Fall 2019 atelierNew York School of Interior Design Driven by Design As our MFA-1 Program Turns 10, Gensler’s Topaz Wong ’16 and Other Alumni Share the Stories Behind Their Thriving Careers WELCOME

In February, the Council for Interior six months aft er graduation. Those are Design Qualifi cation (CIDQ) released amazing statistics that we are proud of, a new defi nition of interior design that as all the faculty and staff work hard on emphasizes the responsibility of interior behalf of students to ensure they have designers to create “code-complaint, the optimal mix of academic and “real accessible and inclusive interior world” experience to help them stand environments that address well-being out upon graduation. while considering the complex physical, This year, our gala was the highest mental and emotional needs of people.” grossing fundraiser in NYSID’s history, Thanks in part to the standards set by raising over half a million dollars, organizations like CIDQ, the culture fortifying NYSID’s scholarship fund is beginning to catch on to what those and ensuring that deserving students of us in the fi eld have known for years: will have a chance to get a world-class that at its core, interior design is about education in interior design. We honored the safety, health and happiness of the three design luminaries at the gala: people who inhabit interiors. Interior Jeff rey Bilhuber, who received the atelier design is one of the most intimate of Albert Hadley Lifetime Achievement FALL 2019 VOL. 1 / NO. 2 the applied arts because it’s about the award; Christopher Spitzmiller, who PRESIDENT creation of the places in which we live, received the Larry Kravet Design David Sprouls eat, play and sleep. Industry Achievement award; and CHIEF OF STAFF The people who come to study at alumnus Alberto Villalobos ’06 (AAS), David Owens-Hill the New York School of Interior Design who received the new Rising Star award, EDITORIAL AND ART DIRECTOR (NYSID), a school devoted to this sponsored by The Shade Store. Guests Christopher Spinelli single discipline, are a special blend also had the pleasure of hearing from CONTRIBUTING WRITER of creative and driven. Our students two-time Charlotte Moss scholarship Jennifer Dorr have decided what they want to do winner Rachel Edelstein ’19 (BFA) PHOTOGRAPHY with their lives. This is especially about her NYSID experience and the Jena Cumbo Jason Gardner true of the MFA-1 students, many of positive, life-changing impact a NYSID Mark LaRosa whom didn’t know interior design scholarship can have on students. Patrick McMullan Matthew Septimus was a recognized profession or that We want to thank our terrifi c gala there were accredited places to study it co-chairs, Jill Dienst, Alexa Hampton, PRINTING JMT Communications when they were applying to college as David Kleinberg, Susan Nagle, Jeff Tucker, President undergraduates. These students now Betsey Ruprecht, Patricia Sovern, ADDITIONAL NYSID STRATEGIC bring an exciting wealth of experience and Maria Spears for the success of COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT to the College as graduate students and this event, and we want to thank you Hannah Batren Laura Catlan have created some of the school’s most all for your generous support of the Phyllis Greer dynamic projects. This year marks the NYSID scholarship fund.

New York School of Interior Design 10th anniversary of NYSID’s MFA-1 What we cover in Atelier magazine 170 East 70 Street program, and our cover story, “Driven is the circular relationship between New York, NY 10021 by Design,” is a look at the immersive interior design education and the

Atelier is published twice a year studio culture of the MFA-1 and how interior design industry. We invite (Fall and Spring) by the Offi ce of it sets our graduates on course to you to send feedback and ideas to External Relations for the alumni achieving stellar careers. Indeed, 100% [email protected]. Thank you for and friends of the New York School of Interior Design. It is printed on of NYSID’s graduate students and helping us keep our ties to the design recycled paper with vegetable inks. 100% of our undergraduate students community strong. For more information or to submit are employed or pursuing further study story ideas or comments, email [email protected]. DAVID SPROULS, President CONTENTS

FEATURES 8 14

Driven by Design An Eye for Details The MFA-1 Turns 10 and Its Alumni Gideon Mendelson and Input Alumni Are Thriving Creative Studio on the Residential Lens

24 28

#emerging A Leader of Designers There’s More Than One Way to Alumna Becky Button on Leading Establish a Personal Brand in a Changing Industry

ON THE COVER DEPARTMENTS Topaz Wong ’16 (MFA-1) photographed outside Gensler’s midtown 2 VISUAL THINKER 34 GIVING Manhattan headquarters. 4 LAYOUT 39 LEADERSHIP 20 CELEBRATIONS 40 NEXT AT NYSID 30 PORTFOLIO 5 I “I let my clients’ lives and stories guide me,” says Alberto Villalobos, principal principal Villalobos, me,” Alberto says guide stories and lives letmyclients’ “I thinker, heshares theideasandsourcing behindonestriking room design. Looks Elegant,Functions Informally VISUAL THINKER/ Villalobos was charged with creating a combined dining/living room that that room dining/living acombined creating with charged was Villalobos of A. Villalobos. For this space in New York’s iconic Plaza Residences, York’s Residences, New in Plaza space iconic For this Villalobos. A. of dinner parties, and that could be maintained without fuss. Villalobos applied applied Villalobos fuss. without maintained be could that and parties, dinner with four children (only the dining portion is shown here). Because this this here). Because shown is portion dining (only the children four with afamily for practically function but also tradition, and grandeur evoke would a space that could accommodate vivacious grandchildren and sophisticated sophisticated and grandchildren vivacious accommodate could that a space room was handmade, had a story and contributed to the overall design.” overall to the contributed and astory had handmade, was room envisioned client his residence, asecondary is apartment South Park Central his deep knowledge of international art to ensure that “every piece in the the in piece “every that to ensure art international of knowledge deep his made anameforhimselfinhigh-end residential design. As thisissue’svisual n the13 years since hegraduated from NYSID, Alberto Villalobos ’06(AAS) has 1 2 3 4 3 1 5 4 2 “Narcissus” series, lends the back wall texture without distracting the the distracting without texture wall back the lends series, “Narcissus” design some sparkle, formality and a sense of tradition. tradition. of asense and formality sparkle, some design to the lend way perfect the was room the in one putting he decided so chandelier, Baccarat acrystal up with grew client Villalobos’ gaze with too much color. much too with gaze This painting of silver blooms, from Rachel Lee Hovnanian’s Hovnanian’s Lee Rachel from blooms, silver of painting This straight lines of the table. the of lines straight the break would forms organic curved their that so table, dining Hunt Holly the on Gerard, Maison from sourced and Solomon, Matthew ceramicist by flowers, porcelain these placed team Villalobos’ unattractive AC unit. unattractive an conceals screen the as solution, adesign and art evocative both it’s water.practice, In in reflected image its with city imagined an depicts screen The Antiques. Goeckler H. Bernd from Fornasetti, 1950s the Piero by in made screen, vintage this sourced Villalobos comfortable. more are they as them he added originals, the than proportions different have hybrids neo-classical these Although chairs. the of backs to the fabric horsehair luxe up. He applied wiped easily be could spills that so fabric, outdoor blue in seats the upholstered Villalobos precious.” “not intentionally are Formations from chairs XVI Louis of interpretations These Design Deconstructed

WINNIE AU

JOSHUA MCHUGH NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN LAYOUT / New and Notable at NYSID

YSID’s students have won many awards, its faculty are recognized trailblazers Nand its curricula and off erings are continuously evolving and pushing the standards of interior design education ever higher.

