Once again, it’s time for the Seattle Design Festival, the Northwest’s largest public design happening. The annual event brings together experts, city leaders, and citizens to celebrate and explore the ways design improves the quality of our lives. The theme for 2013 is “Design in Health” and explores the connection between environmental design, health, and well-being.

This year’s hosts are AIA Seattle, ARCADE magazine, and 30+ partner organizations all providing a variety of events and activities throughout the city. The festival features large scale installations, home tours, walking tours, films, lectures, exhibitions, competitions, activities, and temporary parklets.

The event runs city-wide from September 13 to 22 and includes free public activities at the Design Block on Occidental Ave South in Pioneer Square. More information, tickets and reservations visit: seattledesignfestival.org. Anyone curious about buildings, parks, transportation, interior design, graphic design, digital apps and objects is welcome to engage in a dialogue about design.