SEGD Detroit Chapter | Dr. Ossian Sweet Memorial Park

Explore how design, storytelling, and placemaking transform space into connection, belonging, and shared experience.

International Design Day 2026 | SEGD Detroit

This year’s IDD theme — The Spaces In Between — explores how design shapes connection. In Detroit, we see that transformation every day.

Join SEGD Detroit for a guided tour of Dr. Ossian Sweet Memorial Park, led by Jason Jay Stevens, Principal of Flutter and Wow — This powerful project demonstrates how design can transform an underutilized site into a meaningful community gathering place.

A century ago, Dr. Ossian H. Sweet and his family won a landmark legal victory that affirmed every American’s right to defend their home. Today, the park stands as a tribute to their courage and legacy.

Through deep research into the Sweet family’s story, Flutter & Wow developed interpretive signage that brings this important chapter of civil rights history to life at the corner of Charlevoix and Garland. The park was recognized with a Keep Michigan Beautiful President’s Award (2025).

This experience will explore:

– How design transforms space into connection

– The role of storytelling and identity in placemaking

– What it means to design for belonging in real communities

Because experiential design isn’t just what we build — it’s what happens between people once it’s built.

📍 2905 Garland St., Detroit, Michigan

📅 April 30, 2026 | 2:00 PM-4:00 PM

This is an outdoor space – Join Us, Rain or Shine.

After-Event Meet-Up:

Following the tour, we invite you to continue the conversation at Collect Beer Bar—just a short distance from the park. This informal gathering is a chance to connect with fellow attendees, share perspectives, and reflect on the experience in a relaxed setting.

Please note: food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Join the global conversation: #IDD2026 #TheSpacesInBetween @internationaldesignday