RECORD 60 DESIGNERS SELECTED FOR BKLYN DESIGNS SHOWCASE

Thousands Expected to Visit DUMB O for City’s Premiere Design Show
 
With Six Venues, BKLYN DESIGNS Bigger, Better than Ever
Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Carlo A. Scissura announced that a record 60 designers will be featured in this year’s BKLYN DESIGNS showcase, which will take place May 9 – 11. Now in its 11th year, BKLYN DESIGNS is a juried exhibition of contemporary furnishings, lighting and home accessories. With thousands of visitors expected to attend over the three day weekend, this is one of the biggest design shows in New York City. Principally held at St. Ann’s Warehouse and Mark Jupiter’s in DUMBO, this year’s exhibition will expand to four additional locations in the neighborhood.

“Design is a major piece of Brooklyn’s economy, and BKLYN DESIGNS is the place for our designers to showcase their products to an international audience,” said Scissura. “This year we have upped the ante- featuring sixty designers in six venues, a speaker series, workshops and activities for the whole family.”

“I would like to congratulate our 60 designers on being selected for BKLYN DESIGNS, one of the Chamber’s signature events,”said Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Denise Arbesu. “Brooklyn’s design community is world-renown, and I cannot wait to see what the borough’s best will have to offer when the doors open on May 9.”

In addition to fifty Brooklyn-based designers, ten designers from Osaka, Japan who have been inspired by the Brooklyn-aesthetic will be featured at this year’s show. The designers for this year’s exhibition were hand-picked through a competitive process by a prestigious committee including editors from International Design Magazine, NY Magazine, remodelista.com, inhabitant.com and other interior decorators.

“Much in the same way Brooklynites have been inspired for generations by the myriad cultures and nationalities that call our borough home, our friends from Osaka have taken the idea of Brooklyn and integrated it into their own designs,” said Scissura. “It is a recognition that Brooklyn has become a global brand that has a cache people not only want to be associated with, but are inspired by.” 

This year’s Speakers’ Series will feature a conversation with WIRED Magazine’s Cliff Kuang, and a panel discussion moderated by NY Magazine’s Wendy Goodman. Traditionally held on Mother’s Day weekend, BKLYN DESIGNS will also feature activities including community yoga, Double Dutch, tours of Brooklyn Bridge Park, and outdoor kid-friendly activities.

The lead sponsors for this year’s event include are Pratt and Toll Brothers. Local sponsors include West Elm, TerraCRG, aptsandlofts.com, Yasuta, GMDC and the Media Center. Media Sponsors are New York Magazine, Architects Newspaper, inhabitat and blankslate. For more event details, check out the redesigned website that includes a full list of exhibitors at www.BKLYNDESIGNS.com.