Coming Down from New York
On New York Design Week, The Design Release, and the cost of doing everything at once.
It’s been hard to sit and write this one out. I am suffering from severe travel exhaustion after back-to-back trips from Milan to NYC, plus the culmination of the last six months of working what felt like 24/7 and wearing what felt like 8 hats. I know myself, and I know that level of balancing acts can cause distress, but I was excited at the possibilities and wore myself thin.
I don’t think I can do the April-May-June design week trifecta again, but since relaunching TDR it feels so necessary to grasp the industry, understand the landscape and ecosystem and power players and etc etc etc. It’s worth it, but it’s difficult and comes with downsides.
We don’t really talk about that so much - how keeping up with your industry can cause burnout or cause edginess that hurts those around us too. That we hold ourselves to unseen pressures that actually don’t exist, but ambition holds you to it. I am tired of being ambitious sometimes. One time, I got so tired of it that I got my master’s in furniture history.
That’s just where I am right at this moment now… feeling a little shell-shocked and also overwhelmed by how fantastic TDR’s new phase has been. But that’s the other thing - when business gets good you can’t just chill and enjoy it, you have to keep the trajectory moving forward. And onward and onward.
With that said… yes I am going to Copenhagen, and really it’s just a good excuse to see one of my favorite people in the world, where I don’t feel pressure to see anything. I am only interested in intimate moments at design weeks - personal connection. And snacks.
With that said, below is what I wrote just coming down from the last day of NYC Design Week, May 19th.
As I’ve mentioned in past newsletters, I was asked by Claire and Odile, the brand managers of ICFF (for those who don’t know, the USA’s largest furniture trade show), to come on as the program curator for the 2026 edition. Along with bringing in a cohort of old friends and new discoveries to present their work at the fair, I also decided to put my money where my mouth is.
Together with Leo, through our other company, Leibal, we presented a booth of work that we consider emblematic of contemporary minimalist design.
The week itself felt incredible. Seeing old friends, feeling the camaraderie of the trade show, being in the same room as so many people I admire, it felt familiar in the best possible way. I felt lucky to be there.
Setup was, as expected, difficult. Extreme. That is the tough reality of presenting work on a big stage in New York City. But the camaraderie, the connections, the reconnections - it makes it all worth it. (not sure if my almost-hypothyroidism agrees, however.)
During New York Design Week, I felt like I (we - me and Leo) reached a new and incredible high point in our careers. Meeting people who already knew about The Design Release, who use it and love it, was one of the most incredible feelings. Meeting people who were fans of Leibal was incredible.
I couldn’t be happier with the result. It makes me emotional, of course. Hard work does pay off in the end.
In the lead-up to ICFF, the exhibition I curated at Host on Howard, and the Leibal booth, I kept thinking: what was I thinking? I got my first grey hair (not bad at 40!). I’m not sure I would do all three things again, but I would certainly do at least two! With a year of rest in between.
As an aside - I want to say a big thank you to AvroKO for teaming up with us on the Look Book offsite, for being yes people in the best possible way. Their beautiful space, Host on Howard, gave a platform to select exhibitors from Look Book, and the designers were so thrilled. The exhibition looked beautiful. Here are some of my favorite photos as well. Look at these beautiful people!!!
Of course, there were ups and downs. I did receive feedback that some people were upset by my critiques of NYCxDesign (the organizers of New York’s design week) in our last newsletter, which made me anxious and second-guess myself. They asked my bosses at ICFF to reel me in (🤣 can you believe…)
But other journalists I respect echoed my sentiments, which truthfully made me feel vindicated. That my opinions were coming from a thoughtful place, with knowledge of the situation, not simply being critical for criticism’s sake. I don’t want to be a snarky, critical person without good reason.
I actually don’t want to be snarky at all (but I know it can slip out).
NYCxDesign board members accused me of critiquing something I don’t understand or don’t know well because I don’t live in NYC. (🤣 the audacity yet again…)
What they may not know is that I lived in New York for 15 years, and spent 10 of those years helping build a community of independent design at the Architectural Digest Design Fair (blood, sweat and tears literally).
During that time, I got to know - and really understand - the business of design. Especially independent contemporary design, my first love in this industry. My second love is the design world ecosystem. Which I also know very, very well.
It is interesting that our industry constantly asks for critique, yet when critique is actually given, people are scandalized.
Anyways! Regardless of NYCxDesign’s own activations, which looked really great when I saw them posted after the fact, I did feel that there were beautiful activations in New York and strong works on view by emerging designers.
That is what makes a design week interesting: the events that surround the trade show. The trade show is the anchor, and emerging design and exhibitions are the ocean of cool stuff around it.
New York Design Week felt like coming home in the best way possible.
Reconnection and community are everything to Leo and me. They are the reason we built The Design Release, and the reason I write this newsletter. We are so proud of what we have built, and we are even prouder when you tell us you love it.
So thank you to everyone who made us feel like our work is valuable. Thank you.
I would normally add my top picks for Copenhagen here, but I am going to rest now.
But perhaps you can visit our Instagram and engage with us there instead. Send us a DM if you’re a reader here so we can follow you back.
Tomorrow I’ll post my top picks for June exhibitions, and later this week I’ll post our top picks for Copenhagen. There is so much happening there it’s unbelievable - but this is the best curated list you’re going to find!!
And another small reminder - we can help you with your design week itineraries. If you’re trade, traveling somewhere for the first time and want to cut the lines and meet the important people, just reach out. We can help.
And a not-so-small reminder: The Design Release has everything you need for your design-world cultural discovery! In general, and year-round. Enjoy, and find your people.
A big hug,
Julia and Leo
Oh PS: I forgot to mention such a high point of May (and my career in general) was being invited on Business of Home’s excellent podcast.
I had the best time chatting with the lovely and charismatic Dennis Scully. He is wonderful and made me laugh so much. A big thank you to show producer (and the best damn design journalist there is) Fred Nicolaus, for making it happen.
I think it was a great episode in which we discussed the design industry's ecosystem (my favorite topic). You can give it a listen here:
I am delighted to have just found TDR on Substack and Instagram. I read some of the past interviews and articles and am now intrigued and a fan.
Looking forward to learning more about design from you. Rest well in Copenhagen.
Love the party pix :)