walls – DesignApplause

pantone 18-3838 ultra violet (ahem) color of the year 2018.

Dec 31, 2017

here’s what pantone marketing spins…

enigmatic purples have long been symbolic of counterculture, unconventionality, and artistic brilliance. musical icons prince, david bowie, and jimi hendrix brought shades of ultra violet to the forefront of western pop culture as personal expressions of individuality. nuanced and full of emotion, the depth of pantone 18-3838 ultra violet symbolizes experimentation and non-conformity, spurring individuals to imagine their unique mark on the world, and push boundaries through creative outlets.

prince, bowie, and hendrix.

we do like the color – enjoyed finding examples for this gallery – but ultra violet has very limited applications. not a quintessential first choice for durable goods such as furniture. in an interior, more likely to be an accent and not a dominant color. and maybe not a very long shelf life, typically a year from collection to collection.

but then again this year, a homage to prince. and bowie. and hendrix…

an at-a-glance neocon 2017 preview 1.

Jun 11, 2017

above> transcend by suzanne tick for skyline design

a neocon 2017 runs from 12 to 14 june at the mart in chicago. at-a-glance preview…

3form / 10 – 142
a collaboration between 3form and brooklyn-based designer louis lim of makingworks has resulted in the creation of mobius, exclusively on view at wanted design in new york city in may 2017. now check out the latest at neocon.

andreu world / 10 – 132
invites you to discover our new collections at neocon 2017. we look forward to welcoming you.
save the date: please join us for the andreu world fiesta. this year’s event will feature traditional spanish tapas and wine along with a very special live music performance.

arper / 339
arper presents their 2017 collections at neocon. stop by for a coffee and explore the new products at their chicago showroom.

buzzispace / 10 – 111
at neocon 2017 on both the first and the 10th floor of the merchandise mart, buzzispace will realize its comprehensive approach to design for happy, healthy living, incorporating a range of furniture options, and serious acoustic solutions.

carnegie / 10 – 112
life is colorful with the roy g biv collection! the energetic collection spans the full spectrum with high performance upholstery and digitally printed wide width sheers that celebrate color at its very best.

designtex / 1032A
in business, collaboration is everything—but creating the right balance between openness and privacy is a challenge. casper™ cloaking technology by designtex is an architectural film for glass walls that obscures digital screens to outside view. it acts as a smart shield to ensure data privacy, while providing the peace of mind to collaborate freely in any working environment. this is a breakthrough that will unleash space design in the networked modern world. casper is the only cloaking technology of its kind anywhere. you have to see it to believe it.

hbf / 387
thomas lykke/oeo has collaborated with hbf to create the studio table series.

haworth / 312
come see bluescape and global commercial furnishings leader haworth an innovative new collaboration space at neocon 2017.

humanscale / 351
humanscale and the living product challenge. talking about sustainability is easy. what’s more challenging is creating a net positive impact. especially when it’s being audited and validated by the international living future institute.

herman miller / 321
when bill stumpf and don chadwick designed the original aeron, they combined a deep knowledge of human-centered design with innovative, never-before-seen technology to deliver a chair unlike any other. just as iconic films and albums are updated for new mediums, standards, and audiences, aeron has now been remastered to meet the needs of today’s work, workers, and work environments. by coupling co-designer don chadwick’s vision with herman miller’s latest research around the science of sitting, the new aeron works better than ever before—so you can too.

ki / 1181
join the ruckus at neocon 2017! get a first-hand look at how ki‘s ruckus collection is disrupting the design paradigm. in addition, we’ll be showcasing innovative product solutions developed using the principles of human-centered design.

keilhauer / 373
luno is for reflecting. a visually striking lounge chair that allows you to move, sit and communicate in your own style. design by eoos.

maharam / 1188
maharam design studio decided to develop a substrate: apt introduces a new polymer that combines a silicone face with a polyurethane-and-silicone mid-layer to maharam’s offering of nonwoven upholstery textiles. using a proprietary formulation. apt is the result of five years of research and development.

mohawk / 377
go behind-the-scenes with mohawk group for a sneak preview of the bold and stylish floorcoverings they’ll be showcasing this year. take a peek at our entire lineup.

okamura / 11 – 124
alt piazza is an office furniture of the future that turns office shared space into a place where you can work comfortably.

skyline design / 1060
transcend by suzanne tick

steelcase / 300
steelcase workplace advisor empowers organizations to measure the effectiveness of the workplace, and improve it based on easy-to-understand, actionable data accessible through an online dashboard.

teknion / 10 -48
around is fully featured, yet clever new new task chair. hidden innovations facilitate a simple chair design with a light, minimalist form. designed by justus kolberg, around is remarkably comfortable, versatile and easy to use.

