Join us for this exciting 3-part event
happening October 21-22, 2026!
Claim your color. Complete this short form to commit to designing a dining vignette.
Design Appétit FAQ’s
Design Appétit is an annual culinary and design experience benefitting Focus on Home. Over the course of one week, creative teams transform blank spaces into 20 immersive dining environments where Oklahoma City chefs and designers collaborate to create unforgettable, story-driven experiences.
The 10th Annual Design Appétit returns October 21–22, 2026 with this year’s theme: In Full Spectrum – The Color of Home. Inspired by the many emotions, memories, and meanings tied to home, this year’s event invites designers and chefs to explore color as a storytelling device—creating environments that are vibrant, immersive, emotional, and entirely unique.
Design Appétit is a one-night, ticketed pop-up event with two lead-in experiences that cater to different audiences. The week unfolds through exclusive preview events before culminating in the city’s signature gala experience where Oklahoma City gathers to savor its most imaginative sights and flavors.
It is a city-defining creative event—where each table becomes a fully realized experience, and each dinner unfolds like a story. Every ticket purchased directly contributes to furnishing homes for families transitioning out of homelessness through Focus on Home.
An Experience That Belongs to the City.
A design-led dining experience.
In Full Spectrum – The Color of Home. Inspired by the many emotions, memories, and meanings tied to home, this year’s event invites designers and chefs to explore color as a storytelling device—creating environments that are vibrant, immersive, emotional, and entirely unique.
The concept is intentionally expansive, leaving room for bold interpretation and deeply personal creative expression.
Guests can experience Design Appétit in three distinct ways, each offering a different perspective on the event.
The experience begins with the Cocktail Party on October 21, featuring music, cocktails, interactive moments, and an exclusive first look at the immersive dining installations before the gala crowds arrive.
On October 22, guests can attend the Stroll, a daytime gathering featuring small bites created around the theme but some of OKC’s finest chefs, raffle experiences, and inspiring stories from the mission of Focus on Home.
The celebration culminates on the evening of October 22 with the Design Appétit Gala—a one-night culinary and design experience where Oklahoma City chefs and designers collaborate on immersive pop-up dining environments in support of Focus on Home. Guests move through a multi-sensory evening of extraordinary cuisine and dramatic design installations.
All creative team spaces should be installation-ready by Wednesday, October 21, 2026 at 4:00 PM.
- Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Cocktail Party Begins — 7:00 PM - Thursday, October 22, 2026
Stroll — 11:00 AM–1:00 PM
Gala Cocktail Hour — 6:00 PM
Gala Dinner Service Begins — 7:00 PM
Each Design Appétit creative team is provided with an approximately 20’ x 20’ footprint to fully transform into an immersive dining environment inspired by the 2026 theme, In Full Spectrum – The Color of Home.
Within the space, teams are asked to design a complete dining experience that accommodates:
- One primary dining table seating 10 gala guests
- Two chef tables integrated into the experience for culinary presentation and service
- Full environmental design elements including walls, flooring, lighting, overhead installations, furnishings, décor, and interactive details as desired
Each space should feel like a fully realized environment—not simply a decorated table. Teams are encouraged to think beyond traditional event design and create a cohesive, story-driven experience where cuisine, color, texture, lighting, and atmosphere work together to immerse guests in the concept.
Each Design Appétit team consists of a collaborative partnership between a Design Team and a Chef or Restaurant. Together, the team creates a fully immersive, multi-sensory dining experience inspired by the 2026 theme, In Full Spectrum – The Color of Home.
Each collaboration is responsible for designing and executing a uniquely themed environment while providing a multi-course dining experience for 10 gala guests. The creative vision is developed collectively, blending culinary artistry with environmental design to create an experience that feels immersive, emotional, and unforgettable.
Design Appétit thrives on collaboration, and teams are encouraged to involve additional community partners, artists, florists, lighting designers, sponsors, and creative contributors who can help bring the concept to life. The result is a city-wide showcase of creativity where design, cuisine, storytelling, and community intersect.
Participating in Design Appétit offers creative teams the opportunity to showcase their work in one of Oklahoma City’s most unique and celebrated design experiences while supporting the mission of Focus on Home. Benefits include:
· Event signage displaying your personal and business name
· Social media features and promotional shout-outs highlighting you and your business (if applicable)
· Editorial and media exposure through event coverage and feature articles in publications including Oklahoma Gazette, LUXIERE Magazine, and additional media partners
· 10 complimentary tickets to the Cocktail Party
· 4 complimentary tickets to the Stroll
· A donation receipt for tax deduction purposes
· The opportunity to win awards recognizing outstanding creativity, innovation, and guest experience
· Participation in the return of the highly anticipated People’s Choice Award, determined by guest donation votes—allowing attendees to support their favorite design while contributing to a meaningful cause
· Access to an audience of approximately 600 guests across all Design Appétit events, including community leaders, creatives, philanthropists, business professionals, and design enthusiasts
· The opportunity to engage directly with guests, share your creative vision, and cultivate future collaborations, partnerships, and business opportunities
· Inclusion in a city-defining creative experience that celebrates Oklahoma City’s design, culinary, and artistic communities
· The invaluable satisfaction of supporting Focus on Home in its mission to end furniture poverty by “Bringing the Home” to Oklahoma City’s most vulnerable community members through fully furnished, dignified living spaces for families transitioning out of homelessness.
Design Appétit benefits Focus on Home and supports its mission of creating stability for families transitioning out of homelessness by providing individualized furniture and home essentials packages. Every ticket purchase, sponsorship, and donation directly helps transform empty spaces into dignified, functional homes for families across Oklahoma City.
To learn more about Focus on Home, visit Focus on Home.
Yes, electricity will be provided for every team. Each team needs to provide Focus on Home with power requirement needs. Each team provides their own extension cords.
Design teams are encouraged to provide their own table, however, a 72” round table or 72” or 96” rectangular table, can be provided upon request. Black and white table clothes can also be provided upon request. Colored table linens provided by each team.
Design teams are expected to provide their own chairs.
Each team will be able to hang from the ceiling (100lb limit). Free-standing walls and structures can be built on site, but not required.