can rewrite the story and our futures for the better.
What if my proposal involves out-of-pocket/material costs?
Our goal is to keep our program of events free or low cost to our attendees. For that reason, you are responsible for any supplies you'd like to use. You’re encouraged to provide refreshments at your event, but it’s not required.
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Partner with a local supplier for in-kind contributions. Or better, co-design your proposal so that it's a collaboration. Chances are, they would be thrilled to be a part of Montclair Design Week, too! -
Put out a call to your friends and neighbors for things that you can borrow, instead of buying something new. -
Design your proposal so that attendees can bring things or materials needed to carry out your event.
What is Montclair Design Week?
Montclair Design Week (MDW) is the town’s official celebration about design. MDW connects and engages our community in a week of thought-provoking, playful, and inclusive events that celebrate how design enriches our lives in ways both large and small, visible and unseen.
Can I specify a day and time for my proposal?
We offer our event hosts three time slots to choose from, depending on the category type. We try to accommodate everyone's first choice but there is no guarantee. Please make sure to be available for all three that you select.
How can I get feedback on my ideas for a proposal?
We offer our submitters the chance to participate in our in-person Proposal Development Workshop, held on June 24, 7pm - 9pm. All you need to do is to submit your ideas in short form by June 20, 11:59pm EST, and you're automatically eligible to attend!
Our Submissions deadline is now passed!
Thank you to everyone who submitted to host an event, give a talk, gather your neighbors, or invent something big. We had so many great categories open this year: Workshops, Pecha Kucha Talks, For Youth, by Youth Day, Design Dens, and "Other, " our newest category, where we invite you to dream up your own creation. Public programming at its best — designed by you!
Thank you to everyone who submitted!
All submitters will be notified no later than July 26, 2019.