Category — Design Destination

Most of the design world will be traveling this week- either to High Point or Milan.

Milan Design Week  held April 17^th -22^nd is THE place to visit for engaging exhibitions, innovation, surprise and around every corner- delight. i saloni is the benchmark. In it’s 51^st year it’s at the Rho fairgrounds expecting 280,000 + visitors.

via Core 77

Part of i saloni, SaloneSatellite was the first event to focus on young design talent and has become the quintessential meeting place for manufacturers, talent scouts and the most promising young designers. This year’s theme , Design<->Technology, is in honor of Steve Jobs – as the press says because he “taught us to dream and to believe in the possibilities of technology and creativity.”

But the real action is in Milan center and its neighborhoods. From the posh luxury brand stores on Via MonteNapoleon to Zona Tortona and Lambrate the show is a patch work of lofts, storefronts, warehouses, galleries. Milan Design Week  invented the “pop-up”. On my first visit- I was handed a map, put in a cab and sent on my way. I was exhilarated and panic stricken at the same time.  I guess that’s why my memories are still crystal clear.

You can’t feel alone, because the crowds are crazy and I mean 24/7! I am always struck by the numbers of general public attending– families with strollers and young kids visiting exhibits and talking design . You don’t see that everyday in the U.S.

But enough of my walk down memory lane. Here’s a sneak peek of what Milan Design Week 2012 will have to offer:

From the Simple:

Nino by Lucia Bruni via Designboom

nino is a recycled and recyclable candle lantern, perfect for both interior and exterior settings made from a  Italian ‘prosecco’ bottle.

To the Technical:

R18 Audi Chair via Designboom

The prototype chair is equipped with industrial sensors connected to a central server, alongside visualization displays. As an individual sits in the chair, information about the flow of forces from his or her weight is depicted onscreen and available to the person by e-mail as a personal, shareable video. the data will also be used by AUDI in optimization efforts to streamline the chair’s construction.

Speaking of Cars:

Mercedes Benz has teamed up with the Italian Formitalia Luxury Group, to launch a new collection into the furniture market, bringing Mercedes-designed chairs and tables to your living room under the Mercedes-Benz Style label.

Illuminating:

Inhale by Lasvit

For Lasvit’s Inhale Lamp, glass blowers form big air bubbles then inhale to produce an unusual shape with negative air pressure.

Press by Lasvit

Press lamps in pendant and floor styles rely on light sources tucked into compressed glass tubes to produce soft, organic forms.

New Meaning to the Kitchen:

Alpes Inox at Euro Cucina

Alpes Inox

Italian company Alpes Inox has integrated furniture and appliances in their new line of  freestanding cabinets. The fridge and raised oven are hidden behind the cabinet doors.

Alessi via designboom

Dutch architect Wiel Arets has collaborated with Italian company Alessi and Valcucine to create Lacucina Alessi. made entirely from glacier white Corian®. The freestanding piece has a unified appearance as the flush lower cabinets merge into the wrapped rounded counter top and integrated sink, all of which is held together by a hidden joint system.

Genius Inspiration:

Selvedge by Studio Raw Edges- Hallingal 65 Exhibition

My fabric mavens, you’ll love the special exhibition at Jil Sander. The special Kvadrat Hallingdal 65 exposition is curated by Tord Boontje among other notable designers and it features the works of 32 designers who have all re-interpreted the Hallingdal 65 in new contemporary ways. Hallingdal was the first fabric produced by Danish textile manufacturer Kvadrat. Designed by Nanna Ditzel in 1965, it has been updated with new colors as the Hallingdal 65.

The process

London-based design studio raw-edges (yael mer and shay alkalay) project Selvedge derives its name from the typically discarded selvages of fabric. Using the linear elements of the ‘Hallingdal 65′, they stretch it to dictate the form and structure of an armchair, emphasized by these ‘unraveling parts’- warp and weft threads. They then pulled out warp threads to create a hollow sleeve and then placed two layers in different colors on top of each other and joined them together using a transparent strip.
The result is a colorful rim which appears from the exterior, reminiscent of the selvedge that is found at the hem of raw fabrics.

Hallingal Table by Frederickson Stallard's

Another approach London-based designer Frederickson Stallard’s ‘Hallingdal table’. Using the fabric as a construction material, rather than solely for aesthetics, the table  explores the possibilities of achieving structure from a soft wool fabric, using nothing but the textile itself as the main building block.

To Over the Top:

More Art Factory furniture from luxury tile manufacturer Sicis

The Black Moon

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2012 Design Exposed event with ASID + IIDA NE/IA at Embassy Suites, 12520 Westport Parkway  LaVista, NE

I’ll be presenting:

iPad for Design Pros

Futurevision: Interior Design in 2022

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I’ll be presenting the following seminars at Dec Den:

May 7, 2012- Textile Crash Course for Design Professionals

May 7, 2012 The Geometry of Design

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The industry’s largest international trade event focused exclusively on all aspects of window fashion design, workroom, installation and technology.

