SUCCESS MARKS THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF BKLYN DESIGNS™
Thousands Filled Streets of DUMBO to Embrace
Brooklyn Furniture Designers

(Click here to find out about the special events at the 2007 show.)

(Brooklyn, NY – May 25, 2007) More than 6,500 people including media and members of the design trade converged on DUMBO May 11 – 13 to kick off New York Design Week at BKLYN DESIGNS™ 2007. The three-day show, presented annually by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, featured a record number of exhibitors and drew the biggest crowd since the show premiered in 2003. There was excitement in the air as masses of eager design-lovers from all over the world trekked up and down the cobblestone streets of DUMBO to see the best furniture, lighting, floor/wall coverings, accessories and sustainable products the borough has to offer.

According to Mark Kessler, interim president and chief operating officer of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, “BKLYN DESIGNS truly represents the entrepreneurial spirit that thrives throughout this borough. This year, we saw 35 returning exhibitors and welcomed 29 newcomers – a testament to the overwhelming success of the show. Now with the launch of the BKLYN DESIGNS Center at the Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center (GMDC) McKibbin Street – the only not-for-profit industrial developer in New York City – emerging Brooklyn designers and manufacturers have access to below market industrial space secured by long-term leases. This is all part of an effort to ensure our home-grown talent and quality craftsmen continue to manufacturer and flourish in Brooklyn.”

As tradition has it, wood is associated with a five-year anniversary. BKLYN DESIGNS exhibitors took this classic material to new heights using reclaimed, recycled or responsibly harvested varieties in envelope-pushing designs for home and office. It was evident designers pushed their creativity even further with other material innovations, displaying hand-crafted lighting inspired by urban landscapes of dilapidated building façades and graffiti art from Re-Surface; hip sustainable baby/children‘s furniture from Argington; lighting made from honey jars from Nicholas Furrow; whimsical gun-shot mirrors from Paul Loebach; a modern side table with built-in lighting from A&G Design; hairy monster-inspired rugs and wing-back chairs from Longoland; sleek glass tables with overscale turned legs from Robert Austin Gonzalez; an innovative exhibit of work including glass handrails and lights by first-time exhibitor Brooklyn Glass (a collective of glass artists); and eclectic furnishings with matching skateboards all made from recycled materials by Daniel Moyer Design & Fabrication.

With 19,000 square feet of exhibit space, 1000+ pre-registered members of the trade, packed lectures and three heavily trafficked venues filled with patrons throughout the sunny weekend, it was clear this show had much more to celebrate than its five-year milestone.

First-time exhibitor Lois Ruben Aronow said, “This was a great show on many levels. Aside from the obvious, which for me included several incredible commissions, I made some really great media, business and artistic contacts. The attendance was head spinning. Friends and neighbors aside, I met people who had come from different parts of the country just to attend this show. The buyers/attendees understood the work they were looking at. Finally, I found the crowd that really understands my work!”

Corey Springer of Wud Furniture Design shared his enthusiasm saying, “BKLYN DESIGNS was once again a great experience for Wud Furniture Design. It is always inspiring to be surrounded by all the emerging talent that is coming out of Brooklyn. While the show keeps getting bigger every year, the event still feels intimate and I think that is appealing to both the designers and the attendees. It is also great to meet new people from the community, as well as see the familiar faces from years past.”

According to returning exhibitor David Scott of DESU Design, “We were pleasantly overwhelmed with the show attendance this year. In fact, we ran out of our promotional materials, which has never happened to us at a trade show before! Overall, we had a lot of positive feedback and a great mix of new and return customers.”

Bill Hilgendorf of Uhuru Design was back for the third year: “It was great to come back to BKLYN DESIGNS with a bigger booth and a brand new line of furniture. We grew so much in the last year due to exposure from the show. Our design calendar now is totally determined by BKLYN DESIGNS. We use it as an opportunity to launch all of our new products. Brooklyn is a great design community and I think the show is responsible for making it stronger every year. We are already looking forward to next year's show.”

Finally, the show included an informative series of design lectures and seminars led by industry icons and editors at top-notch shelter and lifestyle magazines. The respected Ralph Pucci of Ralph Rucci International and Linda O’Keeffe, director, Design + Architecture Metropolitan Home set the standard with an inspiring keynote.

