Cindy Allen’s vivacious presentation offered design — and life — wisdom.
By Dianne M. Pogoda
“Design really matters.”
That was the simple but compelling message from Cindy Allen, editor in chief of Interior Design magazine and one of the industry’s leading influencers, at the KBIS 2018 keynote address in Orlando.
In a free-spirited presentation called “Pop Goes the Future,” Allen covered a wide range of trends happening now and on the horizon, weaving in tales from the design front, tips for designers and offering “Cindy’s Pop Pointers,” good career and life advice for designers — and just about anyone else.
She started with the idea that people in the business “eat, sleep and breathe design,” but what about the rest of the world? “We went to the streets to find out what people really think about design — and every one of those people knew about it and had a viewpoint on the subject. What a responsibility for us, being in the design world. So, we’re in a very exciting time for design.”
To spread the message, “I tell young designers that they need to find mentors,” Allen said. “Find people who inspire you,” and in turn, who will help you inspire your clients.
She named a few of her own sources of inspiration, starting with David Rockwell of The Rockwell Group, whose many projects include hotels and restaurants around the world: Nobu, W Hotels, The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, theaters, museums and dozens more, for which he has won numerous awards.
“David has lived the design dream. He has always loved theater, he grew up in a family of theater buffs. In all of his design projects, he talks about space as a theater to be experienced,” Allen said. “After he studied architecture and became a designer, he started designing for theater. It was for no money, but he loved it — that was his true passion.”
It resulted in him winning a Tony award for Best Scenic Design, for the 2016 musical She Loves Me. “That’s what it’s all about…we’re all unique. You have to be true, you have to tap into the thing you love the most.”
While Rockwell provides the theatrical, “wow” experience, the designer Clodagh offers a very spiritual aesthetic: “I like to think she’s been way ahead of her time, [regarding] design for health and wellness. Her designs are calming and quiet,” Allen said, “but definitely with a boldness.”
Another interior designer from whom she takes inspiration is Ghislaine Viñas, who “uses color to evoke happiness.” Viñas uses bold colors, like orange or turquoise, but always controls it with white so as not to be overwhelming. “Use color, but find a way to use it so you can live with it,” Allen said, adding that another friend, South African designer Mark Zeff, uses fun, bold color with an international flavor and a masculine/feminine juxtaposition, but tempers his designs with black much in the same way Viñas uses white.
Among the “pop trends” she identified as emerging in the market now:
- Graphic Pop: Illustration on tile, geometric origami, juxtaposition of positive and negative.
- Au Naturale: Nature inspires us across a broad spectrum — there’s a lot of freedom in what you can do. Mixes of technology and nature; water/wood; luxury/quiet; wood/concrete. Think: an edited spirit – you can take something you really love, distill it into its essence, scale it back and develop it.
- Pure-ist: Taking design down to its simplest elements.
- Pop of Color: Cute color is out… bold and well-intentioned color is in.
- Asian Vibe: A fusion of Asian style and elements of nature.
- Industrialized: Boxes; black and steel kitchens; all-white kitchens; gunmetal, industrial chic, oxidized steel. “Play with things that don’t necessarily go together. Experiment — you might find something that works. Take a chance!”
- Pop Rock: Stone and concrete are everywhere. One dramatic example Allen cited was a giant boulder that was on a building site, and instead of going through the expense of removing it, the architect and designer figured out how to incorporate it into the living space.
She also cited Poppy Pastels; Sculptural shapes, with curves (for example, the architecture of Zaha Hadid); Retro Pop à la Mid-Century modern and Memphis style.
Allen closed her session with “Cindy’s Pop Pointers,” advice that can apply to the design world, pretty much any other profession — and most other areas of life.
- Dare to be who you are – and help your clients discover who they are.
- Be your own brand.
- Never take the easy road. You don’t learn from “easy.”
- Work harder than anyone else.
- Dig into what you love.
- Have a sense of humor — about all of it!
- Find mentors to support you, and then in turn, support emerging talents.
- Collaborate without fear of insecurity.
- Control your design envy – or use it to propel you.
- Be excited by the world! Be open!