I’ll be presenting the following seminars at Vision12:

• 4/24/2012 –The Style Sourcebook – 1.15 hours – 9:15-10:30 -
• 4/24/2012 –Secrets to the Bespoke Window – 1.15 hours – 11:00-12:15 -
• 4/24/2012 –Avant Inspiration –1.15 hours –4:00-5:15 –
• 4/25/2012 –Trends in Soft Furnishings –1.15 hours –9:15-10:30 –
• 4/25/2012 –Custom Window Treatment Client –1.15 hours –11:00-12:15 –
• 4/25/2012 – Designer Panel – 4:00-5:15 -
• 4/26/2012 –Digital Designer –1.15 hours –9:15-10:30 –

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Design Confidential just returned home from sunny and warm L.A  and the  Design Bloggers Conference and it was AWESOME! I have been to a lot of conferences and trade shows and I can honestly say it was the best one I have been to in 5 years. I credit the enthusiastic and open attendees, the well planned and executed agenda, the amazing lineup of marketers and design bloggers. This was the first time I have attended and it was all I expected and more.

Martyn Lawrence Bullard speaking at DBC

The event kicked off  with Martyn Lawrence Bullard walking through a retrospective of his work, sharing personal  stories and giving us an inside peek to the lives of the rich and famous. (Love how his  entrepreneurial  spirit sparked his design career; that man has seen it all and the world.) There was no let up with two days filled with nonstop education, networking, and epiphanies  all rolled up into one big  extraordinary experience that finished Tuesday evening with a party at Harbinger in West Hollywood  hosted by Trad Home/ Kravet and Bunny Williams. Here’s my roundup report of the conference.

Shadowboxes of Wayfair home furnishings

Wayfair Party

I loved the shadowboxes and in a room full of designers you can bet they were rearranging the furniture!

Social Media Star Sightings:

• Rhonda Carmen, All the Best
• Tobi Fairley
• Martyn Lawrence Bullard
• Bunny Williams
• Cassandra LaValle Coco + Kelley
• Leslie Carothers
• Macala Wright , FMM
• Annie Selke, Pine Cone Hill
• Stacy Kunstel, Stacy Style
• Lisa Ferguson, Décor Mentor
• Holly Hollingsworth Phillips, The English Room

This is just the tip of the iceberg. The list goes on and on….

Panel Discussion with Rhonda Carmen, Tobi Fairley and Cassandra LaValle

Best Memory: Technically my best memory wasn’t at  DBC, BUT, if I hadn’t  gone and met up with fellow designer Cheryl Draa; it would never had happened. Cheryl and I were invited to Hutton Wilkinson’s Sunday before the conference for tea . Hutton worked with the fabulously eccentric Tony Duquette. Duquette was a design giant and his over- the- top stylings are something I closely align with when it comes to design. Never for the life of me did I EVER think I would get a chance to have an invitation like that; (Heart be still…) yet alone to have a  tour of Hutton’s jewel box house and Dawnridge – Tony Duquette’s stunning home- next door. I can’t tell you how amazing it was, the colors, the textures, the contrasts  – MORE is definitely better! (More on Dawnridge, Hutton and Tony  about this later this week.)

Best Quotes: The audience was all a twitter with these quotes:

“The 70’s Vibe is the new black.”    Martyn Lawrence Bullard

“Commenting isn’t necessarily a bad thing; you can only say so much about pretty pictures. “ Adam  Japko, Design Sherpa

“ Money is a good lubricant. ”   Kimberly Seldon, Dabble

“There is a lot of value in your F—ups.” Brian Patrick Flynn, Décor Demon

Surprise!

Adam Japko, Design Sherpa and wine aficionado  surprised us all with a fabulous  morning  toast  of Pierre Gimonnet Champagne. Now that’s a  ”coffee” break.

Blogging: The new marketing and PR channel panel- Liza Weiner, Becher Associates; Kristine Kennedy, Wayfair; Stacy Kunstel, Stacy Style

Top  takeaways:

• Be your authentic self and don’t over think it. Your brand should have an authentic voice, authentic look and authentic content.
• Find your niche and blow it up.
• “Every brand has a story- What is yours? Make your story available to everyone, everywhere and you’ll be part of the conversation. Amplify your voice. Be seen, Be heard, Be Shared and Be remembered and you’ll be invited in to the tent.”  Tami McCarthy

Sites I HAVE to check out: Each speaker or panelist shared their favorite resources. These are my must dos.

• Design Sherpa
• Appify- already on it!
• Discovered
• Instrgr.am
• Stipple
• Chimein
• The Fancy

DBC Buzz words

• Curated Content
• Authentic
• Subject Matter Expert
• Point of View as in “What is your point of view?”
• Relevancy
• Passion
• Tenacity
• Stories – authentic stories, tell a story, craft your brand story
• Elevate
• Focus

Lessons Learned

• Find your inspiration and lend a perspective to it to “pay it forward”. Bring inspiration in context with content.
• Promote yourself; no one else will. Something I think designers have issues with. Entrepreneurs often struggle with little self esteem .
• Collaborate with people who complement your strengths

I have already marked my calendar for next year’s event and there is even a possibility that there will be a European version. WooHoo!

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