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Manhattan Chapter

From the Field: NYCxDesign

2 days ago
jamie-keel

Highlights from NYCxDesign 

Field Reporter: Barbara Haberman

Out and about on the design streets of NYC is extra special during NYCxDesign Festival’s  “ICFF Night Out”. The showrooms are a bevy of activity, so inspiring for design enthusiasts, and running into design friends, so fun too. Here are just a few of the spots I sampled. In the photos above from left to right:

  1. LIXIL Water Experience Center, was one of the stops in the Flatiron District. Here is one of the five dresses that Christian Siriano designed which was inspired by the GROHE Essence Collection, showing the transformative power of water.
  2. SURFACES & CO. revealed a new collection, JARDEN ÉTERNEL, bringing guests through a journey revealing the effortless beauty of nature’s timeless rhythms, accompanied by the romantic sounds of violins playing.
  3. Tilebar collaborated with Material Bank and hosted a petal pushing party called THE INSPIRATION EDIT: BLOOM with lots of other give-aways too.

One of the many spots across NYCxDESIGN festival, on the left here is the 2025 Design Pavillion by Lexus at Hudson Yards - a multi sensory experience that redefines the intersection of innovation and elegance. One can touch the wall that outlines the space and change the color of the glow color. Diana Mosher, Barbara Haberman and Liz Craig are hoping to catch a ride.

Field Reporter: Michelle Shen, VP Diffusion PR

AI is unavoidable these days, and it was interesting to see how tech is driving new platforms at ICFF. One new thing that caught my eye was the Arcade.ai booth featuring custom AI designed decor. The platform is intended to be a designer’s new best friend offering a new way to quickly design and produce fully custom decor made by bespoke quality manufacturers from around the world.

In addition to ICFF, I checked out the new show in town - Shelter, produced by the team behind Shoppe Object. This event took place at the Starrett Lehigh building and featured a gallery-like feel with eye catching displays from independent designers and studios like A. SpacePieces RugsStickbulb, and Parmatile, pictured above.

Field Reporter: Jennifer Mirsky, PitchPerfectContent.com

ICFF panel: "Sound as Art: Exploring the Intersection of Design and Technology"

An interior designer, technology designer, and AV manufacturer walk onto a stage…

This 360-discussion moderated by Tony Monteleone was exhilarating because it gave us novel, groundbreaking ways to think about sound as a design element.

Noah Kaplan of Leon declared that “sound can be seen and design can be heard.” Mull that over for a minute. Leon’s speakers are game-changing not just because of their immersive acoustics but because they are works of art. (Pictured: Leon’s Ente SoundTile, in collaboration with artist Tannis Marshall)

Sharon Sherman, who balances health, wellness, function, and beauty in her designs, told us that “It’s not just how you feel when you are in the space, it’s how the space feels when you are in it because you’re bringing your own energy into that room.”

Rex Aguirre explained how collaboration — early in the process — between an interior designer and technology designer enables a seamless integration of sound. 

Watch video highlights

Pictured from L to R: Moderator Tony Monteleone of Monteleone Consulting, Rex Aguirre of Premiere Systems Design, Sharon Sherman of Thyme & Place Design, and Noah Kaplan of Leon Speakers