Every May, New York transforms into a hub for design, with NYCxDesign bringing together exhibitions, installations, open studios, and events across the city. Life has been incredibly busy so I didn’t have much time, but made a quick trip to the city to soak in a bit of the energy and reconnect with friends across the industry.
I stayed in East Williamsburg with longtime friend, collaborator, and PAKT founder Malcolm Fontier and his wife Gabby, who were incredibly gracious hosts. It’s a quick trip over the Williamsburg Bridge into the city, and e-bike ended up being the fastest and most fun way to get around.
Day one started with a ride through Central Park before visiting the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum. We spent some time exploring exhibitions including The Art of Noise, which featured an incredible collection of retro audio equipment and industrial artifacts. One piece that immediately caught my attention was the Panasonic Toot-a-Loop radio. Such a cool object. As a collector of all things vintage, I’ve been scouring the internet trying to track one down for myself.
Another standout was an industrial photography exhibition showcasing products and manufacturing in a surprisingly artful and cinematic way. It was a good reminder of how powerful visual storytelling can be when design and photography intersect.
That evening, a big group of us attended the NYCxDesign Opening Party together, which was my first time checking out the official kickoff event.
The event featured large-scale kinetic installations by BREAKFAST, whose movement-driven work blurred the line between art, technology, and spectacle. Pinch Food Design also created a series of interactive (and unexpected) culinary installations.
Day two was a bit of a whirlwind, bouncing between a handful of design week events, including the Bang & Olufsen party and Joe Doucet’s launch event.
From there we headed uptown, stopping into showroom events at Blu Dot, Moroso, and several others throughout the afternoon. We also spent time exploring the SHINE exhibition, which brought together a wide range of lighting and material-driven work from emerging and established designers alike.
Even though the trip was short, NYCxDesign continues to be one of those rare moments where the entire design community feels connected. Between the exhibitions, conversations, and chance encounters, I always leave energized and inspired to get back to creating.
