With a nod to the troubled economy, the mortgage crisis, and the growing desire to reduce, reuse and recycle, this year's theme is "Down to Earth: Evolving Design in the 21st Century." The more than 70 lectures, exhibitions, open studios and workshops planned for Oct. 16 to 22 revolve around a theme of affordable and eco-savvy creation.

"Everything today is about sustainability," says Hilary Jay, director of the Design Center at Philadelphia University, which administers the annual event. "This . . . presents a much broader palette, which is more comprehensive."

Covered under the umbrella of DesignPhiladelphia will be, as in years past, architecture; textile, interior, product and graphic design; fashion; and multimedia design, among other fields.

"We have never really addressed a topic so global before," Jay says. "This event gives voice to what sustainability really means."

For example, a full-scale neighborhood of chic, prefabricated homes will be set up on a vacant lot at 313 S. Broad St. The pop-up village, titled "A Clean Break," is curated by Minima gallery.

"The word sustainable is overused by so many people," says the gallery's cofounder, Eugenie Perret. "This exhibit will not only show, but it will tell visitors about the concepts of low waste, good design, recyclable materials and affordable housing."

The three-dimensional village also will highlight urban farming, environmentally friendly furniture, lighting, transportation, public art, and other high-design, low-waste consumer products.

After living in Philadelphia for 12 years, Perret says, her desire to present coherent eco-friendly designs to the public grew as she observed structural changes and development.

"There is bad architecture and design in my neighborhood of Northern Liberties," she says. "I'm interested in the future of living, and this exhibit shows the public that you can have sustainable homes with great design that are affordable."

In an exhibit of his work at Old City's Wexler Gallery, 201 N. Third St., furniture artist Matthias Pliessnig raises questions about the convergence of wood and the pieces he creates.

"Wood is a material that we can't forget about," Pliessnig says. "There are no constraints for what this material can do."

He shapes furniture according to the moisture inside, allowing the structure to move and breathe over the course of its life.

"Wood shouldn't be flat," Pliessnig says. "By taking advantages of the wood's natural qualities and exposing them, we can avoid the machinist form."

Other DesignPhiladelphia events will aim to use image to represent ever-changing trends in America.

"Stare" will highlight tattoos in a live-model installation of permanent body design presented Oct. 17 at Sub Octo Gallery, 2202-10 Alter St.

"Designing the human body is an art form," Jay says. "Every day, we make a conscious choice of how we look."

"SoReFa," a runway show of eco-couture Oct. 21 at Northern Liberties' Arcadia Boutique, 819 N. Second St., will offer unique fashions, including a recycled-umbrella gown.

"Design," Jay says, "encompasses everything from makeup to highway systems."

Even bicycles.

Trophy Bikes, 3131 Walnut St., will present "Bikes and Bricks" on Oct. 18, featuring a look at urban bicycle design from the 1930s to the present.

In addition to its all-encompassing embrace of design genres, DesignPhiladelphia is a celebration of the city's many creative businesses, Jay says.

"No other cities who have design weeks have as many programs as we do," she says.

And by promoting the whole city, Jay adds, the event puts a spotlight on Philadelphia's incredible wealth of innovation.

"We are implementing design as a catalyst of change."

For more information, go to www.designphiladelphia.org.