Thousands of guests from around the globe come to Brooklyn to celebrate a diverse array of the hottest designers in the borough
(May 27, 2010, Brooklyn, NY) BKLYN DESIGNS™ once again brought Brooklyn-based contemporary furnishing and home accessory designers together to showcase the borough’s burgeoning creative talent. The three-day showcase, held May 7 – 9, and presented by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, attracted thousands of attendees from Brooklyn and beyond, all of whom were witness to the development of Brooklyn’s reputation as a hotbed of new and established designers in the home sector. Over 45 designers presented their wares over Mother’s Day weekend, including 10 brand new exhibitors.
Held at St. Ann’s Warehouse in DUMBO, the event catered to those looking for the most innovative and creative designs available. BKLYN DESIGNS expanded its demographic even further this year, presenting some exciting new names in children’s furniture design. Featured were designers like April Hannah, new to the lineup at BKLYN DESIGNS. Hannah won Inhabitat.com’s Best Kids Design / Newcomer Award for her modern kids furniture made entirely from sustainable materials.
“BKLYN DESIGNS was an amazing experience that exceeded my expectations,” Ms. Hannah said. “It gave me the unbelievable opportunity to launch a new collection of children’s furniture — as a new designer — with an international audience built-in.”
Also curated for the first time was the BKLYN DESIGNS™ Kids Lounge, featuring fabulous and functional furniture. In addition to children’s furniture, the BKLYN DESIGNS Kids Lounge hosted activities all weekend long, including face painters, craft workshops, balloons and book readings from children’s author and Brooklyn Heights resident, Melanie Hope Greenberg.
BKLYN DESIGNS not only introduced guests to the hottest trends in furniture design, but unveiled vast resources to designers looking to expand their companies.
“BKLYN DESIGNS measures success by not only how many people come to see the show, but also by the business opportunities that the event creates,” Brooklyn Chamber President and CEO Carl Hum said. “I’ve already heard that our exhibitors made meaningful connections that will help them grow and launch their businesses on a profitable trajectory.”
First-time exhibitors Jessica Banks and Andrew Laska of RockPaperRobot took advantage of these opportunities, presenting their gravity-defying designs this year, all of which are produced locally from materials found around their neighborhood.
“BKLYN DESIGNS was the perfect venue to launch our company,” Ms. Banks said. “We custom make all of our designs locally so the exposure from the exhibit proved invaluable for establishing business connections and getting recognition within the borough and the city at large.”
One of their signature designs, called “Float,” is made up of 64 cubes of polyvinyl chloride covered in zebrawood veneer that repel each other with magnets built into each cube, held together by 1,200 tiny tensile steel cables.
While there were plenty of new faces to look out for at this year’s event, the returning designers put forth their best and most forward-thinking designs this year, as well. UM Project, for example, exhibited their multifunctional designs, including the U.M.O., or Unidentified Magical Object. This piece, which appealed to children and adults alike, cleverly transforms from a coffee table to a chair, desk or bench by simply rotating it on its side. Another returning crowd favorite was Uhuru that demonstrated how something old can be made new again with their Coney Island Line. With several pieces made up of planks pulled from the recently demolished boardwalk, the Coney Island Line pays tribute to the amusement park, ride-by-ride. Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge said, “It was great to see designers like Uhuru honoring the heritage of Brooklyn and finding a way to combine the past with the present.”
In addition to the wide range of design talent on display, visitors were treated to the fabulous New York Magazine-sponsored opening night party on Friday hosted by The Brooklyner, the borough’s new high-rise condo residences. This year’s BKLYN DESIGNS proved to be the go-to event to find the freshest, most exciting designers in the borough, wonderful entertainment for parents and children, and terrific parties to boot.
Sponsors for BKLYN DESIGNS™ 2010 include Pratt Institute, Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center (GMDC), Two Trees Management, aptsandlofts.com, One Brooklyn Bridge Park, Artistic Tile, Benjamin Moore, Vespa Brooklyn, and Con Edison, and media partners Interior Design, New York Magazine, Dwell, and Inhabitat.com.