vitra / 1192
vitra has been developing and producing office chairs for over 40 years. its first model, the vitramat, set new industry standards, and many of its successors have continued to revolutionize workplace seating. to accompany the market launch of the pacific chair, am chair and id chair update, we are introducing the task chair campaign: a new digital tool that provides existing and prospective customers with an inspiring presentation of these chairs.

wilkhahn / 7 – 7072

wilkhahn’s new metrik cantilever chair stands apart for its sculptural shape and contours which bring modern automotive design to mind. polygonal shapes and rounded edges are part of a distinctive body which is defined by form-fit assembly of the tubular steel frame and seat component. design by whiteID.

neocon 2016 special features.

Jun 1, 2016

[ special exhibits ]

asid / floor 1 west pass-thru
the american society of interior designers (asid) is promoting a healthy neocon experience – physically, mentally & socially. at its booth, the association will illustrate how design impacts lives in a creative, engaging way.

best of neocon digital wall / floor 1 north corridor
contract magazine reprises its best of neocon presentation. this competition of over 40 product categories is juried by nearly fifty architects, designers and facilities professionals. this year’s competition has a record-breaking 427 entries.

buzzilounge / floor 1 east pass-thru
buzzilounge offers a place to recharge with a playful pick-me-up at neocon. guest can relax with martin lesjak while taking the buzzibalance for a test drive, a seating solution designed in collaboration with 13&9.

herman miller plaza / floor 1 south lobby
whether just arriving, on the way out the door, or seeking a break from the action, herman miller invites attendees to pause, connect, and revive in its vibrant plaza.

ideapaint thinktank anywhere / floor 1 north lobby escalator
re-imagining how people collaborate through the creation of dry erase paint and accessories. this innovation continues with the neocon-exclusive launch of a new mobile collaboration system. booth at 7-3069.

iida effect/affect // floor 1 starbucks escalator
explores how a designed space evolves as people move through it and leave their mark on the built environment. designed by the san francisco-based, award-winning design firm, studio o+a

mayer fabrics – the vollis simpson collection / floor 1 north corridor
inspired by visionary american folk artist vollis simpson, mayer fabrics’ exclusive new collection of sunbrella® contract captures the whimsy, joy and intricate designs of simpson’s work. the mayer fabrics showroom (1173).

mohawk group – expand your boundaries / floor 1 kinzie wells entrance
explore the “expand your boundaries” theme, with new inspiration, cutting-edge technology and unique product formats. the mohawk group showroom (377).

mohawk group & install – “expand your boundaries” with install / floor 1 north lobby
mohawk group will be activating another space that will invite show-goers to expand their horizons with new installation methods.

new talent spotlight: five designers to watch presented by metropolis magazine in partnership with neocon / floor 1 west pass-thru
metropolis debuts five new talents in a curated installation at neocon 2016. each new talent will display 3 to 5 objects of design, following metropolis’s at-all-scales approach.

snowsound call zones / floor 7 pass-thrus
attendees can enjoy a moment of italian inspired peace and quiet. walls lined with snowsound cubbies in two locations provide private acoustic call zones for attendees. visit snowsound’s main booth (7-4022) for an espresso and introduction to five new design solutions. *snowsound is also providing acoustic panels for seminar rooms: 615 & 1450.

wolf-gordon “office_excavate” / floor 1 center pass-thru
an imaginative rethinking of workplace interactions with office_excavate, an inviting gathering space. over 100 textiles, arranged by color, are upholstered to a grotto-like seating area and to asymmetrical forms. the wolf-gordon showroom (10-161)

[ awards ]

contract magazine’s best of neocon® awards
a 27th year tradition, products are introduced to the market in 42 categories. over 40 jurors comprised of interior designers, architects and facilities management professionals, review close to 350 products before neocon begins. in late may 2016, all products that are entered the best of neocon will be available for viewing on the contract network.

iida/contract magazine showroom & booth design competition
the iida/contract magazine showroom and booth design competition seeks to honor originality of design, visual impact, effective use of materials and the outstanding use of space, color, texture, lighting, and graphics in showrooms and booths at neocon 2016.

interior design hip at neocon awards
the third annual interior design hip at neocon awards honors exceptional people and innovative products. this initiative, unique within the design world, honors commercial industry pioneers and achievement in design solutions and product applications. winners are announced at an exclusive event on sunday, june 12. attendees can visit hip showrooms throughout neocon and celebrate at the hip hip hooray event on tuesday, june 14 from 5 – 7 pm on the south drive of the mart. tickets required and are available at: hiphiphooray2016.splashthat.com #hipawards

