The sixth edition of NYCxDesign, a citywide celebration of design, officially kicks off today! From now until the 23rd, hundreds of events will take place across the city, ranging from exhibitions and open studios hours to trade shows, talks, and more. Almost 350,000 visitors participated last year, and 2018 will surely welcome even more design buffs from all walks of life, whether they’re keen on architecture, interior design or fashion.
In partnership with the Times Square Alliance, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) celebrated the start of NYCxDESIGN 2018 with a kickoff event that took place today in front of the Father Duffy Statue, giving us a preview of what’s to come. As there’s so much happening over the course of the next two weeks, we’ve selected a few not-to-miss events, which includes talks, tours and much more. Take a look at what’s in store and visit nycxdesign.com for the full calendar:
MAY 11
Launch of the Design Pavilion
This morning, we celebrated the official opening of Design Pavilion 2018, a nine-day design “happening” that takes place on Times Square’s five public pedestrian plazas that run along Broadway between 42nd and 47th Streets. Throughout the week, Design Pavilion will serve as the public hub for NYCxDESIGN, where visitors can grab their official NYCxDESIGN Guide and learn more at the information kiosk.
As part of Design Pavilion, free, daily programming, Design Market NYC, and newly installed architectural pavilions that embody the theme “From This Day Forward” will be presented. This year, the spotlight falls on Inflate, a 25-foot-high futuristic and inflatable hub, conceptualized by a U.K.-based design studio that’s headed by creative director Nick Crosbie, and featuring lighting by L’Observatoire. Also keep your eye on NASDAQ’s cylindrical video column in Times Square, which will feature design-themed interviews and stories from partners.
Time Square Alliance’s Design Initiative: Times Square Design Lab
For the first year, the Times Square Alliance is showcasing prototypes developed through the Times Square Design Lab, which commissions proposals to enhance public space from New York City designers. This includes a tear drop-shaped signage system by Louis Lim, Island Collection, a seating concept by Brad Ascalon, and Title Wave, a curvilinear bookcase and seating option by Hive Public Space.
MAY 12
The Prelude to The Shed
It’s the last weekend to check out A Prelude to the Shed, which kicked off on May 1st on a yet-to-be-developed Hudson Yards site on the corner of 31st street and 10th Avenue. The free, two-week event series is literally a preview to the opening of The Shed, a new flexible, transformable arts center, designed by Diller Scofio + Renfro with Rockwell Group, whose shell can slide open to accommodate all types of performing arts. Programming during NYCxDESIGN will take place in a flexible event space there, designed by Kunle Adeyemi.
Art on the Plaza at Hudson Yards
Make sure to check out Art on the Plaza, part of A Prelude to the Shed. Running from May 10th to the 13th from 12 to 8pm, the event presents an interactive art installation on 10 Hudson Yards, East Plaza, featuring the work of Yoko Ono and Jon Burgerman.
MAY 13
Brooklyn Designs
This year, Brooklyn Designs is hosting a variety of talks at the Brooklyn Museum (200 Eastern Parkway). On May 13th, from 12pm to 1pm, delve into the world of handcrafted design and custom manufacturing with a compelling discussion about what draws artists and designers to Brooklyn. Then from 4pm to 5pm, learn about women in design, who are at the forefront of change.
MAY 14
NYC Department of Sanitation Presents “Waste is a Design Flaw
What role do designers play in the city’s waste ecosystem? Design Talks NYC will host “Waste is a Design Flaw,” a talk presented by the NYC Department of Sanitation that will tackle this question. Head to The Durst Organization (4 Times Square) from 5pm to 5:45pm to learn about the creative steps being taken to achieve Zero Waste to Landfills by 2030.
MAY 15
Archtober Preview
From May 15th to the 19th, The Center for Architecture will host an Archtober preview, featuring five days of building tours that will take place across all five boroughs! The event will focus on public architecture, such as the Sunset Park Material Recovery Facility, the Elmhurst Library Branch and the Staten Island Museum, among other places.
