In 1993, DIFFA’s Kansas City chapter produced the first DINING BY DESIGN event as the local design community sought to engage designers and donors in their campaign to raise desperately needed funds for HIV/AIDS care. Other cities soon followed garnering local, regional and national media coverage and extensive corporate and private donor support. Because the need for HIV/AIDS funding persists, DIFFA chapters in New York, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City and Los Angeles have also produced DINING BY DESIGN in their cities. This nationally recognized event is a “must” on each city’s social calendar. Renowned Filmmaker John Waters once referred to DINING BY DESIGN as the “Cannes of Tabletop.”
But what exactly is DINING BY DESIGN? It’s the signature fund-raising event for DIFFA KC, which showcases the personal passions of some of the area’s leading design talents. Each participant is given a set amount of space and the freedom to create their own dining environment. DINING BY DESIGN was founded in Kansas City over 20 years ago and has become the signature event for DIFFA chapters nationwide.