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 NYC Department of Small Business Services.
Follow BKLYN DESIGNS on twitter at www.twitter.com/BKLYNDESIGNS. Fan BKLYN DESIGNS on facebook at www.facebook.com/BKLYNDESIGNS.
For photos, additional information, and to schedule interviews, please contact Auster Agency at 718.243.1414.
Festivities include on-site happy hours, DJ entertainment, all-new Kids Lounge, special promotions, Mother’s Day events, and more
(April 29, 2010, Brooklyn, NY) Brooklyn’s design scene is booming and BKLYN DESIGNS™, New York’s premier exhibition of designers of contemporary furnishings and home accessories made and/or designed in Brooklyn, will give thousands of visitors the opportunity to be at the pulse of the borough’s cutting-edge design scene. BKLYN DESIGNS attendees will be leaps ahead of other design conscious New Yorkers as they get a first look at new work from over 45 of the borough’s best designers including 10 never-before-seen exhibitors launching at the show. The three-day show, which takes place May 7-9 at St Ann’s Warehouse in DUMBO, will have something for everyone including an exciting roster of engaging activities, fun events, lively entertainment, and area dining specials. The full rundown of events and activities can be found at www.bklyndesigns.com/events.
BKLYN DESIGNS will appeal to all your senses. Start each morning with free coffee from Crop to Cup, and on Friday, May 7, unwind in the afternoon at an on-site happy hour with free Peak Organic beer sponsored by Inhabitat.com and get a front row seat as Inhabitat.com bestows its “Annual BKLYN DESIGNS™ Green Award” to one deserving designer. On Friday and Saturday afternoons DJs Nick Chacona and The Schwartz from Halcyon the Shop will set the vibe and provide the perfect soundtrack to experience the show.
There is a special focus on kids this year at BKLYN DESIGNS. On Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 9, families are encouraged to check out the interactive BKLYN DESIGNS™ Kids Lounge featuring fun, functional, and fabulous children’s furniture by BKLYN DESIGNers. Don’t worry about your young ones getting bored at the show – the kids will surely keep themselves occupied as they enjoy the hands-on exhibit along with face painters, balloons and fun, kid-focused activities, including book readings from renowned children’s book author and Brooklyn Heights resident, Melanie Hope Greenberg.
Also on Mother’s Day, BKLYN DESIGNS will partner with the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy and the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation for the Annual Spring Fling set to take place from 10:30 a.m. –to 1:00 p.m., at Pier 1 in the newly-opened Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn Heights. Families can walk from the show to enjoy concerts, children’s book readings and drawing demos from children’s book authors and illustrators, arts and crafts activities, and parent-child yoga. After working up an appetite, you can relax at restaurants in and around DUMBO with specially-priced BKLYN DESIGNS™ Mother’s Day brunch menus.
Members of the trade who pre-register and attend BKLYN DESIGNS on Friday, May 7, will have the unique opportunity to be entered to win a seat on an exclusive tour of the underground Danby Marble Quarry in Vermont sponsored by Artistic Tile. Industry insiders and exhibitors will have the opportunity to toast the designers’ work at the New York Magazine sponsored opening night party hosted by The Brooklyner, one of the borough’s newest hi-rise, condo residences. The party continues on Saturday night with festivities at Deity NYC.
Getting to BKLYN DESIGNS won’t be a problem. Free shuttle bus service on Friday, May 7, sponsored by Con Edison, will begin pick-ups at 10:00 a.m. at Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon St., and will run continuous loops all day long to DUMBO. Visitors who opt to take their bike to the event will be able to park it for free at the “Brooklyn Greenway Initiative Bike Park” on Saturday, May 8.