#metropolislikes
metropolis editors will select the top designs of neocon 2016. winners will be announced live on metropolismag.com, twitter, and instagram to over 200,000 metropolis followers, and receive a custom award delivered in person at neocon. show-goers can follow #metropolislikes for the list of 2016 winners.

product innovations awards –buildings magazine
celebrating introductions that maximize productivity and sustainability, this awards program covers flooring, seating, lighting, walls and partitions, acoustics, furniture and restrooms.

for showroom/exhibitor news, images and real-time information, follow neocon on the following social media channels: facebook, twitter, instagram, linkedin, pinterest and vine.

for additional product and show information, attendees can visit the new “my planner” feature on neocon’s site. it boasts an online image and video gallery with product descriptions and general company information. those who complete their free profile can schedule appointments and contact each other via the system. my planner can even suggest potential connections based on user interests.

[ special events ]

diffa chicago: gala 2016 – the illumination ball
saturday june 11
6:30p – cocktail reception | 8p – dinner, entertainment, dancing
chicago marriott downtown magnificent mile
tickets: 312.644.6412 or diffachicago.org

iida cool awards gala
sunday june 12
7 – 11p
the ritz carlton hotel
rsvp: aisha williams at awilliams@iida.org
black-tie

2016 best of neocon award winners’ breakfast
monday june 13
7:30a
the renaissance hotel ballroom, one west wacker drive
tickets: www.contract-network.com through 6/6

groupe lacasse 60th anniversary party
monday june 13
4 – 7p
floor 2 suite 226
rsvp: by invitation only
groupe lacasse is celebrating 60 years of inspired design made with passion.

showroom parties
monday june 13
5 – 7p
festivities will be in full swing on monday night. attendees can showroom-hop on floors 1, 3, 10 and 11 and network, experience new products and enjoy food & cocktails.

dear morlen, we look forward to your zona tortona-like vision on south drive

guerrilla truck show @ neocon
tuesday june 14
9a – 7p
south drive
a satellite version of the ultra popular emerging design event produced by morlen sinoway, which ran in chicago’s fulton market for 10 years, will be featured on the south drive of the mart all day on tuesday, june 14. sinoway will curate a selection of 10 up- and-comers showcasing prototype work and objects of design in the back of box trucks.

supported by: gensler, skender construction / event design provided by aiga in collaboration with leo burnett department of design, multiple, ogilvy485, someoddpilot, and trunk club

booth parties
tuesday june 14
3 – 5p
floor 7
attendees should not miss the cocktails, conversations and contacts that will be offered in the 7th floor exhibit hall.

interior design’s hip hip hooray celebration
tuesday june 14
5 – 7p
south drive
$35 online (hiphiphooray2016.splashthat.com) or $40 at the door.
the guerrilla truck show will also be a highlight of the tuesday night hip hip hooray celebration.

association event – vinyl in design: solutions in healthcare
wednesday june 15
8 – 9a
holiday inn chicago mart plaza – 14th floor western stage house
rsvp: 216-241-7333 or cffa@chemicalfabricsandfilm.com
this association event is an outreach and education program presented by the vinyl institute to familiarize architects and designers with the wide range of design solutions vinyl products can provide in today’s healthcare environments. attendees will earn .1 ceu credit through idcec upon completion.

moooi celebrates new york showroom first birthday. icff16.

May 13, 2016

above> perch light by umut yamuc debuts in usa

moooi / 36 east 31st street

launched one year ago, the moooi showroom and brand store has been welcomed with warmth and enthusiasm. a quirky collection of icon creations and pristine lighting designs. a new destination for architects and designers.

above > below bertjan pot’s bubbly prop lights and heracleum’s leaves.

above > below the presentation highlights the ongoing collaboration with artistic photographer rahi resvani showing oversized zoomed-in movie stills from 2016 advertising campaign.

below> one of a series of marcel wanders’ rugs inspired by klaus haapaniemi’s polar byzantine

diffa brings specify with care effort to the tradeshow circuit.

Nov 5, 2015

Specify With Care®, DIFFA’s cause marketing program, invites companies to designate a collection or collections and donate a percentage from sales of those to the Foundation.

DIFFA is making its mark on the tradeshow circuit this fall, bringing its Specify With Care® cause-related marketing program to BDNY in NYC 8>9 November / Booth #178. Specify With Care (SWC) invites companies to donate a percentage of sales from designated collections to benefit DIFFA in its fight against HIV/AIDS.

Many of the program’s affiliate products will be displayed in DIFFA’s booth at the shows.
Current participating affiliates include Blanco, Bolon, Ege, Maya Romanoff, Laufen and Wolf-Gordon // Gift of Hope.

