New York City’s annual recognition of outstanding design is back this spring, kicking off today. Through May 20, NYCxDESIGN’s 10th Anniversary Festival presents dynamic exhibitions, conversations, workshops, and films throughout the five boroughs. Visitors have the chance to experience the works of leading-edge artists of the international design community. The festival is held alongside two eminent trade shows: the International Contemporary Furnishings Fair (ICFF) and WantedDesign Manhattan.
“For ten years, the NYCxDESIGN Festival has highlighted New York City as the destination for thousands of visitors to explore the best design rooted in innovation, creativity, culture, and inclusivity. The programming for this 10th anniversary special edition defines the future of design locally and internationally and reflects NYCxDESIGN’s work year-round to support the diverse design creators and industries of New York,” said Elissa Black, Executive Director of NYCxDESIGN.
“Craft in Transition,” NYCxDESIGN, 2022, photo by Sara Pettinella, courtesy of the Female Design Council and Carl Hansen & Søn’s.
ICFF, photo by Jenna Bascom, courtesy of ICFF.
In celebration, NYCxDESIGN has specially curated themed itineraries such as Diversity on Display, curated by Kia Witherspoon; Community Drives Design, curated by Sloan Leo; and Design as a Force for Change, curated by Nu Goteh and Neil Ramsay. Virtual visitors can explore NYCxDESIGN’s “Self-Guided Journeys” in neighborhoods like Harlem, Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, NoMad, and Flatiron.
Public experiences like “Design Pavillion” encourage viewer participation; this year, CLB Architect’s “FILTER,” a sustainable, renewable structure in Midtown Manhattan, provides a place of respite and calm for all. The festival’s non-profit pursuit to laud the power of design for social change is evident in its new competition, IMPACTxDESIGN. Winning installations by Karim Rashid, in downtown Manhattan, and Kickie Chudikova—in DUMBO, Brooklyn—will be on view for the public to enjoy.
Foscarini, “Uptown: The City of Light,” NYCxDESIGN, 2022, courtesy of Foscarini.
Thatcher Mother Collection, NYCxDESIGN, 2022, courtesy of Thatcher.
In a series of talks and workshops, NYCxDESIGN’s podcast, “The Mic,” will be transformed into a live discussion on “The Responsibility of Design” at the Kohler Experience Center. Host Debbie Millman, with Laura Kohler, engages with design leaders Claire Weisz, Suchi Reddy, Michael Chen, Jonathan Cropper, and Walei Sabry. The Brooklyn Navy Yard presents “Design Thinking Master Class Series: From Inspiration to Application,” joining experts from diverse backgrounds to speak about sustainability, accessibility, and inclusivity.
Emerging talent is spotlighted with the second edition of “Radiator” at Art Cake; “Current: Tides of Contemporary Design” is curated by Marcus and Tess De Paula. Creative studio Pink Essay by David Eardley, Anna Theroux Ling, and Matt Pecina, continue their “Physical Education ” series at Skilset Studios in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Visitors will not want to miss The Museum of Arts and Design’s “Flower Craft” exhibition; Vitra, the Swiss furniture manufacturer, will present “From Studio to Museum: A dive into the world of floral design” with up and coming designer Lutfi Janania.
NYCxDESIGN’s “Open Studio Crawls” throughout the city, and Brooklyn Navy Yard’s “Architecture & Infrastructure Tour,” reveal creativity at work. The Festival leaves no stone unturned with New York City hospitality programs STAYxDESIGN and DRINKSxDESIGN, offering guests the ultimate experiences in rest, relaxation, and celebration. Virtual visitors have the opportunity to bid on curated artworks with NYCxDESIGN’s inaugural auction in partnership with Artsy.
Vases Découpage, Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Vitra, 2020, courtesy of Vitra.
