Please join us at the Design Museum of Chicago’s 2026 annual benefit! This is an especially exciting year for the museum as we welcome our new Executive Director David Salkin, and celebrate the lasting legacy and foresight of DMoC Founder Tanner Woodford.

At an evening celebrating the past and future of Chicago’s only design museum, we will thank Honorary Co-Chairs Gary Metzner & Scott Johnson for their guiding light in shaping our city’s extraordinary civic ecosystem.

This is Chicago’s best, annual opportunity to connect with a network of design leaders and civic-minded creatives while supporting our museum that fosters bold thinking, meaningful innovation, and design as a community-shaping tool.

The people behind the event

Lists in formation

Honorary Co-Chairs:
Gary Metzner & Scott Johnson

Co-Chairs:
Bill Beach
Bess Tremonto Cook
Karen Lilly Mozer
Lucca Colombelli Silva

Host Committee:
Deborah Colman
Dirk Denison
Jordana Joseph
Jordan Mozer
Kate Neisser & Matt Biespiel
Lisa Skolnik

Invite Graphic:
Carolina Pereira de Almeida

Lead Sponsors ($25,000):
Acton Truettner Fund

Visionary Sponsors ($15,000):

Legendary Sponsors ($10,000):

Innovator Sponsors ($5,000):

Catalyst Sponsors ($2,500):

Supporters ($1,000):

DMoC Mission Statement:
The Design Museum of Chicago educates, inspires, and fosters innovation through design.

In the last 14 years, DMoC has commissioned close to 75,000 square feet of public art; displayed 10,300+ student art works; offered 3,800+ free visiting days to the public; published work of 1,500+ designers; partnered with 547 community organizations; staged 300+ free public events, 62 workshops, and 59 exhibitions; and hired 100+ talented interns.

Learn more about our staff and Executive and Auxiliary boards here.