BKLYN DESIGNS is the place to be to look for fresh design inspiration, or to simply experience first-hand the latest in contemporary furniture, lighting, carpet and flooring, wall coverings, tabletop and outdoor furniture coming out of Brooklyn’s celebrated design scene. Tickets are available in advance online at www.bklyndesigns.com for $12, and at the door for $15. Students are $10, and kids under 16 are free. St. Ann’s Warehouse is located at 38 Water Street in DUMBO, Brooklyn.
Sponsors for BKLYN DESIGNS™ 2010 include Pratt Institute, Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center (GMDC), Two Trees Management, aptsandlofts.com, One Brooklyn Bridge Park, Artistic Tile, Benjamin Moore, Vespa Brooklyn, and Con Edison, and media partners Interior Design, and New York Magazine, Dwell, Inhabitat.com.
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 NYC Department of Small Business Services.
Follow BKLYN DESIGNS on twitter at www.twitter.com/BKLYNDESIGNS. Fan BKLYN DESIGNS on facebook at www.facebook.com/BKLYNDESIGNS.
For photos, additional information, and to schedule interviews, please contact Auster Agency at 718.243.1414.
Intimate exhibits, panel discussions, parties, dining specials, all-new kids lounge and more will bring thousands to the streets of DUMBO, May 7-9
(Brooklyn, NY – March 24, 2010) BKLYN DESIGNS™, New York’s premier exhibition of designers of contemporary furnishings and accessories made and designed in Brooklyn, announced today its roster of exhibitors and event line-up for the 2010 show. Set to take place at the famed St. Ann’s Warehouse in DUMBO, Brooklyn, May 7-9, BKLYN DESIGNS™ will bring together 40 emerging and well-established designers to showcase the latest in furniture, lighting, and home décor coming out of Brooklyn’s renowned, avant-garde design scene. With a proven track record of identifying and launching the careers of new talent, BKLYN DESIGNS™ will premiere the work of 10 designers participating in the show for the first time. Go to www.bklyndesigns.com for a complete listing of exhibitors and events.
Visitors to this year’s show will find intimate, accessible displays featuring never before seen work. In addition, the three-day show will feature panel discussions from design industry leaders, “Green Design Awards” presented by Inhabitat.com, and specially-priced BKLYN DESIGNS™ Mother’s Day brunch menus at restaurants in and around DUMBO. On Friday, May 7, industry insiders and exhibitors will toast the designers’ work at the New York Magazine sponsored opening night party hosted by The Brooklyner, one of the borough’s newest hi-rise condo residences. Additionally, on opening day pre-registered members of the trade will be entered to win a unique and exclusive opportunity to join Artistic Tile on an upcoming tour of an underground marble rock quarry in Vermont.
On Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 9, visitors are encouraged to bring their little ones along to visit BKLYN DESIGNS and enjoy programming dedicated to families, including the interactive BKLYN DESIGNS™ Kids Lounge featuring fun, functional, and fabulous children’s furniture by BKLYN DESIGNers. The Annual Spring Fling will take place at the newly-opened Brooklyn Bridge Park with arts and crafts, and music and games for kids of all ages. A free shuttle bus sponsored by One Brooklyn Bridge will transport families from BKLYN DESIGNS to the Annual Spring Fling throughout the day.
“The diverse array of exhibitors, panels, and events at this year’s BKLYN DESIGNS will entertain and engage visitors, from young to old. They will get an inside look at the established design culture that is integral to today’s Brooklyn,” commented Carl Hum, president & CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. “The show is sure to impress design insiders and entertain casual consumers who will come together for three days to celebrate Brooklyn’s exceptional design scene.”
“There is sure to be a ton of serious innovation at this year’s BKLYN DESIGNS show,” commented returning exhibitor Bill Hilgendorf, Uhuru Design. “The designers are pushing themselves to produce cutting-edge pieces and conceive new designs, which are certain to make the show lively and inspirational.”