There was standing room only as a crowd poured in to attend a Pratt Institute session, What’s Next? Today’s Hot Sustainable Designers and Educators from Pratt Institute Look at How the Next Generation Will Differ, moderated by Fred Bernstein as well as Dwell’s hands-on session, Going Green: Daunting or Doable, moderated by Michael Cannell.

“I sat in on some lectures on Saturday and made it a point to come back again on Sunday,” said Aki Okado, architect, Point Design, Inc. “It was great to see such a big emphasis on green design.”

BKLYN DESIGNS™ is sponsored by Two Trees Management, Bosch, Thermador, Gaggenau, Forté Condo, Pratt Institute, BKLYN DESIGNS™ Gallery at GMDC, Benjamin Moore & Co., Con Edison, AIA, ASID and IIDA. Official media partners are: Interior Design and New York Magazine. BKLYN DESIGNS™ receives support from Speaker Sheldon Silver and the Brooklyn Delegation to the NYS Assembly, Speaker Christine Quinn and the Brooklyn Delegation to the NYC Council and the New York City Department of Small Business Services. For more information visit http://www.bklyndesigns.com/. Interested companies can contact auster*events for sponsorship and marketing opportunities at 718-243-1414.

BKLYN DESIGNS™ 5TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
2007 Line-up Showcases Art, Design and Architecture Icons
and Some of Brooklyn's Best Designers in the Heart of DUMBO

(Brooklyn, NY – April 11, 2007) Spring is in the air, and that means it’s time to make plans for BKLYN DESIGNS™, New York’s only curated design show open to the trade and public. Celebrating its fifth anniversary, BKLYN DESIGNS 2007 is now an established design event that attracts buyers and attendees from all over the world. The three-day show being held May 11 to 13, is presented by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and has expanded to include three venues, free seminars hosted by some of the industry’s best talent and an impressive list of trend-setting exhibitors of contemporary furnishings, including furniture, lighting, linens, rugs and decorative accessories.

A record-breaking BKLYN DESIGNS line-up of 65 exhibitors, including 30 newcomers and 35 show veterans will launch their 2007 spring collections. Eleven of these new exhibitors will take part in BKLYN DESIGNS +, a brand new cash-and-carry market of fashion and home accessories added to this year’s event. Buyers looking for sustainable products will find enough to outfit every space, as Brooklyn designers will show a host of clever green solutions.

According to Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Interim President Mark Kessler, “BKLYN DESIGNS continues to prove that something unique is happening in this borough. Many companies, including a number of our exhibitors, are not only designing but also building here. The manufacturing and design industries are clearly flourishing. All proof that Brooklyn is the place for unmatched craftsmanship and talent. Furthermore, this year, more than ever before, BKLYN DESIGNS is acting as a conduit between the design industry, Brooklyn’s larger business community and its cultural institutions.”

Attendees will have a rich schedule of seminars and off-site events that pull together some of the industry’s elite to inspire and instruct. BKLYN DESIGNS 2007 Conference Program will include architects Bruce Fowle, Ismael Leyva and Beyer Blinder Belle; design gurus Ralph Pucci and Andrew Dent, Material ConneXion; artists Richard Haas and Danny Simmons; interior designers Chris Coleman, Ellen Hamilton and Chris Kraig – along with top editors from leading shelter and design magazines.

While Pratt Institute has been integrally involved with BKLYN DESIGNS since the show’s inception, this year the school is an official sponsor. And, for the first time, there will be a Pratt students’ design competition. A jury of leading design editors will select top student designs that will be put on display at Design Within Reach (DWR), Brooklyn Heights.

Activities Galore
On Friday, May 11, guests and designers head to DWR Montague Street for the BKLYN DESIGNS kick-off party and celebration. On Saturday, immediately following a seminar on the BAM Cultural Arts District, attendees will be invited to join New York Magazine for an after-hours party and tour of the new FX Fowle Forte Building in Fort Greene. Local art galleries will be showing art al là Art Basel in select Forte apartments.

