When we think of a party trick, what comes to mind is an often hidden (and useless) talent that someone might demonstrate for public amusement. Concealed by the crowd in the middle of a party, even amateur illusion can be performed with ease. With this volume of Party Planner, we seek to expand upon the definition of a party trick to consider parties as tricks themselves. They often take otherwise banal spaces—ranging from warehouses and factories to the domestic living room—and cloud them with people, audiovisual noise, smokescreens, and intoxication to produce an environment fit for transgression. The work of this volume’s contributors interrogates the relationship between two fundamental aspects of the party trick: the aesthetics and effects of illusion, and the social and material structures that lie behind the smokescreen.

Party Planner is an annual architecture and design publication that explores the term “party” as a malleable concept that helps to connect what are often seen as disparate forms of gathering and social interaction. Ranging from raves and casual get-togethers to more formal performances and galas, attending to these dynamic social settings allows for the exploration of architecture as a temporary and responsive mode of space-making.

Party Planner, Vol. 3, “Party Trick” includes a complete daily planner for the year 2024. Each order of Party Planner will feature one of four variable covers—Isa, Kyle, Marlo, or Lucas—distributed at random. -Publisher