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DesignPhiladelphia, the annual city-wide celebration honoring the historic role of design in the Philadelphia region while showcasing the creative innovation yet to come, returns October 10-14.

Once again, the eight-year-old cultural initiative will partner with The University of the Arts for the nation’s largest festival of its kind.

From symposia and round table discussions to street parties, exhibitions and public installations, you’ll get to meet and see the work of more than 500 national and international designers at the heart of our creative economy.

Here are a few highlights of the festival, events we’re most excited about:

• PopUp Place – the 2012 DesignPhiladelphia Festival kick-off party: Wednesday, October 10, 5:30 p.m., Provenance Architecturals, 912 Canal Street, $60-200 for benefit, free for street party. DesignPhiladelphia 2012 kicks off with an evening of design exhibitions, fashion showcases and outdoor revelry, set on the fringe of Northern Liberties at Provenance Architecturals, a 10,000 square-foot salvage warehouse. Event components include food, signature cocktails from Art in the Age, a pallet lounge by Bonzai Homes, So Re Fa fashion show produced by Arcadia Boutique, outdoor projections by Matt Suib and Nadia Hironaka, hands-on interactive architectural structure workshop and more. The benefit celebration will roll into the (free) PopUp Place Street Party, igniting the 900 block of cobblestone Canal Street, from 7:30–10 p.m.

• Open Air: September 20-October 14, nightly 8-11 p.m., Benjamin Franklin Parkway; Project Headquarters: 24th Street and the Parkway, Free. Open Air, the giant 3-D light installation on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway which kicked off last Thursday, September 20, is officially affiliated with DesignPhiladelphia. Check out all of our coverage, including three detailed guides to where to watch, here.

• Fast Forward >> What’s Next for Philly?: Wednesday, October 10, 6-8 p.m., Center for Architecture, 1218 Arch Street, Free. A lineup of presenters from various creative backgrounds will Fast Forward through 20 slides at 20 seconds each to answer one question: What’s next for Philly? The conversation continues offstage at a happy hour.

• CandyCoated Trunk Show in Rittenhouse Square: Thursday, October 11, 5:30-6 p.m., Rittenhouse Square, Free. A CandyCoated.org trunk show will roll into Rittenhouse Square (literally: on a three-wheeled tricycle) featuring a collection of one-of-a-kind garments created with Lobo Mau. Models will promenade the Square’s walkways to showcase the clothes.

• The Creation of Ravenwood: M. Night Shyamalan’s Home: Thursday, October 11, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Center for Architecture, 1218 Arch Street, Free. A classier version of MTV’s Cribs comes to Philadelphia with this Dialogues on Design lecture at the Center for Architecture. Ravenwood is the private residence of film director M. Night Shyamalan (Sixth Sense, Signs, Unbreakable), located in the outskirts of Philadelphia. The architect, Richard Cameron, has agreed to give a rare presentation of this work and share the timeless design methods employed in its creation.

• Philadelphia’s Green Affordable Housing Tour: Thursday, October 11, 4-5:45 p.m., Connelly House, 1212 Ludlow Street, Free. Join the Office of Housing and Community Development for a bus tour of recently completed and under construction developments with green and blue roofs, permeable paving, solar hot water systems and sustainable features reducing stormwater and heat island impacts. Meet the developers, architects and government officials making Philadelphia the “greenest city in America” through affordable housing development. RSVP to michelle.sonsino@phila.gov.

• Behind the Counter at the Reading Terminal Market: Saturday, October 13, 10 a.m.-noon, Reading Terminal Market, 1100 Filbert Street, $10. Join architect Anthony Bracali of Friday Architects/Planners, Inc. and General Manager Paul Steinke, for a guided tour through the newly renovated Reading Terminal Market. Explore Philadelphia’s unique and extraordinary historic farmers market in Center City and learn about its updated architectural features and rich history. Experience various products from select market merchants. Tour is limited to 15 people, so reserve right now!

• Sustainable Streets Scavenger Hunt: Saturday, October 13, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Columbus Square Recreation Center, 1200 Warton Street, Free. Join The Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities and the Philadelphia Water Department for a Sustainable Streets Scavenger Hunt. Participants will be able to explore some of Philadelphia’s most innovative street design features from those that reduce storm-water overflow to those that protect Philadelphians as they cross, drive, or ride down our urban corridors.

• VIADUCTgreene: Saturday, October 13, 3-5 p.m., Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill Street, Free. Through the Community Design Collaborative, VIADUCTgreene has teamed up with OLIN, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, CVM and VJ Associates to develop conceptual designs for a three-block section of the underground City Branch railroad that extends west from the elevated Reading Viaduct into public space. VIADUCTgreene wants your input; bring your ideas and be prepared to let your imaginations run wild. Snacks and bar, too.

• Bridge + Tunnel Bike Ride: Sunday, October 14, 12:15-4:30 p.m., 30th Street Station, $5. This easy-paced, 12-mile ride rolls over and under expressways, rivers and rail lines. Enjoy Philly’s most bike-friendly bridge, dive into the city’s longest subterranean street and ring your bell in echoing tunnels. Bring: spare tube, helmet, lock, lights, camera. Start and finish at 30th Street Station. Refreshments following.

Want to see the full event listings? You can flip through the printed guidebook online, on the DesignPhiladelphia website. Or you can search by discipline and location using DesignPhiladelphia’s interactive guide.

Most importantly, stay tuned on Uwishunu for more updates as the festival approaches.

DesignPhiladelphia 2012
When: October 10-14
Where: All over the city
Cost: Mostly free
More info: www.designphiladelphia.org