 FACULTY NEWS

Activism Meets Design in NYSID Deans Take Leadership Leyden Lewis’ Work for the Roles on the Interior Design Black Artists + Designers Guild Educators’ Council

When the dynamic ceramicist and artist In January, Ellen Fisher, NYSID’s Malene Barnett founded the Black Artists Vice President for Academic Aff airs + Designers Guild (cheekily nicknamed and Dean, was elected president- “the BAD Guild”) last November to address elect of the Interior Design Educators’ the lack of diversity and inclusion in the Council, meaning she will serve creative industries, NYSID’s Institute as president in 2020–21. Also, for Continuing and Professional Studies Barbara Lowenthal, NYSID’s Director Leyden Lewis became one of Associate Dean, was re-elected East its very fi rst members. He was profi led Regional chair of the organization. with fi ve other designers in Elle Decor about the work the BAD Guild is doing to increase the representation of black designers and artisans. This year, ALARICCAMPBELL Lewis, also the principal of Leyden Lewis Design Studio, spearheaded two of the BAD Guild’s major projects. In April, he curated a much lauded exhibition at High Point called “Beyond the Mask: Storytelling in Black Art + Design.” Comments Lewis, “I had the opportunity to demystify what BLACK-ness means when it comes to interior design, fi ne art and the decorative arts. I was able to demonstrate that it’s not exclusively ethnographic; it’s solid global design, and there are so many ways to be BLACK in design.” In March, he worked with a consortium of other BAD Guild members to create a stunning vignette for the DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) “Dining by Design” fundraiser. Speaking to Interior Design, Lewis said, “We wanted to connect our booth visually, poetically and aesthetically to the reality that, in the South, black women account for 71% of women living with diagnosed HIV.”

The New Director of Sustainability has Both Experience and Passion

Says David Bergman, the new Director of NYSID’s MPS in Sustainable Interior Environments (MPS-S), “Sustainable Design is at an evolutionary point in its development, a point at which it has gone from a siloed and appended aft erthought of design to an almost fully integrated part of it.” Bergman is skillfully leading NYSID’s MPS-S program into the future at this critical juncture, bringing to NYSID all his experience as an LEED accredited professional, a practicing architect for 30 years, a Certifi ed Passive House Designer, and author of Sustainable Design: A Critical Guide. He is also the principal of DavidBergmanEco, and founder of Fire and Water, a lighting design fi rm. NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN FALL 2019 | 5

 NOTEWORTHY  NEW COURSES

10th Anniversary of the Institute for Designing Happiness: Continuing & Professional Studies “The Psychology of Well-being”

This spring marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of NYSID’s In response to concerns about the high levels of Institute for Continuing & Professional Studies (ICPS). Says depression and anxiety among today’s university Leyden Lewis, Director of NYSID’s ICPS, “We are approaching students, schools are increasingly off ering the 10th anniversary by opening up a conversation with working elective courses detailing the science behind design professionals about what they need to advance their living a happy and meaningful life. Designed and careers and what they’re curious about.” Lewis invites members taught by Penni Morganstein, Psy.D., NYSID’s of the design community to contact him with ideas at icps@nysid. Director of Counseling Services, NYSID’s version edu. To celebrate the anniversary, Lewis will be setting up a series of a happiness course, called “The Psychology of 3-hour, hands-on master classes with celebrated designers and of Well-being,” is geared toward creatives who artisans working in the fi eld. Exciting details to follow. require increased self-awareness and strategies to refresh themselves and cultivate their creativity. Dr. Morganstein gives students a foundation in positive psychology, administering a test designed by Martin Seligman to help students identify their top fi ve strengths. She teaches students the variables that correlate most with happiness: adequate sleep, exercise, social connectedness, and a sense of gratitude. She introduces the “theory of fl ow,” which Dr. Morganstein explains is, “The idea that anxiety should not paralyze you, but be motivating enough to get you to that sweet spot where you’re optimally productive.” Specifi c strategies, such as meditation and the “Artist Date,” are modeled in this one-credit elective.

Journey along “The Silk Road”

ICPS INSTRUCTOR ALEJANDRA MUNIZAGA ’11 (BFA) WITH STUDENTS IN This spring, NYSID introduced a new two-credit HER CLASS, “CREATING A SUCCESSFUL COLOR SCHEME.” course called “The Silk Road,” taught by art historian Ann Bell. The ancient Silk Road was active for approximately 400 years (200 BCE–200 CE), The New MFA-1 Student-to-Student Mentoring Program beginning in the time of the Han Dynasty in China. Many of the students in the MFA-1 program have never had an Says Bell, “One of the major goals for students art class or any experience in spatial planning before NYSID, so is to develop a visual vocabulary, especially of the plunge into the College’s studio culture can feel intense. In non-Western design. We learn to identify stylistic response, MFA-1 students Mona Nahm and Tiff any Zhou, both characteristics from places like China, India, the members of the Graduate Students Association, established an Ottoman Empire, Persia and the Roman Empire, and informal student-to-student mentoring program, which enables analyze how they intersect.” fi rst year MFA-1 students to get guidance from second-year students. NYSID’s Dean of Students, Karen Higginbotham, is currently working with the Graduate Students Association to formalize the program for the fall of 2019. 6 | ATELIER MAGAZINE LAYOUT

 ALUMNI PROGRAMS

Sharing Wisdom and Experience: Three New Ways for NYSID Alumni NYSID’s 2018–19 Alumni Mentors to Get Involved

There’s nothing quite like having a seasoned professional to ask NYSID’s Offi ce of Alumni Relations is introducing questions and bounce ideas off as students look toward their three new ways alumni can get involved with future careers. Eleven alumni took some time off from their busy emerging designers and students in the fall of schedules to mentor student designers in the 2018–2019 school 2020. As part of the Alumni Ambassadors Program, year. This fi ft h year of the program sawJumana Alderzi ’18 (MPS) alumni will welcome newly admitted students to of BAM Architecture Studio mentor Carmen Cid; Mike Bowers the school; from making the initial congratulations ’16 (MFA-2) of DDC International mentor Khanh Tran; Carissa call to hosting small meet and greet events. Also Byrne Hebert ’09 (BFA) of IA Interior Architects mentor Ara through the Next Steps Program, alumni will mentor Kim; Lawrence Chabra ’09 (BFA) of Robert A.M. Stern Architects new graduates of NYSID for the fi rst 6 months aft er mentor Nicole Titus; Suzy Genzler ’12 (BFA) of NK Architects commencement of their employment, helping ease mentor Yi-En Lee; Mariem Horchani ’09 (MFA-1) of MHM their transition into the working world. Through the Interiors LLC mentor Maye Al-Kuwari; Jazmin Jasquez ’17 (AAS), Alumni Working Group, alumni will get involved a store designer for Amazon, mentor Janeen Arnold; Joshua David with planning Gala 2020, Dialogues on Design, the Lefk owitz ’11 (AAS) of Joshua David Home, LLC, mentor Vanessa Educated Eye luncheon, and Alumni Lectures. Lourenco; Jeremy Peng ’13 (MPS) a technical designer for Gensler mentor Keisuko Omato; Stephanie Sarkies ’08 (BFA) of Pembrooke and Ives mentor Vanessa Schwartz; and Lydia Tiasina ’15 (MPS) of HOK mentor Rashmi Nair. For more information about any of these NYSID and all the students are truly grateful opportunities, contact Samantha Fingleton at to these mentors, who have had an important 212-472-1500 ext. 431 or sfi [email protected]. impact on our students at a formative moment in their lives and careers.

