I don’t recall when I first saw the interior design work of Melvin Dwork, it might have been in the 1970’s in Architectural Digest; his work had a big impact on me. I remember it to be current with both minimalist and ‘high-tech’ sensibilities, but it also included select antiques (and even some color) to create spare yet rich environments that were ‘his alone‘. Time and time again I would be drawn to his work…
A word of special thanks to Incollect for publishing a well thought out interview we did together several weeks ago, in which I answer questions like;
Your academic and professional training is very much rooted in architecture. While you were studying at RISD were you planning on becoming an architect?
How has your architecture-driven background influenced your work as an interior designer?
Are there any design movements, periods, etc. that you are particularly fond of or find yourself returning to again and again?
What is your favorite room to design? What about that room appeals to you?
What is your favorite part of working with a client on a project?
The article also includes images from some of my favorite projects — if you’re interested in learning more you can follow this link to the full article on the Incollect website.
For creative people, inspiration can be found almost anywhere.
At the Rhode Island School of Design all students are required to look at nature, not just a passing glance but to REALLY LOOK, to understand what is at work on a structural level. This is encouraged in a magical place now called the Edna Lawrence Nature Lab. Edna Lawrence founded the Nature lab in 1937, and it has served as inspiration for many, many generations of art and design students at RISD.
In discussions I had with fellow RISD alumnus and lighting designer Lindsey Adelman while mocking-up an enormous custom chandelier in a Greenwich Village home project, her profound connection to the innate understanding of structure, learned in the Nature Lab, became very clear to me.
Lindsey’s lighting designs are a wonderful combination of fine engineering and hand-craftsmanship, culminating in fixtures that have the essential structural characteristics found in nature.
But there’s more….
This week I learned that my good friend and colleague Carl Dellatore’s eagerly anticipated book, Interior Design Master Class, is officially finished and off to the printer. I’m both grateful and excited to have been part of Carl’s project from its inception, and to be included in the incredibly talented roster of designers who have contributed to the book.
In my capacity as the President elect of the ASID New York Metro Chapter, I have been working with the New York School of Interior Design on an event to celebrate the book. If you’d like to be kept abreast of the event – and of other events being scheduled around the country – you can join the book’s mailing list by following this link.
And the book is available for pre-order if you’d like to be one of the first to receive a copy.
.
.
As some in the design community already know, I’ve been the President elect of the New York Metro Chapter of ASID since October of last year. I’ll become the President later this year in October.
But in the interest of raising the bar on activities within the organization I’ve been working with New York School of Interior Design (NYSID) President, David Sprouls, and his fantastic staff on a lecture series presented at the school. The latest event was held last Wednesday evening, and was titled ‘Creative Collaborations: Designing Signature Product Lines’.
The panel included 3 accomplished interior designers — Barry Goralnick, Alexa Hampton, and Laura Kirar — all of whom have been developing products for a variety of home ‘furnishing categories’ and a variety of manufacturers for years. Also on the panel was Kate Verner who is a creative strategist, brand manager and business expert in the luxury home industry.
I had the great pleasure of moderating the event. It was very fun and, at some moments, quite funny — and was very well attended both by students of the school as well as many members of the design community.
NYSID videotaped the event, so if you weren’t able to attend I’ve added the entire clip here for your consideration.