MAY 16
Connecting Food Systems, Rural to Urban
Food justice, particularly the unequal and unjust food distribution that results from industrial agriculture, will be discussed in this talk, which will take place at The Durst Organization from 4pm to 4:45pm. Find out how food production and infrastructure are directly connected to design, bringing together farmers and architects.
Leni Schwendinger, Design Trust’s El-Space Lighting Fellow is leading a lighting workshop discussing the nighttime experience beneath and around the Gowanus Expressway, in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Photo by Liz Ligon for the Design Trust for Public Space
MAY 17
Discover El-Space
On May 17th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, join a conversation and tour about El-Space, a design experiment aimed at turning the spaces under New York City’s hundreds of miles of elevated highways, subway lines, and bridges into valuable community assets. El-Space is part of a project by the Design Trust for Public Space, in partnership the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT), aimed at creating a more hospitable pedestrian experience, greater environmental resiliency, and enhanced lighting under the city’s tracks and roadways.
To celebrate NYCxDESIGN week, the Design Trust for Public Space has reserved 50 slots especially for Untapped Cities Insiders! At this event, our Insiders will have the opportunity to mingle with project Fellows, DOT officials and Design Trust program staff at the El-Space pilot installation located underneath the Gowanus Expressway at 36th Street and 3rd Avenue in Sunset Park, and attend a panel discussion at Industry City (220 36th Street).
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MAY 18
NoMad Design District Night
NoMad is opening its “collective doors in a joint celebration” of design! Various showrooms will be hosting individual events throughout the district from 6pm to 9pm. Stop by for a cocktail and stay for a night of innovation and creativity.
MAY 19
Designing for a Storefront for the Commons
Attend an open ideating session, where you can share your ideas about what makes for an inclusive form of real estate in a storefront. The event takes place from 2pm to 6pm at Prime Produce (424 West 54th Street), and participants will be brainstorming for an actual Hells Kitchen storefront.
The Amazing New York Architectural Antiques Tour
Tour the eclectic world of Demolition Depot/Irreplaceable Artifacts (216 East 125th Street), a Harlem-based treasure trove that holds the “world’s most extensive architecture reclamation collection.” During this unique event from 1pm to 2pm, owner Evan Blum will lead guests through four floors of the headquarters, as well as the backyard garden, which are filled with an assortment of furniture, knickknacks and more — salvaged from iconic New York City locations, such as the New York Life Building and the Biltmore.
MAY 20
Pioneer Works
From 12pm to 6pm, get a peek inside Pioneer Works (159 Pioneer Street), a cultural center and space dedicated to experimentation and production across a variety of disciplines. Throughout the year, Pioneer Works also hosts a range of educational programs, including performances and exhibitions.
Industry City Design Festival
It’s the last day to visit Industry City for its open studio hours from 11am to 6pm! This year, Open Studios coincides with IC Design Festival by WantedDesign, so make sure to head to the event to see exciting works and pieces, crafted by the 100+ artists and artisans at IC.
MAY 21
NYCxDesign Awards
Design lovers should not miss out on this year’s NYCxDesign Awards, presented by Interior Design magazine and ICFF. Now in its third year, the event celebrates outstanding achievement across fields of design, including architecture to product design. It all takes place at Pier 17 (89 South Street) from 6 to 10pm.
MAY 22
Zero Waste Bistro
The Finnish Cultural Institute in New York has invited chefs from the Helsinki-based Restaurant Nolla to shed light on their zero waste food philosophy, which involves new material innovations an sustainable design! The bistro will be held in Wanted Design Manhattan (Terminal Stores 269 11th Avenue), beginning at 10am.
MAY 23
AIANY Architectural Boat Tours
On the final day of NYCxDESIGN, embark on an architectural boat tour, which takes off from 62 Chelsea Piers. AIA New York and Classic Harbor Line have teamed up to offer daily boat excursions of New York City, and participants can choose from five different tours, focused on architecture and engineering marvels, as well as environmental issues surrounding our waterfront.