 STUDENT AWARDS

Here are just a few of the major industry awards NYSID students have won so far in 2019.

Recent graduate Hao Wu ’18 (MFA-2) won Ara Kim ’19 (MFA-1) won the ASID Three NYSID students in the BFA Contract Magazine’s Interior award in Student Portfolio competition. won AFD Steelcase Scholarship the “Student” category for his design “The She was one of fi ve winners, awards based on their designs Synergy Station.” Wu’s work takes green and was awarded a $3,500 in Contract Design II. The fi rst design beyond LEED and WELL building scholarship for the impressive prize scholarship of $10,000 standards with a plan that reduces the scope of work in her portfolio. went to Marissa Kronenfeld, the time that a building is vacant, therefore second prize of $7,500 to Brittney reducing waste. The jury said of the design: The New York City section of the Snyder, and the third prize of “There is a direct relationship between the Illuminating Engineering Society $5,000 went to Daniel Davidge. research and the elements of the project’s (IESNYC) selected Brigid Hardiman Three other students–Monica solutions, and a demonstration of an ’19 (MPS-L) as the recipient of the Ferrara, Coriann Pormilli and understanding of the human scale and fourth annual merit-based IESNYC Daniela Vanegas—received an experience throughout.” Wu also won the scholarship. The scholarship award Honorable Mention. The students IDA’s Emerging Interior Designer of the was $25,000. studied with instructors Barbara Year award for his project, “The M Hotel.” Weinreich and Alana Okun. NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN FALL 2019 | 7

 NYSID STUDY ABROAD

Art and Design of Japan May 25–June 2, 2019

Faculty member Dr. Zhijian Qian, art historian, curator, calligrapher and expert in Asian art, along with Vice President for Academic Aff airs and DeanEllen Fisher, led a group of NYSID students on a tour that started in Tokyo and that included visits to many historical and cultural sites, including the Meiji Jingu Shrine and the Ginza district, with a special focus on the work of architect Tadao Ando. The course continued with visits via high-speed train to Osaka, Kyoto and Nara.

Greece: The Roots of Classical Design May 26–June 8, 2019

Francisco de Leon, NYSID design, technology and drawing instructor, led this tour of Greece. The focus on classical architecture and design was reinforced each day by drawing at the location, as the group visited Crete and ancient Athens, studied the Acropolis, and traveled to the site of the Oracle at Delphi.

(Layout continued on page 22) 8 | ATELIER MAGAZINE DEPARTMENT

“As a dancer I was a shaper of space, and as an interior designer, I got to be a shaper of space again.”

DRIVEN BY Design NYSID’s MFA-1 Turns 10 and Alumni Share Their Stories NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN FALL 2019 | 9

YSID’s MFA-1 has changed “It was the support of Nsignificantly since its inception in 2009, but the resolve of its career- my class (there were changing students has remained a only 12 of us) and the constant. Shannon Andrews ’11 of HLW, faculty that got me Andrew Kaplan ’14, Topaz Wong ’16 and Carrie Anne Li ’16, all of Gensler; through. My peers and Nick Domitrovich ’12 of NICOLEHOLLIS; teachers critiqued and Brett Helsham ’12 of Brett Helsham Designs discuss the education behind my work formally their exciting careers. and informally. I

Shannon Andrews ’11 loves her career in interior design. immediately had the She’s currently transitioning from five years of growth at Gensler to an exciting new job as a senior interior designer feeling that I was in specializing in workplaces at HLW. She says, “I love problem solving, and that’s what design is. I can’t tell you how much a working studio, and I enjoy going back to the places I’ve designed after the that set me up to construction is completed and seeing the impact on people’s lives.” Andrews’ former team at Gensler recently finished work collaboratively work on the new Comcast Technology Center in Philadelphia, a project for which she and her colleagues helped design the when I entered interiors of the 44 story workplace within the building. The project challenged her to come up with spaces that promoted the work world.” collaboration between workers located on different floors possible. She says, “Diagonal braces tie together three floors SHANNON ANDREWS ’11 on one end of the building, creating atriums that stack three stories, what we call Lofts in the Sky. Each has become a gathering place and is used differently. They’re used as coffee bars, mothering spaces, meeting rooms, quiet zones and more.” Another facet of the project she enjoyed was her research into the work of Philadelphia artists and furniture makers, as the space showcases the vibrancy of the local art scene in this regional HQ. when NYSID announced the launch of its MFA-1 program and Shannon has worked hard to get to do what she loves at invited her to transfer into it, Andrews was hooked on interior the most prominent architecture and interior design firm in design and determined to make it her career. “As a dancer the world, and her hard work began at NYSID, where she was I was a shaper of space, and as an interior designer, I got to a member of the first class that graduated from the MFA-1 be a shaper of space again,” she muses. Andrews decided in 2011. Like so many of the students who attend NYSID, to commit, and has never looked back. She remembers the Andrews didn’t grow up knowing she wanted to be an interior MFA-1 as difficult and totally immersive. She says, “It was the designer. She started her professional life as a dancer. support of my class (there were only 12 of us) and the faculty When she was sidelined by an injury, she worked as an that got me through. My peers and teachers critiqued my office manager, but she longed to get back to creative work. work formally and informally. I immediately had the feeling In 2008, she started at NYSID, in the Associates in Applied that I was in a working studio, and that set me up to work Science program (AAS), because the degrees at NYSID stack collaboratively when I entered the work world.” Andrews did into each other, and she figured the AAS would be a “safe much more than “get through” NYSID: she graduated with way to figure out if interior design was for me.” By 2009, high honors and won the Chairman’s Award. ▸ 10 | ATELIER MAGAZINE FEATURES NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN FALL 2019 | 11

