FUTURISM IN THE VIRTUAL AGE — DESIGNING THE DISTRICT

The future ... what is it going to be like, are the things I imagined then what they are now? Is the future now?

I had never imagined I’d be living in a time where the future felt so ambiguous.

2020 ... a suspended moment in reality. Surreal you could say.

As an artist, I take inspiration from the world and mood around me. No matter the circumstance, creativity sees no boundaries nor limitations. It is through experience of people, places, things, flavors, smells, colors, sounds, and textures where I pull the majority of my creative energy.

This year, I am most grateful for my creative mind and the creativity of those who’ve become my “quarantine pod” – the group of people that for whatever personal or professional reasons have become the group of folks that each of us do all the things with this year. During these unimaginable times, when staying away is the best thing we could do for one another, it has been my mission as a creator, to find ways to bring us even closer than before. As an event planner, this makes my job even more challenging ... "how do we convene during a time when convening shall not?"

A silver lining of all of this ... it is 2020, we are living in a version of our imagined future from the past. With technology engrained in our everyday existence and practice, I consider it a blessing to have to go through an unforeseen amount of time quarantined at least with the ability to virtually recreate our realities.

Another layer to the silver linings cited above, I (along with my team of talented colleagues at Designing the District) am a creative strategist, have developed a reputation to problem solve even the toughest of conundrums (like a how to do business during a global pandemic), and have built my career upon (and audience trust) my dynamic understanding of virtual landscapes, interpersonal interactions via digital tools, and consumer engagement (and excitement!) using non-tangible environments like Instagram and YouTube.

This year, I have joined forces again with the Smithsonian Institute's Hirshhorn Museum of Contemporary Art to assist in producing, promoting, and creating a truly exceptional gala ... the 2nd Annual Hirshhorn Ball, "The Ball," for short. I first joined the Smithsonian in 2019 to help plan and bring to life their first of its kind surrealism ball with the.

By design, the Ball is a moment to celebrate our unique creativity thru outward expression.

In this surreal year, we are bringing to life a new vision for The Ball, a futurism ball, in the most future-like format imaginable: virtual reality. Like last year, through outward expression and personality energies, we convene virtually to celebrate the arts, each other’s whimsy and raise funds to support one of our country's most valuable institutions.

This year, we bring surrealism straight to your home, accessible for all budgets & locations.

This year we bring the future to you!

Tickets are available by clicking here.

PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION - the Fashion Forward ticket level: Benefits include exclusive access to the event, featuring a virtual Red Carpet & Fashion Contest to win a Machine Dazzle original accessory. The outfits will be judged by fashions legends including artist and fashion designer Jason Wu, fashion editor turned CNN White House correspondent Kate Bennett; Academy Award-winning Black Panther costume designer Ruth E. Carter, daring and eclectic fashionista Di Mondo, 2019 Ball host and D.C. performer Pussy Noir, and Project Runway alum and bridal gown connoisseur Austin Scarlett.