5 Essential Design Shows to Catch During NYCxDesign in May
Brooklyn design buffs will have plenty to do this month at a slew of local design shows that are part of NYCxDesign, an annual celebration of design organized by the New York City Economic Development Corporation and other city agencies. The celebration includes exhibitions, installations, trade shows, panels, product launches and open studios across the five boroughs from May 11 to 23.
In Brooklyn, Brooklyn Designs, previously known as BKLYN Designs, will take place May 12 and 13 at the Brooklyn Museum, and will feature more than 50 makers of furniture, textiles, ceramics, lighting and other accessories made or designed in Brooklyn.
“Brooklyn Designs is a great showcase for emerging local talent,” interior designer Liz Lipkin told Brownstoner. “I love making new connections there and adding small businesses to my go-to sources.”
The show will also include design talks and seminars — such as “What Makes a Renovation Worth It?” — as well as offsite exhibits and events, like a tour of Prospect Park.
“A lot of our audience are interior design professionals and architects — specifiers who are looking for something unique and handcrafted and made locally,” spokeswoman Kristin Coleman said. “But we also have a big audience of consumers as well who are design savvy. We are a very consumer- and family-friendly show.”
The renovation and design Web site Sweeten will host an activity for children ages 4 to 13 called “If Kids Could Renovate” in which they can submit hand-drawn renderings of their own space. The show also includes design booths, a marketplace with 17 designers and live demonstrations by the Textile Arts Center.
“There’s a lot to see and do,” Coleman said. The event is free for trade professionals, and general admission tickets are $10 online and $15 at the door.
Next up, WantedDesign, which runs design events all over the world, will host the Industry City Design Festival May 17 to 21. The five-day event includes a series of curated exhibitions, a workshop for students from different design schools, and a new mural by London artist Camille Walala. And about 30 Industry City makers will open their studios to the public May 19 and 20 as part of the event.
The show coincides with WantedDesign’s Manhattan show May 19 to 22 at the Terminal Stores. The first two days are open to the general public, and the second two are open exclusively to the trade.
“If you’re someone involved in the design industry and you really want to do new business and discover emerging designers, you would go to Manhattan,” spokeswoman Sarah Hamon said. “If you’re someone that’s not a pro but someone that’s curious and wants to know about design and be more involved in reflection and culture, then you can go to Industry City, where you will have an opportunity to be involved with the designers in open studio.”
On May 13, the Atlantic Avenue Design Walk will celebrate the designers and makers of Atlantic Avenue with a block that will feature outdoor rooms of curated design and demonstrations by local craft-based businesses.
And FAD Market, a roving fashion, art and design pop-up market, will join the lineup on May 19 and 20 with a specially curated selection of emerging artists and makers at the Brooklyn Historical Society May 19 and 20.
Across the river, the 30th annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) NYC, will take place May 20 to 23 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. More than 36,000 interior designers, architects, retailers, representatives, distributors, facility managers, developers, manufacturers, store designers, and visual merchandisers will attend, including, of course, many from Brooklyn as well as all over the world. The fair is open to the general public only on the last day.
“There’s a dizzying assortment of exhibitors and endless inspiration at ICFF, but the highlight for me is catching up with my favorite vendors and seeing their new product launches,” said Lipkin.