Design Nights inspire thinking and partying

Hands-on experience, virtual landscapes at Autodesk Gallery

To the left of the elevator, a drum set plays itself. Around the corner in the main gallery, bright yellow signs that exclaim “Eat! Drink! and Make!” cause you to bypass the crowd around the open bar and direct your attention toward a table where you can make speakers out of magnets, paper plates and wire. Another room houses a virtual soundscape, and after trying on an immersive headset and exploring the virtual environment, it’s time for all-you-can-eat tacos.

This is Design Night, a monthly gathering for design enthusiasts that also exposes the public to how design affects everyday life. Held at the Autodesk Gallery in San Francisco, which features about 25 exhibits, such as a concept car built from biological material and a soccer ball that generates electricity from play, Design Night is part lecture series, part party.

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