History & Evolution Ryan Lacy, currently an intern for of the MFA-1 Arthur Dunnam for Jed Johnson In the late-2000s, NYSID’s Studio, “For the summers, I chose to administration, including former do an internship that I’ve continued Dean Scott Ageloff, perceived the need throughout the school years. I’ll have for NYSID to offer an MFA-1, a post- two and a half solid years of work baccalaureate first professional degree experience under my belt by the time in interior design. Barbara Lowenthal, I graduate, and the internship that I NYSID’s Associate Dean, recounts, currently have will turn into a full- “There were students who already had a time job upon graduation. Having bachelor’s degree in another discipline time scheduled into the program for who wanted to go further than an this kind of experience is extremely associate’s degree, but they were beneficial.” reluctant to get a second bachelor’s. The summer service learning studios They wanted a master’s. From the are unique to NYSID and extremely start, the MFA-1 was responsive to the popular. Over the years, this summer ambitions of our students.” Ageloff experiential option has allowed and Ellen Fisher, then Associate Dean students to work to effect social change (and now Vice President for Academic through interior design, such as by Diverse Backgrounds; Brett Helsham ’12, who after working Affairs and Dean), reasoned that designing a series of spaces in the Uniform Ambition at Wettling Architects and Mr. Call because the post-baccalaureate first 73rd Police Precinct in Brownsville, Students and alumni of the MFA-1 Designs, founded her namesake firm in professional degree is the model for without a portfolio. But Lowenthal and The Council for Interior Design Brooklyn; at the Queens Child consistently say their peers were an 2014, found that the close relationships law school, medical school and many Ageloff both realized that this meant Accreditation (CIDA) first accredited Advocacy Center, serving children from integral part of their education. Nick between the students she knew at architecture schools, offering such that while some students would begin the MFA-1 program in 2013. In 0–18-years old who have experienced Domitrovich ’12, who studied business NYSID have transformed into an a degree in interior design at NYSID the program with a background in fine response to student feedback and an physical or sexual abuse, and at the as an undergraduate and who is invaluable network. “Obviously, the would be a step toward aligning interior art and design, some others probably in-depth review of the program for largest shelter for victims of domestic now senior interior designer at the technical skills learned at NYSID are design education with other post- would never have picked up a pencil CIDA, the Office of Academic Affairs violence in New York City. Architect and Hospitality Studio of NICOLEHOLLIS, important,” she says, “But I think the baccalaureate professional degrees. or even visited an art museum before. determined that having students take NYSID faculty member Terry Kleinberg says, “In NYSID’s MFA-1, you are in friendships that I made have been the In 2008, NYSID applied for, and was Consequently, one of the very first required studio courses in the summer says service learning provides her a studio with other individuals who most valuable resource. We are each granted, New York State Board of innovations Lowenthal and Ageloff prevented them from getting out from students with the powerful experience have decided to switch careers and other’s greatest advisors, mentors Regents approval of the program—the brought to the program was a two-week behind their desks and experiencing of “having real clients with real commit to a full-time program. In the and sounding boards, whether we first MFA in interior design approved summer workshop to introduce these design in the real world. So Lowenthal parameters.” For many students, this room with you are former lawyers, need help on a project or just need to by the State of New York. Lowenthal, students to the language and principles and Fisher introduced two summer is a life-changing experience. marketers, dancers, actors, accountants vent!” Helsham’s bustling firm, Brett who began teaching at NYSID in 1994, of art and design, what she calls “a session Experiential Learning courses. The MFA-1 advisory board consists and businessmen. My classmates made Helsham Designs, handles commercial, and who had overseen the MFA post- crash course that functioned to help Today, MFA-1 students engage in self- of some of the most respected for a unique experience. The level of residential, retail and hospitality professional (MFA-2) thesis courses level the playing field for people with directed study every summer; selecting, professionals in interior design, who their work pushed me. I didn’t want to clients. Recently, she’s worked on since that program’s inception, was no formal art or design training.” This planning, executing and evaluating all work diligently to ensure that do a presentation unless I could rise to a retail concept store for 5phere in brought on to run the program in 2009, course still persists today. Says current one of three options for the summer the MFA-1 curriculum is constantly the level of excellence around me. The The James Hotel, the offices of the its inaugural year. second-year MFA-1 student Mona experience: an internship; independent evolving to reflect the best practices of culture of the program is competitive, president of Sony Records, and the gut The 90-credit MFA-1 was designed to Nahm, who had a flourishing career study, which encompasses study travel the industry. The success of the MFA-1 but it’s equally collaborative. When I renovations of residences in Miami and be an intensive, full-time program for in production set design before she and service learning, or a graphic program can be gauged by its robust was stuck, there was always someone in Milton, Ontario. ▸ serious students focused on following came to NYSID, “I thought I had plenty communications boot camp. During the enrollment and the fact that 100% of with another talent or perspective a career in interior design. Says of practical experience in design and summer, students actively participate its alumni are employed within six who could help me. Everyone in your Lowenthal, “These students are not wouldn’t need to take the course, but it in on-line weekly discussions, from months of graduation. studio is so supportive and it helps you thinking maybe design is for me; MFA-1 turned out to be transformative. I found anywhere in the world, and submit a get through the challenging program.” students have already made up their I was so afraid of drawing, but the final reflective essay, assessing their Post-graduation, Nick has orchestrated mind that they’re going to do this. They summer course forced me past my fears. own learning outcomes and identifying the design of many diverse projects, expect to succeed, and they do.” I was creating four or five drawings opportunities for improvement in the including Four Seasons Hotels, Delta From the outset, prospective every day, and it was a skill I hadn’t following year. Sky Clubs, Sheratons and restaurants students could apply to the program realized I was hungry for.” Says third-year MFA-1 student and bars around the world. 10 | ATELIER MAGAZINE FEATURES NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGNDESIGN FALL 2019 || 11

