WHAT'S NEW, WHAT'S NEXT

WHAT'S NEW. WHAT'S NEXT

On Thursday, September 19th, the New York Design Center opened it's doors for it's What's New, What's Next event. The event is growing out of its infancy and walking directly into maturity making it one of the best design events being offered to the design community.

At two o'clock in  the afternoon showrooms throughout the building at 200 Lex started welcoming attendees with events ranging from presentations at Lexington Home Brands by

Carey Maloney from M(Group) talking about his new book, STUFF, The M(Group) Guide to Collecting, Decorating with, Learning About, Wonderful and Unusual Things to

Stephanie Odegard of the Stephanie Odegard Collection entertaining an audience in a discussion of traveling to India with Hall of Fame designer, Vincente Wolf. Group discussions and presentations go all the way into the evening.

The Bright Group held a panel discussion on "The Intersection of Quality and Craftsmanship" moderated by Pamela Jaccarino, VP Editor in Chief of Luxe Interiors + Design, with a panel including Amy Lau, Robert Passal, Mia Gargiulo, Ahmet Cinar and Jonathan Browning.

Editors from virtually every major shelter magazine were on hand to host events, toast the openings of new showrooms and moderate panels of design experts. Editors from Newell Turner, Editor in Chief of House Beautiful,

to Cindy Allen, Editor in Chief of Interior Design, lent their expertise and insight into the future of design.

A host of design luminaries were seated on panels being held throughout the day. Michael Boodro, Editor in Chief of Elle Décor hosted a panel at Century Furniture on "Putting Personality into a Room" with design stalwarts Mario Buatta, Brian McCarthy and

Bunny Williams. The opportunity to meet three such distinguished designers doesn't happen very often and when it does anyone who can, should jump at the opportunity to take it in.

For as many interior designers present at the event there were an equal amount of product designers ranging from Jiun Ho and Wendell Castle chatting with admirers at Dennis Miller

to Frank Carfaro, the design developer behind Desiron introducing his collection at his new showroom at 200 Lex.

All this is due to the vision of one man and his talented support team. When Jim Druckman took over the helm of the New York Design Center he came in with a vision that has propelled NYDC into the forefront of design centers. He is constantly reinventing what a "Design Center" can be. As with many design centers throughout the country, NYDC has transformed from a members only concept into a broader resource for the more savvy consumer as well as the designers and architects who comb its halls for the best of what the design world has to offer. He was the first to open his doors to the internet world with his wise decision to give the entire tenth floor to Istdibs. He is also one of the most generous men in the design industry giving of his time and resources to charities and cultural institutions too numerous to mention.

The event ended with a cocktail celebration on the thirteenth floor where if you had tried to marathon the entire program you deserved the opportunity to get smashed on your poison of choice. Keep an eye on NYDC's website: www.nydc.com for the next installation of "What's New, What's Next", it's become an experience you'll want to mark on your calendar and run to see.










THE GALLERY

New York Furniture Store, 1946
Todd Webb, photographer
Represented by Yancey Richardson Gallery