Also not to be missed is a Brooklyn Arts Council exhibit of “Models and Prototypes Born in Brooklyn” that will be on display at the powerHouse Arena bookstore. The powerHouse Arena will feature a wide assortment of design books and host two design readings with Akiko Bush and Kira Gould.

Finally, for those who plan to be out and about on Mother’s Day, show sponsor BSH will host a demonstration by Kate Zuckerman, author of “The Sweet Life,” and pastry chef at Chanterelle; and the DUMBO Business Improvement District (BID) has organized a Mother’s Day Brunch Under the Bridge – featuring special offers at neighborhood restaurants.

Show hours are Friday, May 11, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, May 12, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; and Sunday, May 13, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Pre-registered professional members of the design trade will attend for free.

Free shuttle bus service will be provided between DUMBO, Boerum Hill and Fort Greene.

For more information and updates about the program, exhibitors, shuttle bus service and tickets visit the Web site at http://www.bklyndesigns.com/. Interested companies can contact auster*events for sponsorship and marketing opportunities at 718-243-1414.

BKLYN DESIGNS™ is sponsored by Two Trees Management, Bosch, Thermador, Gaggenau, Forte Condo, Pratt Institute, BKLYN DESIGNS™ Gallery at GMDC, Benjamin Moore & Co., Con Edison, AIA, ASID and IIDA. Official media partners are: Interior Design and New York Magazine. BKLYN DESIGNS™ receives support from Speaker Sheldon Silver and the Brooklyn Delegation to the NYS Assembly, Speaker Christine Quinn and the Brooklyn Delegation to the NYC Council and the New York City Department of Small Business Services.

BKLYN DESIGNS™ 5TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION:
May 11-13, 2007
Design, Art and Commerce Join Forces for
The Must-Attend Event of the Year

(Brooklyn, NY – February 7, 2007) Plans for BKLYN DESIGNS™ 2007 are well underway and one thing’s for sure – this year’s event will kick off NY Design Week with a bang. The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, presenter of BKLYN DESIGNS, is pleased to announce the jury, which includes some of the industry’s most respected designers and stylists and editors from top shelter publications – including House & Garden and Interior Design – has once again selected an exceptional exhibitor line-up. A host of newcomers, drawn from the largest pool of applicants since the show's inception five years ago, will show off their never-before-seen designs alongside the spring/summer introductions of several returning exhibitors. From cutting-edge materials, and the latest in sustainable design to custom woodwork, attendees will have access to the latest trends.

According to Mark Kessler, Interim President and COO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, “The goal for the fifth anniversary of BKLYN DESIGNS will be to celebrate not only the show but also how its growth and success are a reflection of what is happening in the borough. The show is a testament to the fact that Brooklyn’s creative culture is a force to be reckoned with. This year we will have more exhibitors than ever and our new collaborations and exciting programs will make DUMBO the prime destination for locals and tourists alike.”

BKLYN DESIGNS will take advantage of the historic and hip DUMBO community by using multiple venues. In addition to exhibits at St. Ann’s Warehouse and the Smack Mellon Gallery, a soon-to-be announced third location with a brand new element will be added to the program. BKLYN DESIGNS + will be a curated design mart for small accessories made in Brooklyn – from tabletop, to pillows, to jewelry. BKLYN DESIGNS + will give attendees instant gratification as they shop vendors for chic gifts and home accents. Brooklyn Industries, one of the city’s hippest fashion retailers, is already on board. The Brooklyn Chamber has put out a call for BKLYN DESIGNS + exhibitors. Interested manufacturers and designers should click here for BKLYN DESIGNS + application and deadline information.

Show goers will also have the opportunity to enjoy a series of on- and off-site events, exhibits and panel discussions that will take place during BKLYN DESIGNS weekend. To start, the program for Friday, May 11, the show’s signature Trade Day, will feature seminars and a keynote presentation. The production team is also finalizing plans for a unique exhibit titled Models and Prototypes Born in Brooklyn that will be presented in cooperation with the Brooklyn Arts Council. The exhibit, which will feature three-dimensional models and prototypes of furnishings designed in Brooklyn, will be on display at the powerHouse Arena. Interested designers should click here to download application and deadline information for Models and Prototypes or contact the Brooklyn Arts Council at gallery@brooklynartscouncil.org, or at 718-625-0080.