The three-day show bustles with thousands of visitors, including interior designers, retailers, manufacturers, distributors, and design enthusiasts who want to stay at the pulse of the design scene and check out top-notch design talent. Tickets are available in advance online at www.bklyndesigns.com for $12, and at the door for $15 ($10 for students with valid student ID).
Sponsors for BKLYN DESIGNS™ 2010 include Pratt Institute, Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center (GMDC), Two Trees Management, aptsandlofts, One Brooklyn Bridge Park, Artistic Tile, Benjamin Moore, Vespa Brooklyn, and Con Edison, and media partners Dwell, Inhabitat.com, Interior Design, and New York Magazine.
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 NYC Department of Small Business Services.
Follow BKLYN DESIGNS on twitter at www.twitter.com/BKLYNDESIGNS. Fan BKLYN DESIGNS on facebook at www.facebook.com/BKLYNDESIGNS.
Photos, additional information, and scheduled interviews are available upon request.
Designers Selected by Esteemed Jury Panel for 3-Day Exhibition
(Brooklyn, NY – March 9, 2010) The jury has spoken – 45 of the borough’s top designers have been hand-picked by a prestigious panel of experts to exhibit at BKLYN DESIGNS™ 2010. Now in its eighth year, BKLYN DESIGNS™ is New York’s premier exhibition of designers and manufacturers of contemporary furnishings and accessories made and/or designed in Brooklyn. Presented by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, the show, which kicks off New York Design Week, will be held May 7 – 9, at DUMBO’s legendary St. Ann’s Warehouse.
Thousands of visitors will descend upon the streets of DUMBO over the three-day show to take in the latest contemporary furniture, lighting, carpet and flooring, wall coverings, tabletop and outdoor furniture and accessories coming out of Brooklyn. Visitors will find that this year’s selections reflect a greater focus on smaller and more affordably priced pieces. In addition to the intimate, engaging exhibits, BKLYN DESIGNS 2010 will feature a diverse array of demonstrations, satellite exhibits, panel discussions, keynote speakers and numerous design-related after parties.
“The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce is proud to present the eighth consecutive edition of BKLYN DESIGNS. The show has and in the foreseeable future will, continue to be a proven launching pad for some of the borough’s freshest, most exciting designers and furniture makers. For the past seven years BKLYN DESIGNS has been the place where the design and creative cognoscenti gather to discover the latest and greatest in this growing part of Brooklyn’s manufacturing sector,” said Carl Hum, president and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber.
The BKLYN DESIGNS 2010 jury is comprised of leaders in the design community, including top publications Interior Design, New York Magazine, and the New York Daily News; popular websites like Inhabitat.com; fixture institutions such as the Guggenheim Museum; and prominent interior design specialists.
“The bar has been set exceedingly high for exhibitors at BKLYN DESIGNS and the designers selected for the 2010 show are no exception. This year’s 45 designers will showcase some of the freshest and most innovative talent in Brooklyn,” commented Wendy Goodman, design editor, New York Magazine.
Jonah Zuckerman of City Joinery will be returning this year as an exhibitor after a one-year hiatus. In describing the impact that exhibiting at BKLYN DESIGNS has had on him, he remarked, “Being associated with Brooklyn and its design scene has become integral to our brand, and BKLYN DESIGNS is the linchpin of that branding. After taking a year off, I am excited about returning to the show with several all new pieces that represent a lot of hard thinking and innovation.”
Sponsors for BKLYN DESIGNS 2010 include Pratt Institute, Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center (GMDC), Two Trees Management, aptsandlofts.com, One Brooklyn Bridge Park, Benjamin Moore, Vespa Brooklyn and Con Edison, and media partners Dwell,Interior Design, and New York Magazine.
BKLYN DESIGNS 2010 exhibitors will be announced within the next two weeks on the show’s website at http://www.bklyndesigns.com/. Follow BKLYN DESIGNS on twitter. Fan BKLYN DESIGNS on facebook.
Photos, additional information, and scheduled interviews are available upon request.
