July Design Ramblings
Views on 3 top fairs, a 90s minimalist-inspired product guide preview, design in Capri, and soft-goes-hard in Los Angeles
Hello Friends,
This past month Leo and I went to Copenhagen for the 3daysofdesign fair (I’m tired of reminding everyone too). And I’m sure you’re also tired of seeing article after article about whether it is “the new Milan.” Well, here comes my opinion. I’ve avoided Milan in recent years for a few reasons: First, promoting a week of 100+ exhibitions on The Design Release is easier from my sofa. Second, I found every year had diminishing returns due to the high cost of going, and the contraction of brand spending since the pandemic which means fewer Fuorisalone exhibitions, and fewer of the inspiring wow factor exhibitions that kept me coming back.
From my past life of running a fair in NYC, and my now-life of running a calendar for fairs, I feel attuned to the industry of trade shows and design weeks. If I were to rate the major fairs, I would say: Milan is great for extreme networking across all design industries, which is especially amazing for students and new-career types. The special exhibitions and installations bring the drams occasionally—and we love that—but on the flip-side, it is tough to stay organized when there, and the FOMO is real—especially when you’re there running around like a chair-obsessed lunatic (this is literally why Leo and I created The Design Release).
Copenhagen’s 3daysofdesign is much more organized, especially if you’re lucky enough to be invited by the event organizers. It's also great for networking, as they all are, particularly in the press and PR world. You can easily meet and chat with brand owners and creative directors, who are way more accessible than in Milan. The exhibitions are mostly showroom presentations, so they don’t have the Milan wow factor that I mentioned above, but everything the Danes do is so exceptionally tasteful that you’ll never be disappointed. 3daysofdesign is more like a living trade show, on view throughout an entire, walkable city.
Also in my top three, NYCxDesign in May is fantastic for networking if you get invited to the right places, but I think it’s harder to navigate for out-of-towners who will most likely focus on ICFF, which is not as dynamic as it once was. I feel lucky that I came up in my career during the exciting launches of now-mainstays (or dare I say once-icons) of design like Lindsey Adelman and Apparatus, and when the European brands spent a small fortune on their booth designs (I remember a booth designed as a marble-maze by a stone importer but maybe that was a dream I had). Many ICFF presentations were beyond stunning, and you left the show feeling like you discovered something before anyone else. Because of the explosion of galleries, these “high-design” brands that would typically launch at trade shows are now launching with galleries presenting at collectible fairs, leaving trade shows in the lurch. As a result, trade shows are losing their high-end interior design audience. In my opinion, everything is a pendulum and swings back eventually. Trade shows have important value in our industry, and we need them. Not every fair needs to feature $40,000 coffee tables, so we’ll see what happens.
Well, excuse my opinions today! I hope I didn't lose any friends. Keep reading for more design things.
In this issue:
Product Roundup for a 90s Minimalist-inspired Look 🛋️
Fair of the month 🏺
Exhibition of the month 🪑
3daysofdesign recap on TDR IN-SITES
If you’re interested in the particulars of what I saw during 3daysofdesign, here’s a little preview of my write-up which will have linked products. It will be published on TDR’s special editorial corner, IN-SITES, later this week (timing things is hard).
The products come together to form my current dream interior, inspired by Note Design Studio’s redesign of Audo’s showroom/hotel in Copenhagen—reminiscent of 90’s Jil Sander in tones of yellow and green. Most of these products are available for purchase on Leo’s other company, Leibal. If you see something you like, email us (sales@leibal.com) and mention TDR and we will hook 👏 you 👏 up 👏
Fair of the Month: NOMAD CAPRI
From July 4th to the 7th, Capri becomes the world’s chicest design hub thanks to Nomad, the traveling fair, presenting 16 galleries and special projects in the gorgeous and picturesque Certosa di San Giacomo. I went in 2022 and enjoyed a week of incredible food, and strolls through the 14th-century monastery. The whole affair is perfectly tasteful, for an audience of sophisticated interior designers and collectors. A lovely add-on to your Italian vacation should you be in the area.
Exhibition of the Month: Box Works
Hip LA-based gallery Marta presents Box Works—a series of ceramic works by Brooklyn-based artist Isabel Rower. Few things are more satisfying than a trompe-l’œil hard-but-looks-squishy moment (or the other way around of course). The exhibition is on view at their Los Feliz-area gallery until August 3rd. More details here.
You made it to the end! You’ve earned my apologies for any typos.
Next, you’ll hear from me in early August where, if productivity allows, I’ll have a monthly breakdown of the upcoming year of major shows ready for your review. Until then, rack up those airline points, and see you à la plage.
Gros bisous,
Julia
Going to Capri for design? Excellent idea! I wish I could go 😢
Loved this