History & Evolution Ryan Lacy, currently an intern for of the MFA-1 Arthur Dunnam for Jed Johnson In the late-2000s, NYSID’s Studio, “For the summers, I chose to administration, including former do an internship that I’ve continued Dean Scott Ageloff, perceived the need throughout the school years. I’ll have for NYSID to offer an MFA-1, a post- two and a half solid years of work baccalaureate first professional degree experience under my belt by the time in interior design. Barbara Lowenthal, I graduate, and the internship that I NYSID’s Associate Dean, recounts, currently have will turn into a full- “There were students who already had a time job upon graduation. Having bachelor’s degree in another discipline time scheduled into the program for who wanted to go further than an this kind of experience is extremely associate’s degree, but they were beneficial.” reluctant to get a second bachelor’s. The summer service learning studios They wanted a master’s. From the are unique to NYSID and extremely start, the MFA-1 was responsive to the popular. Over the years, this summer ambitions of our students.” Ageloff experiential option has allowed BRETT HELSHAM ’12 NICK DOMITROVICH ’12 and Ellen Fisher, then Associate Dean students to work to effect social change (and now Vice President for Academic through interior design, such as by Diverse Backgrounds; Brett Helsham ’12, who after working Affairs and Dean), reasoned that designing a series of spaces in the Uniform Ambition at Wettling Architects and Mr. Call because the post-baccalaureate first 73rd Police Precinct in Brownsville, Students and alumni of the MFA-1 Designs, founded her namesake firm in professional degree is the model for without a portfolio. But Lowenthal and The Council for Interior Design Brooklyn; at the Queens Child consistently say their peers were an 2014, found that the close relationships law school, medical school and many Ageloff both realized that this meant Accreditation (CIDA) first accredited Advocacy Center, serving children from integral part of their education. Nick between the students she knew at architecture schools, offering such that while some students would begin the MFA-1 program in 2013. In 0–18-years old who have experienced Domitrovich ’12, who studied business NYSID have transformed into an a degree in interior design at NYSID the program with a background in fine response to student feedback and an physical or sexual abuse, and at the as an undergraduate and who is invaluable network. “Obviously, the would be a step toward aligning interior art and design, some others probably in-depth review of the program for largest shelter for victims of domestic now senior interior designer at the technical skills learned at NYSID are design education with other post- would never have picked up a pencil CIDA, the Office of Academic Affairs violence in New York City. Architect and Hospitality Studio of NICOLEHOLLIS, important,” she says, “But I think the baccalaureate professional degrees. or even visited an art museum before. determined that having students take NYSID faculty member Terry Kleinberg says, “In NYSID’s MFA-1, you are in friendships that I made have been the In 2008, NYSID applied for, and was Consequently, one of the very first required studio courses in the summer says service learning provides her a studio with other individuals who most valuable resource. We are each granted, New York State Board of innovations Lowenthal and Ageloff prevented them from getting out from students with the powerful experience have decided to switch careers and other’s greatest advisors, mentors Regents approval of the program—the brought to the program was a two-week behind their desks and experiencing of “having real clients with real commit to a full-time program. In the and sounding boards, whether we first MFA in interior design approved summer workshop to introduce these design in the real world. So Lowenthal parameters.” For many students, this room with you are former lawyers, need help on a project or just need to by the State of New York. Lowenthal, students to the language and principles and Fisher introduced two summer is a life-changing experience. marketers, dancers, actors, accountants vent!” Helsham’s bustling firm, Brett who began teaching at NYSID in 1994, of art and design, what she calls “a session Experiential Learning courses. The MFA-1 advisory board consists and businessmen. My classmates made Helsham Designs, handles commercial, and who had overseen the MFA post- crash course that functioned to help Today, MFA-1 students engage in self- of some of the most respected for a unique experience. The level of residential, retail and hospitality professional (MFA-2) thesis courses level the playing field for people with directed study every summer; selecting, professionals in interior design, who their work pushed me. I didn’t want to clients. Recently, she’s worked on since that program’s inception, was no formal art or design training.” This planning, executing and evaluating all work diligently to ensure that do a presentation unless I could rise to a retail concept store for 5phere in brought on to run the program in 2009, course still persists today. Says current one of three options for the summer the MFA-1 curriculum is constantly the level of excellence around me. The The James Hotel, the offices of the its inaugural year. second-year MFA-1 student Mona experience: an internship; independent evolving to reflect the best practices of culture of the program is competitive, president of Sony Records, and the gut The 90-credit MFA-1 was designed to Nahm, who had a flourishing career study, which encompasses study travel the industry. The success of the MFA-1 but it’s equally collaborative. When I renovations of residences in Miami and be an intensive, full-time program for in production set design before she and service learning, or a graphic program can be gauged by its robust was stuck, there was always someone in Milton, Ontario. ▸ serious students focused on following came to NYSID, “I thought I had plenty communications boot camp. During the enrollment and the fact that 100% of with another talent or perspective a career in interior design. Says of practical experience in design and summer, students actively participate its alumni are employed within six who could help me. Everyone in your Lowenthal, “These students are not wouldn’t need to take the course, but it in on-line weekly discussions, from months of graduation. studio is so supportive and it helps you thinking maybe design is for me; MFA-1 turned out to be transformative. I found anywhere in the world, and submit a get through the challenging program.” students have already made up their I was so afraid of drawing, but the final reflective essay, assessing their Post-graduation, Nick has orchestrated mind that they’re going to do this. They summer course forced me past my fears. own learning outcomes and identifying the design of many diverse projects, expect to succeed, and they do.” I was creating four or five drawings opportunities for improvement in the including Four Seasons Hotels, Delta From the outset, prospective every day, and it was a skill I hadn’t following year. Sky Clubs, Sheratons and restaurants students could apply to the program realized I was hungry for.” Says third-year MFA-1 student and bars around the world. 12 | ATELIER MAGAZINE FEATURES

A Practical Program teachers gave us a schedule and kept that Dares to Dream us to it through regular check-ins and Says NYSID’s Associate Dean, Barbara critiques.” Wong is currently working Lowenthal, “Our studio curriculum on a fast-tracked renovation of a takes students from the design of fl oor of the Barclays Building in San a single room to more conceptual Francisco, where he’s responsible for projects, such as the design of a the construction documents and bids hotel around the theme of a book, for all the contractors. introducing the idea of the narrative in interior space. We teach practical The Power of Critiques skills, such as digital drawing soft ware Most of NYSID’s faculty members are like Revit, construction documents and working designers and architects. building codes, but we never forget that It’s common practice at the College interior design is also an art, and artists for faculty members to bring need the freedom to imagine.” their colleagues into the studio to Andrew Kaplan ’14, an interior provide guest critiques on student designer who currently works in a presentations. Says Carrie Anne Li ’16, hospitality-design studio in Gensler’s a designer working on fi nancial sector Austin, Texas, offi ce, says, “What I projects at Gensler, “Presenting our appreciate most about my education studio work to a jury or panel was at NYSID is that my instructors kept particularly helpful to me. The skill pulling us back into reality. The translates to the real world in the way I projects were very theoretical, but present work to clients.” always required us to think about how they would be built, how they would be maintained. The teachers would not let you get away with a hallway “Presenting our that was narrower than the building code allowed. When I interned at studio work to a Gensler, I felt more prepared than the Ivy-League architecture students jury or panel was around me. NYSID provided the skills I needed to jump in and be an eff ective particularly helpful team member on any project.” Kaplan is drawing on both the tactical and to me.The skill artistic sides of his education on his translates to the current project: a renovation of the historic Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel in the real world in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco. Topaz Wong ’16, a designer at way I present work Gensler, says, “The most important tool I took from NYSID is time management. to clients.” At NYSID, you’re taking six or seven classes at a time, and this teaches CARRIE ANNE LI ’16 you to juggle. Our projects were quite open-ended in the studios, but the

TOP TO BOTTOM: ANDREW KAPLAN ’14; TOPAZ WONG ’16; CARRIE ANNE LI ’16 12 | ATELIER MAGAZINE FEATURES NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGNDESIGN FALL 2019 | 13

