marcus fairs passing is a big loss to all of us. he was a big inspiration to architecture and design. a visionary. although 20-plus years my junior, i consider him a mentor. he founded and authored a great resource in #iconmagazine and in #dezeen that will carry on I’m sure but not be quite the same without him.
marcus fairs launches dezeen as a blog in 2006. the site not so great. the content on the other hand was relevant, opinion-filled, and the best of examples. the most current mission statement in fair’s own words with anders holst podcast was to be the most influential and popular design website in the world. mission accomplished.
above > icon cover recent issue
fast rewind, fairs launches icon magazine in 2003. as editor the magazine readership soars. in fact the magazine and fairs himself was awarded launch of the year and journalist of the year in 2004. in his own words, “a great publication in the golden era of print.” then fairs publishes a significant book, twenty-first century design in 2006 with a foreword by marcel wanders for which he is fired by media 10. he was fired because he didn’t clear the book with his bosses. both the first thru third editions of fair’s book can be found on amazon. the firing, which can also be heard in holst podcast, is strange because you would think the publisher, media 10, would be proud, not pissy, to have a visible expert editor publishing a book. but fairs had an internet something up his sleeve, “i can do this!” yes marcus, indeed you can.
above> the cover of first edition
[ dezeen ] @marcusfairs #iconmagazine #dezeen
i followed dezeen from the get-go and felt honored that he followed DesignApplause. we also met in milan in 2018 and vowed to have a drink at bar basso. sadly i have yet to go to bar basso.
magis, the italian design company, presents a temporary ‘pop-in’ exhibition at herman miller’s new york flagship (251 park avenue south). the magis way at herman miller is an experiential demonstration of the brand spirit – the most robust ever presented in north america – and is designed by swedish firm note design studio, encompassing nearly the entire second floor of the herman miller showroom.
“it is important to us that architects, designers and design lovers can see, touch and feel our products, says alberto perazza, ceo of magis. “for us, design is in our dna and we love sharing it with the public and international design community.”
the brand’s spirit and success are based on the desire to provide a wide array of users with access to highly functional, quality products manufactured with advanced technologies. to achieve this, collaborating with major international designers is essential –they have a vision of the resulting products that is ethical and poetic as well as aesthetic.
for the magis way exhibit at herman miller, note design studio has developed a pursuit of visuals and volumes through fascinating architectural arrangements within the renaissance-revival building (designed by neville & bagge in 1909) that herman miller calls home. the stockholm-based studio began working with magis in 2018, dreaming up their exhibition spaces for salone del mobile, stockholm furniture fair and more.
a welcoming setting, this space is an invitation to discover the new and iconic designs presented within it, including plato designed by jasper morrison, the officina collection by ronan and erwan bouroullec, bureaurama by conceptual artist jerszy seymour, chair_one by konstantin grcic, the famous spun chair by architect thomas heatherwick and many more. linking the products and vignettes are new rugs from the volentieri collection designed by inga sempé, featuring different types of yarns and weaves to balance color, texture, even light reflection through a mix of neutral and luminous materials. this is a new category for magis and the first time they will be on display in north america.
magis, founded in 1976, is proud of its “made in italy” quality and tradition and speaks an international language by combining craftsmanship with technical advances in manufacturing. the magis way exhibit at herman miller expresses the breadth of their portfolio in a meaningful demonstration.
“we want visitors to feel that they’ve just discovered magis, whether they already knew the brand before they visited the exhibit or this is their first exposure to it,” says tim straker, chief marketing officer, herman miller. “this is a chance to envision magis in one’s own space, whether it’s home or at work.”
among the values shared by magis and herman miller is a commitment to creating responsible design and a strong belief in design authorship. through this relationship and the pop-in exhibition, the two companies have woven a story of creativity and applicable authored designs for north america in a real and credible way.
architects, interior designers and design lovers can visit the magis way at herman miller by contacting (212) 753-3022 to schedule an appointment, or enter through the herman miller store, taking the stairs in the back to the second floor monday through friday 11:00am – 5:00pm.
now into its 58th edition, the salone internazionale del mobile is gearing up again to be the focus of international attention.
a showcase that has always mixed business with culture, shaping the history of design and furnishing yesterday, today and tomorrow. a global platform for truly top-notch products with the emphasis on innovation. the salone internazionale del mobile is split into three style categories: classic, which draws on the values of tradition, craftsmanship and skill in the art of making furniture and objects in the classic style; design, products that speak of functionality, innovation and boast a great sense of style and xlux, the section devoted to timeless luxury re-read in a contemporary key. a range of goods that combines quality and technology, shaped by the creativity of the leading sectoral companies, practised at developing their businesses by investing each year in innovative products and home furnishing solutions.
the many exhibitors along with the thousands of products being unveiled for the first time confirm the salone internazionale del mobile’s enormous value as an international showcase for creativity and a forum for industry professionals, with more than 370,000 attendees on average, every year, from 188 different nations.