“Year after year of exciting new designs, fresh talent and optimistic points of view make BKLYN DESIGNS the premier show on my design calendar. As someone who has been involved since the start, I look forward to the diverse and increasingly inspiring designs and to meeting the designers themselves,” said New York designer and BKLYN DESIGNS juror Chris Kraig.

For updated information about the event program, exhibitors and tickets visit the "attend" section at http://www.bklyndesigns.com/.

BKLYN DESIGNS™ is sponsored by Two Trees Management, Bosch, Thermador, Gaggenau, Benjamin Moore & Co., Con Edison, BKLYN DESIGNS™ Gallery at the Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center, Interior Design, New York Magazine, Pratt Institute, AIA, ASID and IIDA. BKLYN DESIGNS™ receives additional support from Speaker Sheldon Silver and the Brooklyn Delegation to the NYS Assembly, Speaker Christine Quinn and the Brooklyn Delegation to the NYC Council and the New York City Department of Small Business Services. For more information visit http://www.bklyndesigns.com/. Interested companies can contact auster*events for sponsorship and marketing opportunities at 718-243-1414.

BKLYN DESIGNS™
May 12 – 14, 2006
KICKS OFF DESIGN WEEK IN NYC
Brooklyn Chamber Calls for Exhibitor Applications

(Brooklyn, NY – November 28, 2005)  Kenneth Adams, President of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that BKLYN DESIGNS™ 2006 will run from May 12 –14 at several DUMBO locations including St. Ann’s Warehouse.  The annual three-day show will feature Brooklyn-based designers and manufacturers of contemporary furnishings, including indoor and outdoor furniture, rugs, lighting and accessories.  It will signal the start of Design Week in New York City, America’s answer to Milan’s Salone Del Mobile.

Attracting thousands of visitors to DUMBO, Brooklyn’s hub for cutting-edge design – BKLYN DESIGNS™ 2005 showcased a jury-selected group of leading Brooklyn-Made products, and marked the debut appearance of some of the country’s hottest new designers.  In its June issue, Dwell described BKLYN DESIGNS™ as “a boon for those seeking good design minus starchy attitudes…it featured young designers showing eclectic wares in DUMBO.”  Metropolis added, “During the last ten years, Brooklyn has emerged as a vital scene for art and design in New York City.…The growing success of Brooklyn Designs…reflect[s] the strength of the new work coming from the borough.”

According to Adams, “This year we plan to grow the show while remaining committed to the high level of quality that our visitors have come to expect.  We will again work with a jury of design industry professionals to select the very best work from across the borough. Buyers, design professionals and consumers will be making the trip to NYC for Design Week.  We want to make sure that their first stop is Brooklyn.  Our curated show will be their chance to see what’s happening in local studios and workshops that are setting home furnishings trends worldwide.”

Show organizers are working to put together an expanded series of events that will take place across the DUMBO neighborhood.  There will also be a special focus on “green” production materials and products.
The Chamber has put out a call for exhibitors.  Interested Brooklyn-based manufacturers and designers should click here to download a 2006 application form.   The jury, made up of leading design professionals including editors from the top shelter and design publications, will review exhibitor applications in late December 2005.

BKLYN DESIGNS™ is sponsored by Two Trees Management, Con Edison, Time Out New York, Time Out New York Kids, Interior Design, Pratt Institute, AIA, ASID and IIDA. BKLYN DESIGNS™ receives additional support from Speaker Sheldon Silver and the Brooklyn Delegation to the NYS Assembly, Speaker Gifford Miller and the Brooklyn Delegation to the NYC Council and the New York City Department of Small Business Services.  For more information, interested companies can contact auster*events for sponsorship and marketing opportunities at 718-243-1414.

Click the links below to read what the press had to say about BKLYN DESIGNS™ 2006:

Interior Design Magazine, May 2006

Time Out New York, May 11-17, 2006

* Download Adobe Acrobat Reader here.