A Practical Program teachers gave us a schedule and kept A Facility Shapes a Culture that Dares to Dream us to it through regular check-ins and The Graduate Center is a sleek, LEED- Says NYSID’s Associate Dean, Barbara critiques.” Wong is currently working Platinum-certified space, designed Lowenthal, “Our studio curriculum on a fast-tracked renovation of a by Gensler and completed in 2011. takes students from the design of floor of the Barclays Building in San Students in the MFA programs have a single room to more conceptual Francisco, where he’s responsible for dedicated desks, computers and projects, such as the design of a the construction documents and bids pedestals in the Graduate Center for the hotel around the theme of a book, for all the contractors. entire three years of their matriculation. introducing the idea of the narrative Each year, the MFA-1 students share in interior space. We teach practical The Power of Critiques a studio environment with other skills, such as digital drawing software Most of NYSID’s faculty members are MFA-1 students for the entire year. like Revit, construction documents and working designers and architects. Rene Johnsen, second year student building codes, but we never forget that It’s common practice at the College and Graduate Students’ Association interior design is also an art, and artists for faculty members to bring president, says, “I love the fact that we need the freedom to imagine.” their colleagues into the studio to are put in a studio space with the same Andrew Kaplan ’14, an interior provide guest critiques on student group of students for the year. You are designer who currently works in a presentations. Says Carrie Anne Li ’16, there with your peers 24/7, Monday to hospitality-design studio in Gensler’s a designer working on financial sector Friday, and it comes to feel sort of like a Austin, Texas, office, says, “What I projects at Gensler, “Presenting our homeroom, sort of like a family.” appreciate most about my education studio work to a jury or panel was There is an intentional openness at NYSID is that my instructors kept particularly helpful to me. The skill to the “grad center” that serves an pulling us back into reality. The translates to the real world in the way I educational function. There are no projects were very theoretical, but present work to clients.” doors on the classrooms. The corridor design is an easy career. They insist always required us to think about how ceilings have mesh panels allowing you become fluent in everything: art they would be built, how they would sight of the building services: the history, color theory, building codes, be maintained. The teachers would HVAC, plumbing, sprinklers and space planning. What I know now not let you get away with a hallway “Presenting our electrical conduit. The construction of is interior design is fun, but not for that was narrower than the building the staircase is also exposed. Corridors the faint of heart, and I’m glad I got code allowed. When I interned at studio work to a are wide to accommodate student an education that gave me the real Gensler, I felt more prepared than presentations and pin-ups, and are tools I needed to do this work.” Mona the Ivy-League architecture students jury or panel was lined with tackable panels. Andrew Nahm comments, “When you start a around me. NYSID provided the skills Kaplan ’16 recalls, “Everything is program like this, everyone comes in I needed to jump in and be an effective particularly helpful visible so you see what everyone else is with a different toolkit of experiences. team member on any project.” Kaplan working on. This created a culture Everyone is missing some tools initially. is drawing on both the tactical and to me.The skill in which we were all feeding off of But by the end of the program, you will artistic sides of his education on his translates to the each other’s ideas. When the work have all the tools.” n current project: a renovation of the of your peers is out in the open and historic Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel in the real world in the that good, it motivates you to work Tenderloin District of San Francisco. to your potential.” “When you start a Topaz Wong ’16, a designer at way I present work Gensler, says, “The most important tool Don’t Fear Difficulty; Crush it program like this, everyone comes in I took from NYSID is time management. to clients.” Interior design requires its practitioners At NYSID, you’re taking six or seven to have deep knowledge of interior with a different toolkit of experiences. CARRIE ANNE LI ’16 classes at a time, and this teaches construction, architecture, the fine and you to juggle. Our projects were quite decorative arts, and the relationships Everyone is missing some tools initially. open-ended in the studios, but the between the environment and human But by the end of the program, you will behavior. Nick Domitrovich ’12, says, “One of the things I loved about the have all the tools.” NYSID MFA-1 program is that your educators don’t try to pretend interior MONA NAHM ’20 TOP TO BOTTOM: ANDREW KAPLAN ’14; TOPAZ WONG ’16; CARRIE ANNE LI ’16 An14 | ATELIER EyeMAGAZINE for the DetailsDEPARTMENT An Eye for Details

Where NYSID’s Residential Design Studio Track Can Take You

DINING ROOM IN UPPER EAST SIDE APARTMENT DESIGNED BY MENDELSON GROUP. PHOTO: ERIC PIASECKI NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN FALL 2019 | 15

ifty percent of NYSID’s BFA studios are devoted to residential design. FGideon Mendelson ’07 (AAS), founder of Mendelson Group, and Brooke Lichtenstein ’10 (BFA) and Yiannos Vrousgos ’10 (BFA), co-principals of Input Creative Studio, talk about the foundation in residential design that got them where they are today.

When we caught up with NYSID alumnus Gideon Mendelson, creative director and principal of Mendelson Group, he was supervising his team of seven as they worked on two homes in Scarsdale, a townhouse and duplex on the Upper East Side, a new build in New Jersey, an Upper West Side apartment, an estate in Mamaroneck, and a beachfront property on the North Fork of Long Island. Yet, he didn’t seem a bit stressed. “I’m a pretty laid-back character,” he said, “because I love my job, and I look to surround myself with confident, autonomous professionals who are committed to the idea of what design can do.” Mendelson received a BA in Architecture and Film from Columbia, and originally entered business development in the entertainment industry, before pursuing his associate’s degree at NYSID, one class at a time. Though his mother was an interior designer and he was fascinated by her sketches as a child, it wasn’t until he was out in the real world, working, that he realized residential interior design was also his calling. At NYSID, he was impacted by his course in color theory, and emboldened by faculty members who gave him the confidence to pull the elements of a project together in a studio environment. He started working at an interior design firm while studying at NYSID, and later founded Mendelson Group in 2003, establishing a reputation for offering a cool-headed, organized approach to residential design that prioritizes the needs of clients and the function of space. Mendelson, whose work has been featured everywhere “I went into residential from Traditional Home to House Beautiful, says, “I don’t start with the style of a room. The emphasis on merchandise in interior design because I’m interior design has overpowered what is really important: our experience, how we interact with each other, our interested in how people relationships. Of course it has to be great looking, but that’s not as important as how it works. I went into residential live, the sociology of space.” interior design because I’m interested in how people live, the sociology of space.” GIDEON MENDELSON ’07 (AAS) Perhaps the reason NYSID is known for turning out so many successful residential entrepreneurs, such as designers the BFA program is unusual. We think that if your design like Mendelson, is not only due to the institutional respect work is to be centered on people, there’s nothing like starting the College has for residential design, but also the emphasis where they live, eat, play, and sleep. The most fundamental the College places on teaching students to observe the aspects of human life happen in homes. Designers ought to intimate details of how space is used. Ellen Fisher, NYSID’s know all of the things that make people feel healthy, happy Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean says, “The way and safe at home, and from there you can extrapolate to more NYSID breaks out residential design into distinct studios in public spaces.” ▸ 16 | ATELIER MAGAZINE FEATURES

