San Diego and Tijuana are separated by a much-politicized international border, but in many ways they share a soul. So, according to Jonathon Glus, the executive director of the city of San Diego’s Commission for Arts and Culture, it makes sense that this year the two cities were named the first dual World Design Capital. “Geographically, we are as connected as one of the outer boroughs to Manhattan,” he says. “In the design community, the aesthetic and the work is a confluence of both cultures. The reality of globalism and migration is so active in this region, which means a new artist, a new designer, or a new academic is coming to San Diego and Tijuana every single day.” For 2024, the cities are hosting 300-plus design-oriented events and exhibitions; here are a few for visitors to check out.
Espacios & Lines
The San Diego International Airport is displaying pieces by 16 local artists, half of whom live and/or work binationally. Among the highlights are quilted jackets from Barrio Logan–based textile artist Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski and vinyl prints by Hugo Crosthwaite, a native of Rosarito, Mexico, who won the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery’s Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition in 2019.
World Design Festival
Taking place May 1–5, concurrently with Tijuana Design Week, this five-day event on the Mexico side of the border includes lectures, exhibitions, public workshops, and studio open houses. The theme, “Expanded Present,” is meant to push the design industry to continue to work toward a positive socioeconomic and environmental future.
Bay to Park Paseo
Teams of urban designers, architects, landscape artists, and more came together to create this 1.7-mile pedestrian itinerary along Park Boulevard, which connects San Diego Bay to Balboa Park. An outdoor gallery of sorts, it features temporary art installations such as a stained-glass Garibaldi fish near the bayfront and a mesh Hermes copper butterfly on the Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge.
EXCHANGE Pavilion
Tijuana artist Daniel Ruanova and San Diego architecture firm Heleo have combined to create an installation, EXCHANGE Pavilion, that goes on view in the Palacio Municipal de Tijuana this month before moving to Balboa Park in July. The bridge-inspired work seeks to encourage connection between people on either side of la frontera.
San Diego Central Library
The lattice-domed downtown San Diego library is putting on many exhibits. Among these are James Hubbell: Architecture of Jubilation, dedicated to the designer of California’s Sea Ranch Chapel; Voices on the Inside, a show of works from Poetic Justice, an arts program for incarcerated women; and a large, friendship bracelet–inspired piece woven by students on either side of the border, which will be at the library through the end of May before moving to Friendship Park in Tijuana.
World Design Experience
From September 18 to 25, this week-long event runs at the same time as San Diego Design Week. The Design Forward Alliance and Mingei International Museum are collaborating with the community to host tours, workshops, lectures, and other programming.
