The Less Than a Truckload (LTL) designer open call invites emerging designers, students, artists, studios, and experimental practices to submit installation proposals. The event is a street-level installation program presented by AZURE during that’s open to the public and designed to be an interactive and accessible design experience. Download materials and enter the Less Than a Truckload designer open call ! The deadline is April 10, 2026; submissions will be reviewed by a committee, with selected designers announced in mid-April.
At LTL, 10 selected participants will create installations that activate the Fulton Market district and engage the broader design community throughout the week at one of Fulton Market DesignDays (FMDD) 2026’s most visible and design-forward street-level activations.
Shipping container installations may take several forms, including a cohesive product collection, a conceptual design experience, or a collaborative installation spanning multiple creative disciplines.
Key Requirements & Participation Criteria
- Target Audience: Independent designers, emerging talent, and nonprofit or educational programs focused on architecture and design.
- Focus: Originality, sustainability, and high-quality craftsmanship.
- Space & Design: Selected exhibitors will design a fully realized vignette within a 10’ × 10’ repurposed shipping container. Installations should create an engaging and interactive environment that showcases the participant’s work while thoughtfully activating the container as a design space.
LTL draws inspiration from Chicago’s Guerrilla Truck Shows of the early 2000s, a moment that helped define the cultural energy of Design Week. The event builds on the same mobile, high-impact spirit, reimagined through a contemporary FMDD lens.
Now entering its fourth year, FMDD has quickly grown into one of the world’s most dynamic design gatherings. The event was created and is produced by , a Chicago-based creative and architectural design agency founded by Rob Tivadar. Oetee works closely with neighbourhood partners, brands, and cultural organizations to create a multi-day program of open houses, installations, workshops, and experiences that bring the global design community together in Chicago.
What makes FMDD unique is that it is not limited to industry insiders: While professionals from across the design world participate, the programming is intentionally open and approachable, inviting anyone interested in creativity, architecture, art, and design to explore the district, engage with installations, and meet the people shaping the industry. The introduction of Less Than a Truckload expands on this idea by creating a highly visible platform for emerging designers and students to present work in a street-level environment during Chicago Design Week.
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