preserve or recall, even down to details Faculty on the Residential floors into fewer floors). She says, “I cut historical style of the room and then like the firepole. They have to research Studios They Teach my teeth in commercial design at the they design all the details. There’s a and select their artists, which broadens NYSID requires BFA students to take precise moment when office pantries moment in every semester when I look their knowledge of international artists. three residential design studios during went from being grey, peripheral spaces at my students and say, ‘Well, what They have to design a co-housing the course of the degree, which are to beautiful, shared ones. Companies about the ceiling?’ It then occurs to space.” Adds Leddy, “Everything I interspersed with three contract design were hiring employees with lower them they have to think about more teach is an exploration of the way studios, and culminate in the final billing rates, and both design firms and than just the walls and furniture. The different people live in their homes, thesis. (In the AAS, students take two their clients wanted younger workers, students are in control of the whole an opportunity for students to think residential design studios and one and needed amenities and comforts design process. This freedom is the outside their own experience.” contract studio.) Each studio is taught to entice employees to come work for most daunting and wonderful thing NYSID’s Residential Design III studio, by a practicing interior designer, whose them and perhaps to even work longer about interior design.” taught by René Estacio, an interior unique professional history helps color hours, so I drew on what I learned from Shannon M. Leddy is a residential designer, architect, master furniture the experience. doing residential design. It’s the most designer with decades of experience designer and another alumnus of Holly Hayden ’09 (BFA), an interior relatable part of design. I think it’s a who teaches Residential Design II. As NYSID, challenges students to design designer with the residential firm huge step to grasp residential first.” a vast majority of Leddy’s clients are a four-story residence that will serve Jeremiah Brent Design, is one of the Hayden brings her diverse experience 65 years old or older and concerned as both a home for a cultural attaché faculty members who teaches the to her teaching, challenging students with aging in place, she challenges her and his family (on the top two floors) Residential Design I studio at NYSID. to think about the changing culture students to get inside the experience and a cultural institute (on the bottom As a student, she wanted to go into of work and to envision homes that of what it’s like to live with physical two floors). In response to an industry residential design, but she graduated increasingly encompass offices. She limitations. “The first project we do in that increasingly values flexible at the end of the last economic says, “Residential Design I is the Residential Design II is the Wounded designers proficient at many types downturn in 2009 and was hired by first interiors studio that students Warrior Home project, in which my of design, NYSID has structured this Gensler to work on commercial projects, experience in the BFA, and the amount students have to design a single-level course as a bridge between residential especially the restacking of office of focus it takes always surprises them. house for the entire family of a veteran and contract design, which inspires buildings (the consolidation of multiple My students start with choosing the wounded in battle, which might students to apply the decorative detail of residential design to grand public spaces. Says Estacio, “The students start with floor plans and a schematic design. They complete two research projects: an examination of the culture of the country the attaché is from; and an observation of a real cultural institute here in New York. Within their plans, they have to design a gallery also include another person with a The second project in Residential and a ballroom, and even create a disability or an aging family member. Design II is based on Andy Warhol’s landscape design for the gardens at We introduce ADA standards and home and studio, built in a former the back. This intensive course sets universal design. I ask my students to Upper East Side firehouse. The premise students up for their final thesis.” get in a wheelchair, move about, and of the project is that a famous artist has Estacio, who has also worked for the to try using it in the bathroom. We purchased this firehouse to support Saladino Furniture Company and visit companies like Häfele and Hewi refugee artists. This rotating cast of was design director for the McGuire and the students try on an ergonomic visiting artists will share the space with and Baker Furniture Companies, suit that gives them the experience the artist/owner, so the building must inspires his students to look at the of what it’s like for elderly people to be converted into a shared living space craftsmanship and ergonomics behind move around. The suit simulates aging with additional bedrooms and a studio every object they choose. conditions, such as the way the grip as well as a gallery space. Says Leddy, NYSID studios layer challenges to

FINAL CRITIQUE IN HOLLY HAYDEN’S RESIDENTIAL changes when you have arthritis, and “This is an adaptive re-use project, in give students the ultimate exposure to DESIGN I STUDIO. HAYDEN IS ON FAR RIGHT. it entirely changes the way my students which students have to study the the possibilities they might encounter look at hardware and accessibility.” history of a building and decide what to in the working world. ▸ NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN FALL 2019 | 17

preserve or recall, even down to details Faculty on the Residential floors into fewer floors). She says, “I cut historical style of the room and then DESK CRITIQUE IN RENÉ like the firepole. They have to research Studios They Teach my teeth in commercial design at the they design all the details. There’s a ESTACIO’S RESIDENTIAL and select their artists, which broadens NYSID requires BFA students to take precise moment when office pantries moment in every semester when I look DESIGN III STUDIO. their knowledge of international artists. three residential design studios during went from being grey, peripheral spaces at my students and say, ‘Well, what They have to design a co-housing the course of the degree, which are to beautiful, shared ones. Companies about the ceiling?’ It then occurs to space.” Adds Leddy, “Everything I interspersed with three contract design were hiring employees with lower them they have to think about more teach is an exploration of the way studios, and culminate in the final billing rates, and both design firms and than just the walls and furniture. The different people live in their homes, thesis. (In the AAS, students take two their clients wanted younger workers, students are in control of the whole an opportunity for students to think residential design studios and one and needed amenities and comforts design process. This freedom is the outside their own experience.” contract studio.) Each studio is taught to entice employees to come work for most daunting and wonderful thing NYSID’s Residential Design III studio, by a practicing interior designer, whose them and perhaps to even work longer about interior design.” taught by René Estacio, an interior unique professional history helps color hours, so I drew on what I learned from Shannon M. Leddy is a residential designer, architect, master furniture the experience. doing residential design. It’s the most designer with decades of experience designer and another alumnus of Holly Hayden ’09 (BFA), an interior relatable part of design. I think it’s a who teaches Residential Design II. As NYSID, challenges students to design designer with the residential firm huge step to grasp residential first.” a vast majority of Leddy’s clients are a four-story residence that will serve Jeremiah Brent Design, is one of the Hayden brings her diverse experience 65 years old or older and concerned as both a home for a cultural attaché faculty members who teaches the to her teaching, challenging students with aging in place, she challenges her and his family (on the top two floors) Residential Design I studio at NYSID. to think about the changing culture students to get inside the experience and a cultural institute (on the bottom As a student, she wanted to go into of work and to envision homes that of what it’s like to live with physical two floors). In response to an industry residential design, but she graduated increasingly encompass offices. She limitations. “The first project we do in that increasingly values flexible at the end of the last economic says, “Residential Design I is the Residential Design II is the Wounded designers proficient at many types downturn in 2009 and was hired by first interiors studio that students Warrior Home project, in which my of design, NYSID has structured this Gensler to work on commercial projects, experience in the BFA, and the amount students have to design a single-level course as a bridge between residential especially the restacking of office of focus it takes always surprises them. house for the entire family of a veteran and contract design, which inspires buildings (the consolidation of multiple My students start with choosing the wounded in battle, which might students to apply the decorative detail of residential design to grand public spaces. Says Estacio, “The students start with floor plans and a schematic design. They complete two research projects: an examination of the culture of the country the attaché is from; and an observation of a real cultural institute here in New York. Within their plans, they have to design a gallery also include another person with a The second project in Residential and a ballroom, and even create a disability or an aging family member. Design II is based on Andy Warhol’s landscape design for the gardens at We introduce ADA standards and home and studio, built in a former the back. This intensive course sets universal design. I ask my students to Upper East Side firehouse. The premise students up for their final thesis.” get in a wheelchair, move about, and of the project is that a famous artist has Estacio, who has also worked for the to try using it in the bathroom. We purchased this firehouse to support Saladino Furniture Company and visit companies like Häfele and Hewi refugee artists. This rotating cast of was design director for the McGuire and the students try on an ergonomic visiting artists will share the space with and Baker Furniture Companies, suit that gives them the experience the artist/owner, so the building must inspires his students to look at the of what it’s like for elderly people to be converted into a shared living space craftsmanship and ergonomics behind move around. The suit simulates aging with additional bedrooms and a studio every object they choose. conditions, such as the way the grip as well as a gallery space. Says Leddy, NYSID studios layer challenges to changes when you have arthritis, and “This is an adaptive re-use project, in give students the ultimate exposure to it entirely changes the way my students which students have to study the the possibilities they might encounter look at hardware and accessibility.” history of a building and decide what to in the working world. ▸ 18 | ATELIER MAGAZINE FEATURES NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN FALL 2019 | 19

