Designwire Daily: from the editors of Interior Design magazine

2010 Interior Design Hall of Fame Recap

by Laurel Petriello | Monday, December 6, 2010 | 1 Comment

Neil Denari; Karim Rashid

For the international design community, the annual Interior Design Hall of Fame gala signifies the close of each year, honoring celebrated industry peers. Celebrity designers, manufacturer big wigs, independent firms, and even design students come to partake, donning their evening best in this seasonal affair at the classic Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York.

At this year’s December 1 event, the Interior Design team, spearheaded by publisher Mark Strauss and editor in chief Cindy Allen, selected Shigeru Ban of Shigeru Ban Architects; Neil Denari of Neil M. Denari Architects; and designer Karim Rashid of Karim Rashid, Inc. to induct as the 2010 honorees. New this year was the introduction of the Design Icon award. The first of its kind was given to former editor of Architectural Digest and 1985 Hall of Fame inductee Paige Rense.

Shigeru Ban; Robert A.M. Stern for Paige Rense

Strauss opened the evening sharing his experience over the course of the past year with the healthcare industry, commending evidence-based design, and lovingly noting that all “designers are crazy” with the passion and hunger to do what they do on a daily basis. Allen took the reigns at the podium next to introduce the newest inductees and present them each with an award designed by Ali Tayar. Each inductee graciously accepted, promoting themes such as disaster relief design, public architecture, and, of course, “globalove” per Karim Rashid. Current Hall of Famer Robert A.M. Stern took to the stage to accept the Design Icon award in honor of Paige Rense who unfortunately had to exit the fete early in the evening.

The Grand Ballroom at the Waldorf-Astoria

Guests delighted in gift bags provided by Chilewich and filled with goodies by Axor, Marimekko, D’Apostrophe, Designtex, Leucos, and Sandow Media. Chilewich, in collaboration with Freecell, also designed the gala’s sculptural, LED-lit centerpieces, which decorated each table in the ballroom.

The evening’s events were sponsored by Kohler Interiors and Axor. Proceeds benefited the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, as well as The Alpha Workshops, a non-profit organization that trains and employs those living with HIV/AIDS in the decorative arts.

Centerpieces by Chilewich and Freecell

Photos by Laurel Petriello.