20 Years of the Chicago Design Archive Exhibition

Collage celebrating "20 Years of the Chicago Design Archive" with assorted vintage posters, logos, and graphic designs, featuring diverse styles and vibrant colors, interspersed with star motifs and text.

To celebrate two decades of the Chicago Design Archive, the Design Museum of Chicago hosted the 20 Years of the CDA exhibition. Since 2003, the CDA has served as the premiere online repository for Chicago-related design, preserving historically significant works while showcasing the city’s ever-evolving creative landscape.

The exhibition honored Chicago’s rich design history through a curated selection of quintessential works. The opening reception on August 2nd featured a talk by CDA Education Chair and SAIC faculty member Lara Allison, welcoming guests to reflect on the past, present, and future of design in Chicago.