“Specify With Care is a win-win proposition,” said Rick Wolf, CEO of Wolf-Gordon. It associates manufacturers’ names with a good cause and effectively differentiates their products. The interior design and architectural communities are supporting Specify With Care with overwhelming enthusiasm and optimism.”

As the program grows, DIFFA plans to exhibit at numerous other tradeshows throughout the year and support participants through a number of strategic activities and marketing and PR efforts.

image courtesy of blanco

image courtesy of bolon

image courtesy of ege

image courtesy of laufen

image courtesy of maya romanoff

image courtesy of wolf-gordon

[ DIFFA ] Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS raises awareness and grants funds to organizations that fight HIV/AIDS by providing treatment and direct care services for people living with or impacted by the disease, offering preventative education programs targeted to populations at rick of infection, or supporting public policy initiatives. DIFFA is one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the United States, mobilizing the immense resources and creativity of the design community. Since its founding in 1984, DIFFA has emerged from a grassroots organization into a national foundation based in New York City with chapters and community partners across the country that, working together, have provided more than $40 million to hundreds of HIV/AIDS organizations nationwide.

Boo. Graham & brown.

Oct 30, 2013

cobweb moonlight

[ graham & brown ] shares Halloween scary good offer: 25% on select items thru 4 Nov 2013.

mirage-charcoal

enchant black

skulls by barbara hulanicki

fairy toile shadow

[ graham & brown ]

Playing exquisite corpse with wolf-gordon's new wink. ICFF 2013.

May 28, 2013

click > enlarge

Wolf-Gordon introduces an innovative new product ‘Wink’, a clear dry-erase coating that tranforms any surface into a write-and-erase canvas. In the process they were honored with the Editors Award for Wall Coverings for its interactive, conceptually charged seven-panel installation. If you attended you probably are caught tagging in the following video. Booth attendees tried their hand at completing landscape-themed drawings started by ten artists and designers by playing the game known as “exquisite corpse.” The visitors had a chance to photograph their drawings and share the images on social media sites using hashtag #WGWink.

from left: boym partners, michael graves, snarkitecture

from left: jan wilker and hjalti karlsson, ali tayar, laurene and constantin boym | photos: donnelly marks

The artists included Constantin and Laurene Leon Boym of Boym Partners, Michael Graves, Hjalti Karlsson and Jan Wilker of karlssonwilker, Myles Karr, Ben Katchor, Alex Mustonen and Daniel Arsham of Snarkitecture, and Ali Tayar.

[ wolf-gordon ]
Wolf-Gordon is an American design company founded in 1967 to offer designers a comprehensive source for all types of wallcoverings, united by the common qualities of excellent design and dependable performance. The product line includes wallcoverings, upholstery and drapery textiles, paints, and Wink, clear, dry-erase coating.

Textile designer dana barnes gets knotty.

Dec 9, 2011

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The work of textile designer Dana Barnes has been called “Brobdingnagian.” Indeed, the playful, over-sized crocheted floor squares and exaggerated knots of braids she’s become known for are larger than life. Now, Barnes is ready to unveil her latest collection, “Unspun,” on exhibit at Ralph Pucci International, Gallery Nine, through Winter 2012. Like her previous work, “Unspun” focuses on traditional craft techniques like macramé, crochet, smocking, “knotting, netting, tying, twisting, and looping. All pieces are composed of natural unspun fibers bonded together by specially developed felting processes.”

From The New York Times:

“Dana Barnes is a fashion designer – a Seventh Avenue veteran…who has lately turned to textiles, felt rugs in particular. Ms. Barnes’ felt-making is a homegrown adventure that started several years ago with a simple problem: how to cover the vast expanses of her 3,250-square-foot loft to muffle the pitter-patter of her young daughters’ feet.”

That doesn’t mean this is the hobby of a stay-at-home mom. While most of Barnes’ pieces do serve a functional purpose, to me they’re more like touchable, user-friendly objets d’arts. Tactile as ever, Barnes’ newest wall coverings are evocative of nature and wild, outdoor places, like the “thick crop fields, rolled bales of hay, grazed hills and meadows, Spanish moss and gnarled tree trunks” of her childhood.

It’s the scale, of course, that makes the work so impressive. Small, woven goods are nice, but to see those individual fibers blown up and out, covering the walls and floors in traffic jam of knots or a coiled on the floor in a muted gray braid – is overwhelming. How can you look at her work and not want to take a running jump into that wall of knots, to dig your fingers into its soft mass of whorls? How do you not want to roll around on her rugs, or climb that knotted staircase?

about perrin drumm