You can do ICFF in a day, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

Christopher and I took an early bus down to New York on Saturday for the first day of ICFF 2010, and came back that night, getting back to Boston around 3:00AM. In between those two four-hour bus rides, there was much design to be had.

The general feel of the day — in and out of the Javits Center — was very optimistic. The recession has passed, and we’re on to bigger and brighter things. This was best represented by Kikkerland‘s bright red display:

Hästens had what was probably the most interactive display. They had one of their beds at the front of the display, exploded on one side to show what all of the layers of materials looks like. They also sent two master bed makers from Sweden to show attendees what “hand made” really means. I took a turn doing side stitching, and I can verify, it’s not easy work:

This optimistic vibe was felt in the products around ICFF, too: brighter colors, more ornamentation, and lots and lots of lighting, like these examples from Roll & Hill, Tom Dixon, J Good Design, and WOKA Lamps Vienna:

There’s also a continuing trend of wood in all of its varieties, like these pieces from Iannone Design and Miles & May:

Even though it was smaller than years before — no Kartell or Knoll? — I wouldn’t advise trying to cover it all in one day! Keep an eye for more posts in the coming days about our finds at ICFF 2010!

In last Sunday’s Boston Globe, Dushko Petrovich explored how Boston could find itself as the home of a new art revolution. In his essay, Dushko cites all that Boston has going for it: “several great museums, a superabundance of universities, many galleries, a highly educated and increasingly sophisticated audience, and a density that allows for the most important element in cultural life: interaction between creative people.” Dushko makes a pretty convincing job that this revolution is right around the corner, and he’s right. Kind of.

Kind of, because it’s not an art revolution that’s coming, but a design one. It’s been brewing for a while.

In 2006, the public was just starting to educate itself on design. ApartmentTherapy, DesignSponge, sfgirlbybay and others were showcasing creations coming out of New York and San Francisco. Boston had a large, energetic design scene, but people outside of the city thought it was a quaint, stodgy old town, not giving it the attention it deserved. I started DesignBoston to help get that conversation going. Three and a half years later — whether its architecture, interior-, product-, graphic deisgn or more — if you’re offering unique, thoughtful, innovative creations, we want to share it.

A year later, the Design Industry Group of Massachusetts (DIGMA) was formed as “an initiative of the statewide design industries to organize and promote the Massachusetts design cluster as integral to the state’s economy. ” DIGMA unites the various design industries and promotes them to business, government, and the public. In the most recent Boston Home Magazine, DIGMA director Beate Becker shared an interesting fact:

Our impressive numbers may surprise people who think the city is strictly a science and technology powerhouse; in fact, more than 45,000 people work in design-related jobs in Massachusetts, from architecture and advertising to product design for New Balance and Reebok. Boston-area companies actually support the second-largest industrial-design population in the country, behind San Francisco.

The same year, the pinkcomma gallery opened. The introduction on pinkcomma’s website says it all:

This gallery aims to foster and recognize a more creative and experimental scene that has grown out of one of the world’s most significant capitals of architectural education. For all the city’s stodginess, Boston’s six architecture schools and their instructors have unleashed some of the most provocative figures on the world scene.

Through exhibits like “Rethinking City Hall” and “Heroic“, directors Chris Grimley and Mark Pasnik ask us to reconsider our built spaces. The upcoming Design Biennial Boston will “showcase emerging design voices through an exhibition and publication of innovative professional design works.”

This year, Design Museum Boston was formed to “educate the public on the role of design in their lives and the contributions of design within the creative economy.” It’s planned network of physical — galleries, storefronts and malls — and online exhibits will expose audiences “to the design process from a social, economic, and environmental point of view.”

Whether you’re a creative professional or not, design shapes your world. Look around, and you’ll see a world full of buildings, graphics, products and experiences that were all originally visualized by designers. The clothes you wear, the car you drive, the building you work in, even your favorite website; all are the products of designers’ efforts. Each is more usable and inspiring because of designers’ involvement.

DIGMA, Design Museum Boston, pinkcomma gallery, and DesignBoston are trying to achieve the same thing, but from different angles: DIGMA from an institutional level; DesignMuseumBoston in our places of commerce; pinkcomma gallery from the (literally and figuratively) underground, and DesignBoston from a grassroots level.

