OPEN GYM

Visit during open weekly, drop-in hours to explore and design and exercise your creativity at our community design studio/third space at Silk Screen Studios in the Norris Square (Olde Kensington/North Philadelphia) neighborhood of Philly.

Open Gym hours serve to promote your own curiosity, innovation, and continuous learning YOUR WAY. Visit us to:

✍🏽 Bring a project

💻 Co-work (we’ve got wifi)

🖊️ Try our design exercises

🧩 Play our design games, toys + puzzles

📚 Look through our design library

🧊 Pause or Cool off (during the hot summer)

This free/pay-what-you-wish model allows access to our design library of books, games, puzzles, tools, activities + exercises to guide you along your design journey.

ALL ARE WELCOME, including outside food + drink.

Coach on-site for assistance and guidance.

WALK-INS WELCOME + DESIGN EXPERIENCE NOT REQUIRED

SUMMER HOURS: JUNE 24 - AUGUST 14 10:00AM - 6:00PM

DESIGN A DOODAD

A Design Gym series of hands-on workshops for all ages + experiences to learn about design foundation principles and demystify the design process in the disciplines of architecture, fashion, graphic + textile design, to name a few.

Flex your creativity with us!

Registration includes designer(s) introductions, instruction, materials, light refreshments AND skills/knowledge + a project to take home! 

Workshops are scheduled on weeknight and weekend days/times at least twice a month. 

OPEN TO ALL adult and youth designers.

Prior design experience is not required.

Design A Doodad: Bead with a Bestie, a Feast Jewelry x Design Gym Collab

  • Walking: Cross-streets of Hancock and Berks.

    Biking:

    • Bring your bike into the building, or use the bike room is in the loading dock area along Hancock Street

    • Indego Bike Stations available at 2nd & Norris Sts (2 blocks away), Front & Berks Sts/Berks MFL (3 blocks away)

    Accessible via SEPTA:

    • Berks stop on the Market-Frankford Line (3 blocks away)

    • Bus Route: 3 on Berks Street, 57 on N. American Street (2 blocks away)

    Driving:

    Street parking is available immediately on the block of the building, and two-hour parking north of Berks Street.

    • Find us in the directory to the right of the glass, double-door entrance, we’re listed as “Design Gym Studio #101.” Give us a call and we’ll buzz you right in.

    • There is a zero-step entrance into the building with steps and chair lift to bring you to our floor, the first floor.

    • Upon reaching our floor it ramps down to our studio.

    • The building was an existing building, in our space there is small 1.5- to 3-inch lip between the two areas of our space that has been highlighted with purple light to see the change in levels.

    • One accessible bathroom are available on our floor.

    • Please reach out with other specific accessibility questions or requests and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

    • Two bathrooms on our level, with one (1) accessible bathroom.

    • There is a communal kitchen with a sink, microwave, and a refrigerator.

    • Water fountain and refilling station.

    • WiFi

    • Masks are optional, but are encouraged for any attendees who choose to wear one. We respect our guests choices on this matter.

    • If you are not feeling well, please consider wearing a mask or joining us at the next event.

  • When you arrive, look for “Design Gym Studio #101” on the directory and we will buzz you in to enter.

VISITNG US

Our community design studio is located in Studio #101 of the Silk Screen Studios Building at 179 West Berks St, Philadelphia, PA 19122. In the Philadelphia neighborhood of Norris Square/Olde Kensington.

“Everything that is not made by nature is designed by someone.”

- Chip Kidd