The 2015 Design Week RI schedule of events features more than 30 events in nine Rhode Island communities. Focused on the impact of design talent in the RI business community, this second annual event will take place September 16 through 27, and bring together nationally recognized speakers and local Rhode Island design superstars through tours, luncheons, talks, showcases, parties and more.

Themes for the week focus on design and manufacturing, design and health, urban innovation, product design, visual communications, and the built environment.

Registration for events is accessible through the event website at www.designxri.com and include a featured speaker series, the Eat and Speak Lunch Series, the RI Design Hall of Fame, partner events, design conferences, a Design and Manufacturing Panel, a Statewide Maker Space Open House, and other happenings.

The events will be held throughout Rhode Island, in towns and cities including Bristol, East Providence, Jamestown, Lincoln, Newport, Pawtucket, Providence, Warren and West Warwick.

Maria Martinez, studio manager at Whetstone Workshop in East Providence, says the annual event is a boon for design businesses as well as fabricators like Whetstone, which does metalwork and fabrication for architectural and art applications. "The Providence area design community has exploded in recent years," she says. "Designers are looking to have their products fabricated here, and Design Week RI is a wonderful way for us to get to know each other. When designers know what fabricators can do, they can design to our capabilities."

Whetstone will be hosting a shop tour at their headquarters at 41 Dexter St., East Providence, on Friday, Sept. 25. The other East Bay events on the schedule include a maker space open house at Tinker Bristol on Sunday, Sept. 20; a fine furniture tour at O & G Studio in Warren on Monday, Sept. 21; an architect-led tour of Warren's Hope & Main, RI's first food business incubator on Monday, Sept. 21; and a restaurant renovation tour at Aruba Steve's (formerly India) in Warren on Friday, Sept. 25.

Many events are free. Others range from $10 for a studio tour to $65 for the Hall of Fame party. Design conference tickets and other happenings are sold separately. For a full schedule of events visit www.designxri.com.