BROOKLYN DESIGNS™ 2005 SHINES SPOTLIGHT
ON BROOKLYN'S BEST
NEW EXHIBITORS, SPEAKERS AND SPECIAL EVENTS
MAKE SHOW A MUST-SEE

(Brooklyn, NY – March, 2005)  The countdown is on for Brooklyn Designs™ 2005.  Presented by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Brooklyn Designs™ 2005 promises to break 2004’s impressive records with expanded exhibitor space and all new programming that includes hands-on demonstrations and inspiring speakers.  The show will return to St. Ann’s Warehouse (38 Water Street) and the Brooklyn Designs™ Gallery (37 Main Street), which thanks to a recent renovation, is close to double in size. 

“We are very proud to see that Brooklyn Designs™ is flourishing.  With new sponsors and exhibitors joining the team, a newly expanded exhibit space and an informative series of panels and discussions, the show is truly a testament to the important role Brooklyn plays within the design community.  And this year, thanks to the early registration information, we know that Brooklyn Designs™ has not only made its mark on the borough, it has been having an impact across the region.  We’ve been receiving calls and requests from New York City and beyond,” said Kenneth Adams, President of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.

The list of juried exhibitors includes a mix of new and returning designers. According to newcomer, John McDevitt of McDevitt Metal Smithing, "It will be a pleasure to participate in Brooklyn Designs™ 2005 alongside several designers/craftspeople I have known and respected for years. To me the show is a three-day representation of a longstanding community of the best Brooklyn-based furniture makers."

Other new faces include: Here There Designs, innovative lighting pieces that are 100% recyclable; Wüd Furniture Design, one-of-a-kind custom wood furnishings; artist, custom textile and rug designer Amy Helfand; and Oso Industries, unique, contemporary furnishings merging traditional materials with concrete. 

Pratt Institute, a new association sponsor for the show, will once again put together a group exhibit of some of the most innovative new student work from the Pratt industrial design department.

In addition to the exhibits, the show organizers will present a series of informative seminars and panel discussions on design that will be free for all attendees (click here for event schedule). Highlights of the program include an enlightening lecture by design industry expert and editor-in-chief of Metropolis, Susan Szenasy.  She will explore great breakthrough design ideas from Brooklyn and beyond.  Tom Otterness, world-renowned sculptor, will discuss his public art projects including his 5-mile exhibition on Broadway’s Malls, his work in the New York City Subway System, his current major show in Indianapolis and his new project for the Indianapolis 500.

For those trying to get a handle on the growing number of hip, design stores located around the borough, interior designer Chris Kraig will present an insider’s guide that will reveal all of his sources.  Also on the program are several timely design panel discussions including a Furniture New York session on "Commissioning Custom Work," Dwell’s thought-provoking "The Big Apple goes Design-Build" and “What’s Modern Now” as seen by Metropolitan Home magazine.

The program even includes inspiring tastings and demonstrations at the Bosch, Thermador, Gaggeneau DUMBO showroom.  Katy Sparks, Culinary Director of Balducci’s, will participate in a special Mother’s Day event co-sponsored by Time Out New York Kids.  Sparks will share some of her trade secrets while Time Out staff keeps kids busy with special crafts.

Show hours have been set for Friday, May 6, 10 am to 8 pm; Saturday, May 7, 10 am – 7 pm; and Sunday, May 8, 10 am – 5 pm.  Pre-registered professional members of the design trade attend for free all day Friday.

Brooklyn Designs is sponsored by: Bosch, Thermador, Gaggenau, Two Trees Management, ABC Carpet & Home, Corcoran Group Brooklyn, Con Edison, Brooklyn Brewery, Time Out New York Kids and Interior Design.  Additional support is provided by the Brooklyn Delegation to the New York State Assembly in cooperation with NYS Empire State Development Corporation, the Brooklyn City Council Delegation and the NYC Department of Small Business Services. For more information visit http://www.brooklyndesigns.net/ or contact auster*events at 718-243-1414.

