Design Events – Part II

In my last blog I highlighted the High Point Market because frankly I love it and I’m attending this year.  But there are many more design events happening that we can’t miss out on.  And now that 2021 is getting back to normal, the ones I’m highlighting are the in-person events. As a designer trying to stay on the cutting edge, you don’t want to miss out on these high-end markets that will help you not only see the latest in design, but help you buy the most up -to-date pieces and get you networking with the rest of the design world we’ve been isolated from recently. Here is some information that I got from their web sites to help you decide where you might want to jet set off to and I must say, these are also my favorite cities.  The one nearest and dearest to my heart is my hometown of Chicago, Illinois.  Additionally, I need to give credit to the Design Manager blog. Be one of the first to get new ideas and take them back to your market and into your client’s homes.  Best of luck and happy trails!

NY Luxury Design Fair (Formerly the AD Design Show)

Where: Javits Center, New York

When: Sept. 9-21, 2021

The 2020 AD Design Show was originally scheduled for late March, right as the spread of COVID was becoming an international crisis. Event organizers tried to reschedule for June, but the design show was eventually cancelled. Instead, Architectural Digest put on a virtual showhouse, The Iconic Home, which featured the work of 16 Black-led design firms (virtual showhouses are becoming a trend gaining significant traction in the interior design industry).

Interestingly, going forward there will technically be no AD Design Show. Architectural Digest no longer has the name license for the event, and it will now be known as the NY Luxury Design Fair produced by theMart, the same group that manages the Chicago Design Center at the MerchandiseMart. It is difficult to say how similar the event will be to previous years, but the NY Luxury Design Fair website promises an immersive design experience to take place at the Javits Center in Manhattan.

NeoCon

Where: The MerchandiseMart (theMART) in Chicago

When: NeoCon Oct. 4-6, 2021

NeoCon was cancelled in 2020 and has moved its next conference from the spring 2021 to the fall. The event is taking a conservative approach to making announcements for its October 2021 edition, with its website being regularly updated to reflect the current status of the event, and COVID numbers continue to rise. The program for 2021 will be a hybrid approach using a mix of in-person events and livestreaming for registered attendees.

International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF)

Where: Javits Center, New York

When: Nov. 14-15, 2021

The 2020 edition of ICFF was cancelled ahead of its scheduled date in mid-May. The 2021 event will take place in November, although there is no word on whether or not the event will be permanently moved to the Fall.

ICFF and WantedDesign Manhattan, a platform for the design community that produces content and hosts industry events, will co-locate for the first time in 2021. Together, the two shows will present more than 800 design-driven exhibitors at the Javits Center in NYC, plus additional keynote speakers and panels.

Westweek

Where: The Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles

When: TBD

Westweek takes place annually at The Pacific Design Center and is something of a slimmed-down version of the Las Vegas or High Point Markets. The Pacific Design Center is a collection of showrooms that are open year round, but Westweek is a special week where vendors launch new collections and show off their latest innovations while attendees also attend panels and parties. The March 2020 event was canceled, and no plans for 2021 have been announced yet.

For more information about Sallie Elliott or the Priority Group click here.