Designwire Daily: from the editors of Interior Design magazine

MAD Launches “The Home Front: American Furniture Now” Series

by | Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Beginning next week, New York’s Museum of Arts and Design will present a new public program series, “The Home Front: American Furniture Now.”

The series, which will explore the current state of contemporary furniture design, serves as a platform for industry professionals, architects, retailers, designers, and educators to engage with one another, as well as the public, about the inner workings of an industry experiencing a steady decline following the heroic era of mid-century modernism. Guest curated by design editor Dan Rubenstein, the program stars Interior Design’s own editor Annie Block on March 24 in a discussion titled, “AFTER CLASS: The first steps of the American designer.”

The full program includes the following discussions:

January 13, 2011 – IN STOCK: Why is American design such a hard sell?
Leading retailers on the front lines of contemporary furniture discuss with Dan Rubinstein, the editor in chief of Surface, the seller’s perspective on American design. How can designers get noticed by these career-making venues? What are they looking for, and what mistakes can local talent avoid? From the nuts and bolts of cost, quality, and manufacturing to the tastes and tendencies of the U.S. public, these tastemakers will reveal their often under-appreciated opinions in a roundtable format followed by an open Q&A. Panelists include: Jamie Gray (Matter, New York), Siamak Hakakian (Domus Design Collection, New York), and LA’s Stefan Lawrence (Twentieth, Los Angeles).

February 17, 2011 – MAKING IT: Challenges facing the American designer
How do new designers overcome the odds, break into the industry, and stay there? How do they get studio spaces? How do they find someone local to produce their work? How can they get noticed, and stay productive year after year? Journalist and author Jen Renzi will pen a series of columns for Fast Company’s design blog, Co.Design, profiling her heroes of American furniture design. Key talents from her coverage, Alissia Melka- Teichroew, Jonah Takagi, and BDDW’s Tyler Hays, will join Renzi for a candid discussion of their success, half-starts, and even their poetic failures—and how others might learn from those experiences.

March 10, 2011 – DRAFTED: The evolving role of architects in furniture design
Like experienced chefs preferring their ingredients to come from local sources, architects would have the most to gain from a stronger American design scene. Julie Iovine, executive editor of The Architect’s Newspaper, will host a roundtable discussion and Q&A with top minds including Michael Graves, Calvin Tsao, Gisue Hariri and Jeffrey Bernett on their experiences, strategies and needs when it comes to making American design happen.

March 24, 2011 – AFTER CLASS: The first steps of the American designer
Caught between a culture ambivalent on the values of design and a slowing economy, young designers face an enormous challenge post graduation. Moderated by Interior Design magazine editor Annie Block, designers Dror Benshetrit and Todd Bracher will join Pratt Institute Professor of Industrial Design Mark Goetz on how they navigated their own path to success. A portfolio review for students and alumni with the designers will follow.

April 21st, 2011 – AMERICAN DESIGN CLUB
The American Design Club (AmDC) is a loose collective of New York’s leading young design talent. In recent years, the group has executed self-financed events and exhibitions showcasing their highly creative and independent work. The AmDC will invite a group of their members to work in MAD’s Open Studios, highlighting their creative process by creating new work. An event in the auditorium will analyze the work created and displayed during this full-week period. In the Open Studios: American Design Club will run April 18–22, 2011