BROOKLYN DESIGNS™ JURY SELECTS 2005 EXHIBITORS
FROM RECORD NUMBER OF APPLICANTS;
NEW SPONSORS TO BACK EVENT

(Brooklyn, NY – January, 2005)  The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce is revving up for Brooklyn Designs™ 2005 to be held May 6 - 8. The show jury, which includes prominent designers as well as representatives from Interior Design Magazine, Metropolitan Home Magazine and Furniture New York, selected the very best Brooklyn-based designers and manufacturers of contemporary furnishings from a record number of applicants.

“The outstanding quality and increase in the number of applicants is a testament to the borough’s thriving design industry. Brooklyn Designs™ veterans will be joined by an outstanding group of newcomers,” said Kenneth Adams, President of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.
The complete exhibitor list, which may top 50 firms this year, will be posted on the Brooklyn Designs™ Web site in the coming weeks (http://www.brooklyndesigns.net/).

According to one returning exhibitor, Todd Seidman of 54 Dean, “Brooklyn Designs™ 2004 was our first trade show and the experience couldn't have been better. The reception we received was phenomenal. Additionally, the sense of community that the show fostered reaffirmed for us why it’s so great to be a designer working in Brooklyn. We are very much looking forward to showing our work again at Brooklyn Designs™ 2005.”

“Brooklyn Designs™ 2004 made such an impression on us that we shifted our focus from custom work to the development of original designs. Among the exciting prospects of exhibiting is the potential for introducing ourselves not only to consumers but also to the other members of the local design community,” said newcomer Sam Kragiel of Brave Space.

“Brooklyn Designs™ has a unique appeal that draws all the right trade and press contacts as well as a knowledgeable buying public. Not only was I able to reconnect with a lot of buyers I had met before, but also with a retail clientele that has a specific, sophisticated taste," added Bill Couig of Further Design.

The Brooklyn Chamber is pleased to announce that returning sponsors Two Trees Management, ABC Carpet & Home, Con Edison, Interior Design Magazine and Time Out New York Kids will be joined by kitchen appliance giants Bosch, Thermador and Gaggenau as well as the Corcoran Group Brooklyn. Also reaffirming their commitment to the show are the local chapters of the American Institute of Architects, the American Society of Interior Designers and the International Interior Design Association.

According to Adams, “We are working closely with our outstanding sponsors to develop the show program and event schedule.  In fact, a big opening night bash will take place at the BSH showroom, which showcases stylish, high-end appliances from Thermador, Gaggenau and Bosch, with beverages provided by The Brooklyn Brewery. We are also exploring an enhanced seminar series, designer/architect events, and consumer demonstrations and promotions.  The streets of DUMBO will be alive with activities related to Brooklyn Designs™ 2005.”

Brooklyn Designs™ 2005 will take place at St. Ann’s Warehouse at 38 Water Street in DUMBO as well as a second location (TBA). Show hours have been set for Friday, May 6, 10 am to 8 pm; Saturday, May 7, 10 am to 7 pm; and Sunday, May 8, 10 am to 5 pm.  Pre-registered professional members of the design trade attend for free all day Friday.
Brooklyn Designs™ is supported by the Brooklyn Delegation to the New York State Legislature in cooperation with NYS Empire State Development Corporation, the Brooklyn City Council Delegation and the NYC Department of Small Business Services. For more information visit http://www.brooklyndesigns.net/ or contact auster*events at 718-243-1414.

BROOKLYN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
CALLS FOR EXHIBITOR APPLICATIONS FOR
BROOKLYN DESIGNS™ 2005
SHOW DATES SET FOR MAY 6-8, 2005

(Brooklyn, NY – November, 2004)  Kenneth Adams, President of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce that Brooklyn Designs™ 2005 will run from May 6 - 8, 2005.  The show, already a fixture of the New York design scene, will feature Brooklyn-based designers and manufacturers of contemporary furnishings.  It will include indoor and outdoor furniture, rugs, lighting and accessories.  Brooklyn Designs™ will return to DUMBO, Brooklyn to St. Ann’s Warehouse at 38 Water Street, as well as to a second location soon to be announced.

In the words of the New York Times, Brooklyn Designs™ 2004 featured “clean, clever and readily available products.”  According to Adams, “Brooklyn Designs is re-defining our borough’s reputation. People want a chance to see what the creative economy in Brooklyn is producing.”  Over 5,000 consumer and trade visitors attended the 2004 show.  Exhibitors, sponsors and visitors were unanimous in their praise. 

