We champion the
Long Beach
creative community
Mission
Discovering, connecting, and growing a community of creators in the heart of downtown.
The DTLB Design District is a concentrated area within the urban core of Long Beach that serves as a thriving hub for creative, innovative, and design-focused activities.
Our mission is to build an inclusive, sustainable Creator District that reflects Long Beach’s diverse community and fosters collaboration, creativity and economic empowerment. Through accessible, safe, and engaging spaces, we commit to create a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly hub where we can all thrive.
The District / History
The concept for the DTLB Design District originated in 2023 when Studio One Eleven was invited to participate in the LA Design Festival.
Events like a block party on the Promenade, panels, and installations showcased the area’s creative energy and helped establish Long Beach as a rising voice in the regional design scene.
We quickly realized that many local designers were looking for exactly this kind of community—and with several design-focused institutions already in the area, the idea of an official district made perfect sense.
Building on that momentum, Studio One Eleven helped launch the DTLB Design District Council with partners including the Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at CSULB, DLBA, the Long Beach Community Design Center, and Intertrend. Together, we’re working to make the district a vibrant hub for design-driven activity—supporting economic growth, cultural expression, and community connection.
But we’re not doing this alone. We’re actively working with the community to define what this district can and should be—gathering input, listening to local voices, and building a shared vision for a creative, inclusive, and thriving Downtown. As Long Beach continues to recover and evolve, we are curating events, installations, and collaborations that reflect the city’s unique spirit and position it as a center for innovation leading up to the 2028 Olympics.
Programs
LA Design Festival
Serving greater LA as the Long Beach design hub.
Long Beach is proud to serve as a hub site for the biannual LA Design Festival, showcasing our city’s distinct design point of view—rooted in community, creativity, and cultural diversity. By collaborating with nearby design-focused companies, we’ve transformed our corner of Downtown into a vibrant festival destination.
In 2025, the DTLB Design District will once again come alive with programming throughout the district—including design dinners, poetry readings, pop-up retail, exhibitions, panels, and more. This year’s theme: Design Futurism. Hop on the A Line from Art Center in Pasadena or E line in Culver City to DTLB and experience it for yourself. More information about the festival here.
US International Poster Biennial
Posters rock.
Following the LA Design Festival, we were invited by Poster Territory to host the innaugural United States International Poster Biennial (USIPB), celebrating exceptional national and international poster design. Over 200 graphic design pieces were carefully chosen from a pool of 7,000 submissions across 75 countries. Continuing our effort to activate public spaces, Long Beach was the exclusive U.S. location to display these posters in an open-air setting.
Downtown Long Beach welcomed the festival, celebrating every culture and individual voice. Partners and sponsors included the Downtown Long Beach Alliance, Inkwell Long Beach, The Ordinaire, Dream Share, and Heart Share, a group of ambitious teenage volunteers who helped install the posters in one afternoon.
Downtown Long Beach Art+ Design Walk
Art and Design thrives in Long Beach.
The DTLB Art+Design Walk has become a vital component of the emerging Design District. This quarterly event aimed at cultivating a vibrant creative hub and making design accessible for everyone, showcases the local art scene with a diverse array of artwork from local artists and designers.
By integrating live music, performances, and artist vendors, the Art+Design Walk creates a lively and interactive atmosphere that fosters community engagement. We collaborate with the DLBA, the local Business Improvement District and festival organizer, to foster connections within the art and design community and producing art activations in various public spaces and private spaces throughout the downtown area. Each Art+Design Walk is different offering unique perspectives of the Downtown and encouraging visitors to explore and enjoy the neighborhood.
Our Design Council
We’ve formed a council of civic, academic, and creative leaders who are coming together to shape the future of Downtown Long Beach as a vibrant hub for design, culture, and innovation. Brought to life through a partnership between Studio One Eleven and the Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at CSULB, the DTLB Design District Council includes key players like Intertrend, the Long Beach Community Design Center, and the CSULB Immersive Design Research Lab. Together, we’re working to grow the creative economy, build stronger community connections, and put Long Beach on the map as a regional destination for forward-thinking design. Right now, the Council is focused on bringing more voices to the table, hosting public events, and setting a long-term vision that truly reflects the energy and creativity of this city.