cusp is a two day conference about the design of everything.
it brings together thinkers, innovators, entrepreneurs, performers, skeptics, believers, visionaries and explorers from the arts, sciences, technology, business and design – for two days of broad thinking. it’s about getting people out of the world they know and immersing them in a flood of ideas that ultimately help break down barriers and connect unknown dots. and it’s about finding ideas and relevance in unexpected places.
attendees enjoy 25+ thought-provoking and inspiring presentations by people who are passionate about designing a better future. the program is eclectic by design, intended to provoke cross-pollination of ideas and generate new thinking. every attendee has the opportunity to see every presentation — there are no breakouts or q+a sessions. attendees have numerous opportunities to network and interact (schmooze) with presenters and fellow attendees during conversation breaks and other social events.
the 10th season of the architecture & design film festival – the nation’s largest film festival devoted to the creative spirit that drives architecture and design – will kick off in new york city from 16 > 21 october at cinépolis chelsea. with dozens of humanistic documentaries about creative visionaries, including design legend dieter rams and the engineer of the twin towers, leslie e. robertson, stimulating talks with filmmakers and architects, a pop-up bookstore, and interactive installations in the festival lounge, adff:ny is the perfect fall activity for design-loving new yorkers.
[ architecture & design film festival ] @adfilmfest #adfilmfest
ticket price:
opening night: $75
general admission: $17
members of aia, asid, and iida: $14
students: $12.50
architects, designers, and design lovers are invited to pop in and out of 13 of soho’s top design showrooms where festive libations and a unique curated selection of short films will take place in each showroom. the event is free, but rsvp is required.
@adfilmfest #adfilmfest
please join us for an intimate, lively, and thought-provoking mixer with dutch design master, piet boon, whose creations range from furniture, lighting, and luxury interior projects, to collaborations with porsche and land rover. piet will be presenting design insights of his furniture collection, and sharing his thoughts on the balance between functionality, aesthetics, and individuality in design.
studio piet boon, founded in 1983, creates striking contemporary furniture, interiors, architecture, and product designs. the brand is world-renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship, quality and vision, with a portfolio of corporate, commercial, and private clients in over 46 countries. piet boon is best known for his clear, no-nonsense style, as well as his exceptional use of colors and materials, creating practical and unfettered simplicity in his designs.
haute living is proud to have been the first furniture retailer to introduce the piet boon furniture collection to the united states in 2008, and remains one of the few select showrooms to represent his work today. guests will have the opportunity to meet and talk with piet boon one-on-one, network with industry insiders over refreshments, and discover the true essence and meaning of the piet boon collection!
about haute living
the haute living showroom, located in chicago’s river north design district, has become an integral part of the chicago design community and a destination for architects, interior designers, and design enthusiasts from all over the world. known for consistently promoting emerging designers and progressive brands, our thoughtfully curated collection represents the very best in modern and contemporary design today.
the architecture & design film festival (adff) – the nation’s largest film festival devoted to the creative spirit that drives architecture and design – will take place in new york city from november 1-5 at cinépolis chelsea. through a curated selection of films, director q&as and panel discussions, adff creates an opportunity to educate, entertain and engage all who are excited about architecture and design. the ninth edition will showcase 30+ feature-length and short films offering explorative portraits of architecture icons such as mies van der rohe, glenn murcutt and rem koolhaas, and delving into topics ranging from imaginative solutions for homeless housing and how drones will impact architecture.
mas context is organizing the fourth edition of mas context : analog, our one-day event of talks, exhibitions, and an onsite pop-up bookstore in chicago. the event is hosted by the joinery.
mas context : analog will gather a group of emerging and established practitioners within the field of design who will discuss their work based on four proposed themes: food, institution, music, and prototype. the event will include talks by artists, curators, architects, photographers, graphic designers, and industrial designers.
speakers include charles adler (center for lost arts), jessica charlesworth (parsons & charlesworth), judith de jong (architect), sean lally (architect), marcia lausen (studio/lab), angee lennard (spudnik press cooperative), matthew messner (architect’s newspaper), molly meyer (the roof crop), tim parsons (parsons & charlesworth), john pobojewski (thirst), aaron rodgers (homeroom), and alisa wolfson (leo burnett department of design).
the event also includes the screening of the 2017 short film “starship chicago” directed by nathan eddy. the documentary focuses on the 1985 state of illinois center / james r. thompson center designed by architect helmut jahn, a remarkable building facing an unknown fate.
mas context : analog also includes an onsite pop-up bookstore featuring books by speakers and other designers. the talks will be followed by a party.
chicago design week [ calendar ]
the first annual icff miami will bring luxury global designers, architects, developers, high end showrooms and retail influencers to miami, a leading market for affluent residential development and investment. like icff nyc, the miami show will showcase what’s next and best in design, but with an energy and style all its own.