Added Adams, “One of the things that really distinguishes Brooklyn Designs is our jury process.  It insures that everything on display meets the highest aesthetic and technical standards.  This makes us a show that everyone from the seasoned design professional to the enthusiastic consumer can enjoy.”

The Brooklyn Chamber is currently putting together a steering committee and a jury that will review exhibitor applications for 2005.   The jury will be made up of leading design professionals including editors from the top shelter and design publications. Interested exhibitors should download the 2005 application form by clicking here.  The deadline for exhibitor applications is December 20, 2004.  Accepted exhibitors will be announced on the Web site.

Companies interested in marketing opportunities should contact the Brooklyn Chamber at 718 875-1000 ext. 148.  Brooklyn Designs™ is supported by the Brooklyn Delegation to the New York State Legislature in cooperation with NYS Empire State Development Corporation, the Brooklyn City Council Delegation and the NYC Department of Small Business Services. For more information contact auster* events at 718 243-1414.

BROOKLYN DESIGNS™ RECEIVES AWARD

(New York, NY – July 2004) Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Robert W. Walsh this evening presented honors to eleven recipients of the 2004 New York City Neighborhood Development Achievement Awards at Gracie Mansion, including Karen Auster for Brooklyn Designs™.  The awards, established in honor of the late, former SBS Assistant Commissioner Barbara Wolff, are given to neighborhood organizations that have demonstrated excellence, partnership and creativity in enhancing New York City’s business environment and quality of life. Director of Community Affairs for Citibank Jacqueline Arrington, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Con Edison Eugene McGrath were also in attendance to present the awards; Con Edison and Citibank underwrote this year’s award ceremony.

“Neighborhoods are built by building great partnerships,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “I am delighted to recognize the creative work of these fine organizations who have worked collaboratively with government to increase opportunities and improve the quality of life in neighborhoods throughout the five boroughs. Tonight, we celebrate their achievements, both large and small, that have contributed to making New York City great.”

“When small businesses work together with the community to improve their neighborhoods, the results can be phenomenal,” said SBS Commissioner Walsh. “Today’s award recipients have each shown an exemplary spirit of teamwork and commitment that is a shining example to be replicated. SBS is committed to providing the support and leadership to local groups to make sure that each of our neighborhoods is an excellent place to live and do business.”

New York City’s business improvement districts, local development corporations and other local organizations nominated projects in six award categories listed below. Under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner of Neighborhood Development Mark Newhouse, SBS administered the nomination, evaluation and selection process in collaboration with the selection committee of Jeff Finkle of the International Economic Development Council, Sharon Greenberger of the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding, Frances Resheshke of Con Edison, Dr. Mitchell Moss of New York University, and Hector Ramirez of Citibank.

Karen Auster was the winner for Brooklyn Designs™ in the category "Promotions & Marketing - Outstanding Achievement."

Brooklyn Designs™ launched in 2003 by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn, features Brooklyn’s best contemporary home and office furnishing designers over the course of a three-day exhibition. The inaugural show drew 30 exhibitors and attracted over 3,000 visitors. Praised in the media and featured in several trade and consumer magazines, the event grew for the 2004 show, adding a second location that provided enough space for 45 designers and a crowd of more than 5,200 visitors.

BROOKLYN DESIGNS™ 2004
CLOSES WITH RAVE REVIEWS

(Brooklyn, NY – May 2004)  Brooklyn was the place to be this weekend (Friday, April 30 through Sunday, May 2) as the second edition of Brooklyn Designs™ broke all records – drawing more than 5,000 visitors to DUMBO. Presented by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, the show featured 46 of Brooklyn’s most talented designers of contemporary furniture, lighting, rugs and decorative accessories in two locations – St. Ann’s Warehouse and the Brooklyn Designs™ Gallery. Click here to view the photos.

According to Kenneth Adams, president of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, “With over 5,000 people at the show this year, the attendance was way beyond our expectations.  You could feel the excitement as the crowds filled the aisles and spilled out onto the streets of DUMBO. Brooklyn Designs’ success is a testament to the borough’s exploding creative economy.”