These are of course just four examples of the connectors bringing attention to the design industry around Boston, and throughout Massachusetts. As more connections are made, as newer, evermore innovative work gets produced, and as more people — in Boston and beyond — recognize the contributions of Boston’s design industry, Boston will truly be a hub of design.

Last night, I had the chance to sit down, enjoy a great meal, and talk shop with a few great designers.

I made my way through the rain from Downtown, across the Common and onto Charles St. I was the first to arrive at the Beacon Hill Hotel and Bistro and got a moment to take in the intimate bar area. Shortly after, I was joined by the evening’s hosts, Lauren Gilbert of The Rug Company and David Anthony Harris of Duc Duc and MasonGray, who had traveled up from New York to visit clients around Boston.

We found our table and started talking about the differences between the different neighborhood of the city, and how shockingly less expensive apartments in Boston are compared to Manhattan. A few minutes later, the last of our group arrived, local husband and wife architects Lisa Cunningham and George Warner of Warner + Cunningham. Koo de Kir‘s Kristine Irving was scheduled to join us, but had to cancel because of a busy workload — a great problem to have!

Dinner conversation revolved around growing up in various parts of the country, kiteboarding (a favorite sport for George), blending modernism and traditionalism, building a home in the rain forest of Puerto Rico, and, of course, catalogs from The Rug Company, Duc Duc and MasonGray.

Both catalogs do a beautiful job representing each company. The Rug Company’s catalog is more akin to a coffee table book, with huge, colorful photos of their rugs and accent pieces in amazing settings. The combined Duc Duc/Mason Gray catalog set resembles a scrap book of classic Americana — a reminder that all of their pieces are designed in New York and constructed in Connecticut — wrapped and tied with a piece of leather.

Also discussed was David’s new venture, the New Traditionalists, which is set to be introduced at the upcoming Architectural Digest Home Show in New York. According to David, the adult furniture line is “traditional, with a twist”, similar to the MasonGray children’s line. No pictures yet, so we’ll have to head to the AD Home show and see for ourselves.

In all, wonderful people, great food, even better conversation. A fantastic dinner.

What a difference a week makes! Things have really picked up from last week.

Drinkwater’s Cambridge – 20%-50% off all winter merchandise through 2/13.

Magpie – 25% off all jewelry and valentine’s cards on Saturday 2/13 – and free cupcakes!

Good – Winter sale – up to 50% off throughout the store through 2/14.

DWR – The Bedroom and Bath Sale – 15% off mattresses, bedding, accessories, lamps, bath items, rugs and bedroom furniture through 2/20.

Infusion Furniture – 50% off selected inventory: Side tables, coffee tables, console tables, etc. Contact for more details.

Is your store having a sale? Be sure to tell us so we can list it!

…but it’s for a good reason!

When I should have been writing about the great designers I’m coming across, I’ve been working with Joyce — not just a blogger but also a freelance photographer and graphic designer — on designing and programming a new DesignBoston.org.

The basic layout is all set, but there’s still much to be done. We’re hoping to be finished in the next few days. When that happens, the site will be unavailable for a short time while we make the switchover.

In the meantime, I’ll be sure to post as often as I can.

Thanks for your patience!

(Yes, I was dared to put this old school .gif up. )

Merry Christmas!

This Tuesday December 8th, two of my favorite Boston based design firms (Vessel and FilzFelt) will be hosting an event.  Join us from 6pm to 8pm at Vessel to learn about FilzFelt and their innovative use of pressed wool to create pieces that are simple and quite smart.  A great opportunity to share ideas and pick up a gift or two for the holidays.

]]> http://www.designboston.org/2009/12/05/design-event-filzfelt-vessel/feed/ 0 http://www.designboston.org/2009/12/04/vessel-floor-sample-sale/ http://www.designboston.org/2009/12/04/vessel-floor-sample-sale/#comments Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:26:24 +0000 Christopher Norfleet http://www.designboston.org/?p=1816

Are you headed to ICFF? FilzFelt, the Boston-based supplier of 100% wool design and craft felt imported from Germany, are.

Kelly Smith (also of Etcetera Media) and Traci Roloff (aka The Girl in the Green Dress) will be showcasing their flooring, pillows and tabletop items at booth #801. Unfortunately, Callar (pictured) will be staying home.

If your company is going to be at ICFF, whether in the Javitz or somewhere in New York at the time, let us know!

Photo credit: FilzFelt via Flickr