Design enthusiasts mixed and mingled as they made their way around Midtown restaurant Hot Italian for a design show with everything from bracelet cuffs with metro maps of New York to helmets in the shape of a half-bitten apple.

[For a look at what's happening at Launch on Tuesday, see our day two preview]

The event was put on by the design collective Model Citizens NYC and was the kickoff to Launch 2012, a festival for arts, music, fashion and design that made its debut in the urban core this year after having previously been in the Del Paso area. 

Mika Brakman is the mastermind behind Model Citizens NYC. For Launch 2012, she selected a sample from a handful of the many artists she has worked with in the past four years.

“I represent a collective of artists, independent designers, architects, and emerging designers and that can be students or that can be artists trying to transition into design,” Brakman said.

According to Launch 2012 co-producer Clay Nutting, the night was an introduction to Sacramento’s arts scene.

“Each night is about discovery,” Nutting said. “ We want to learn about our arts community.”

Colleen Whalen is a frequent diner at Hot Italian that was impressed with what she saw at the showcase.

“I’m so proud to be a Sacramentan,” Whalen said. “Going to things like this really keeps your spirits up.”

Launch 2012 continues the rest of the week with events happening everyday leading up to the music festival on Saturday July 28 at Ceasar Chavez  Plaza.

http://www.launchsacramento.com/#info