In the words of one visitor, Katherine Cerullo, "Brooklyn Designs provided the perfect opportunity to see what's going on in studios all over the borough. Plus, the St. Ann's Warehouse and Brooklyn Designs Gallery really added to the artsy, hip feel of the event.”

Ruby Metzner of Hivemindesign said, “We were amazed at how much the Brooklyn Designs show had grown in just one year. Not only were there many new designers, but the press, trade and public traffic was at least twice that of last year.  There was such a diverse range of designers and craftsmen, I think this show is going to need more space.”

Tom Russo of Red Hook had this to say: “I was very impressed with the level of creativity I saw at the show. I’m very proud to know that all of those wonderful crafts and furnishings were made in Brooklyn.”

For many participants, Brooklyn Designs™ was an opportunity to launch their newest products for spring.  For some, it was their first trade-show ever.  Newcomers and “veterans” alike were eager to express their enthusiasm about the show. As Paul Galli of 54 Dean put it, "Brooklyn Designs was our first trade show and the experience couldn't have been better. The reception we received was phenomenal.  We are already looking forward to next year's show."

According to new exhibitor and Director of DESU Design David Scott, “I found Brooklyn Designs to be a very positive experience.  The show was exceptionally produced and generated a great deal of interest in our company.  I plan to double our space for next year.”

Scott Braun of Scott Braun Furniture added, “I felt like the people visiting my booth were there with a purpose. I made some solid business connections and met with people who are genuinely interested in my work.  This was the best show I’ve ever done.”

In addition to the high volume of foot traffic at the exhibits, the professional and consumer seminars were all well-attended. James Russell, Editor at Large of Architectural Record Magazine, moderated a lively panel entitled Brooklyn Waterfront Development – Re-Connecting with the Harbor with such design heavyweights as Matthew Urbanski, Max Bond and Tom Hanrahan.  Other program highlights included Enrique Norten, Michael Gabellini, Cindy Allen, a panel on sustainable design led by Susan Lyons and speakers from Expo Design Center, Dwell Magazine and Furniture NY.

For more information contact Karen Auster at 718 875-1000 ext. 146.

Images available upon request.

(Brooklyn, NY – December 2003) Kenneth Adams, President of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce that Brooklyn Designs™—New York’s most-talked about new design show—will return to DUMBO, Brooklyn on April 30 - May 2, 2004. The second edition will be twice as big—featuring 50+ contemporary furnishings designers and manufacturers. Product categories will include: indoor and outdoor furniture, rugs, lighting and accessories.

Premiering last June, Brooklyn Designs™ got off to a strong start—registering well over 3,000 consumer, trade and media attendees. As Adams sees it, “Brooklyn Designs 2003 was a great success for the Chamber. We received positive feedback from exhibitors, sponsors, and visitors. Brooklyn’s creative economy continues to grow and it’s the Chamber’s job to let the world know about it. Brooklyn Designs’ dynamic exhibitors are defining our borough’s updated image and international reputation. For the 2004 edition, we plan to carefully grow the show—mindful of the high-quality of the 2003 exhibitors. All exhibitors will be selected by a jury of design professionals in order to ensure that we are offering visitors a curated look at the very best in new design from our borough.”

The Brooklyn Chamber is currently putting together a steering committee that is exploring sponsorships, cultural partnerships and an expanded series of design seminars. Interior Design Magazine has already signed on as the first media sponsor.

Show hours have been set for Friday, April 30, 10am to 8pm; Saturday, May 1, 10am to 7pm; and Sunday, May 2, 10am to 5pm. Pre-registered professional members of the design trade will be able to attend for free all day Friday.

Brooklyn Designs™ is now accepting submissions for the 2004 show. All interested exhibitors should click here for more information and to download our exhibitor application.

Brooklyn Designs™ is supported by the Brooklyn Delegation to the New York State Legislature in cooperation with NYS Empire State Development Corporation, the Brooklyn City Council Delegation and the NYC Department of Small Business Services.
For more information contact Karen Auster of Auster Events at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce at 718 875-1000 ext. 146.