Taking the Residential Lens in residential design, you develop a through co-working spaces, movie into Commercial Projects sensitivity to approaching large-scale theaters, roof gardens, lounges and Alumni Brooke Lichtenstein ’10 (BFA) projects on a human scale.” Adds play spaces. Says Lichtenstein, whose and Yiannos Vrousgos ’10 (BFA), Lichtenstein, “The residential approach team recently completed the design of principals of Input Creative Studio, trains you to create smaller, more 115 Stanwix Street in Brooklyn, “Our founded their firm together while they intimate, curated spaces within the job is to wow users with the experience were still undergraduates at NYSID. commercial landscape.” Her point is of the whole building.” The business partners have since that the decorative arts matter, even in Both designers say the 50/50 become life partners, marrying and contract work. balance of contract and residential welcoming their first child into the Input Creative Studio now has a studio experience they encountered at world. Lichtenstein recalls, “In our first growing staff of designers and a diverse NYSID, and their experience in making three years as a company, we designed portfolio of clients. The company has public spaces feel intimate, set them residential apartments, restaurants carved out a specialty in residential up to being the adaptive entrepreneurs and retail spaces for Fortune 500 development, specifically a new breed they are today. Lichtenstein’s advice companies. We took whatever projects of luxury apartment buildings in which to aspiring designers is, “You never we could to establish our business.” the public spaces are as important as know where the economic winds will The pair found that their residential the private residences. Input Creative take you, so you have to treat all work, design education and experience Studio’s task is to make a whole even pro bono work, as a valuable served them well as they expanded to building feel like a home, and to design opportunity.” n larger contract projects. Vrousgos says, spaces that build engagement and “When you have a strong foundation community among residents, such as ROOM IN SAGAPONACK, NY WEEKEND HOUSE DESIGNED BY MENDELSON GROUP. PHOTO: ERIC PIASECKI LOBBY IN MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL BUILDING (115 STANWIX ST) DESIGNED BY INPUT CREATIVE STUDIO. PHOTO: NOOKLYN GIDEON MENDELSON’S ADVICE FOR ASPIRING INTERIOR DESIGN ENTREPRENEURS NYSID alumnus Gideon Mendelson ’07 (AAS), the creative director and principal of Mendelson Group, says, “If you want to be really successful in interior design, there are two ways to do it: start your own company or go and work for a huge firm.” Mendelson believes aspiring designers need to think more about the entrepreneurial side of the business. He surveyed his own team to see what designers spend time on and discovered only 8% of his firm’s time is spent on actual design: the rest is spent on marketing, client services, project management, sales, business development and construction documents. His three best pieces of advice for aspiring residential designers are: 1 2 3 Cultivate a Hobby That Gets You Understand How Much of the Business Surround Yourself with a Team Next to Potential Clients is Project Management Who Can Execute Your Vision

Mendelson notes that interior design He says, “Designers need to know From stonemasons to electricians to is about relationships, so cultivate what it means to be a full service firm. upholsterers, your virtual Rolodex of hobbies that put you in the same orbit Managing a project from start to finish reliable sources and service providers as potential clients. For him, that hobby with extreme attention to detail is a big are a big part of what you offer. You was tennis, and it connected him to part of the service we provide clients.” have to make it seamless for clients. individuals who became his early clients. However, your interest in the organization or club you join should be genuine. NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN FALL 2019 | 19

ROOM IN SAGAPONACK, NY WEEKEND HOUSE DESIGNED BY MENDELSON GROUP. PHOTO: ERIC PIASECKI

GIDEON MENDELSON’S ADVICE FOR ASPIRING INTERIOR DESIGN ENTREPRENEURS NYSID alumnus Gideon Mendelson ’07 (AAS), the creative director and principal of Mendelson Group, says, “If you want to be really successful in interior design, there are two ways to do it: start your own company or go and work for a huge firm.” Mendelson believes aspiring designers need to think more about the entrepreneurial side of the business. He surveyed his own team to see what designers spend time on and discovered only 8% of his firm’s time is spent on actual design: the rest is spent on marketing, client services, project management, sales, business development and construction documents. His three best pieces of advice for aspiring residential designers are: 1 2 3 Cultivate a Hobby That Gets You Understand How Much of the Business Surround Yourself with a Team Next to Potential Clients is Project Management Who Can Execute Your Vision

Mendelson notes that interior design He says, “Designers need to know From stonemasons to electricians to is about relationships, so cultivate what it means to be a full service firm. upholsterers, your virtual Rolodex of hobbies that put you in the same orbit Managing a project from start to finish reliable sources and service providers as potential clients. For him, that hobby with extreme attention to detail is a big are a big part of what you offer. You was tennis, and it connected him to part of the service we provide clients.” have to make it seamless for clients. individuals who became his early clients. However, your interest in the organization or club you join should be genuine. NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN FALL 2019 | 21 CELEBRATIONS / Commencement 2019

NYSID’s graduating class received the wisdom of Berkus established his interior design firm at the age of 24, two influencers in interior design,Nate Berkus and and since has been named in Elle Decor’s “A-List” as well as Elaine Griffin, at the 2019 commencement ceremony. to the AD100 list in 2018. Design fans have followed Berkus On May 23, cheers rose from the seats of the 92nd Street Y through his television shows: “The Nate Berkus Show,” as the New York School of Interior Design’s 111 graduates 2014’s “American Dream Builders” (NBC), and most recently, marched across the stage to accept their diplomas. “Nate and Jeremiah by Design” (TLC). Berkus advised Berkus and Griffin, who both have expanded the concept graduates to “replace the word perfect with permission. of what an interior design career can be, shared powerful Give yourself permission to fall apart and to make mistakes, messages about taking risks and feeding creativity. As because it frees us up for what makes us all better.” part of the 2019 ceremony, NYSID president David Sprouls For the first time ever, the NYSID community elected presented them with Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts two graduating students to speak at the commencement degrees from the New York School of Interior Design. ceremony. Rachel Edelstein, BFA, spoke on behalf of After founding her eponymous interior design firm in 1999, the undergraduate students on the power of taking Griffin used her expertise to teach the public about interior risks in design and Paula Victoria Edralin Davidsohn, design, creating a “Makeovers” series as contributing editor MFA-1, spoke on behalf of the graduate students about for Better Homes & Gardens, bringing style to charitable designing for the greater good. Davidsohn recounted her organizations’ spaces through her “Good Works Makeovers” experience of creating an interior design for survivors of for Oprah’s O at Home, and authoring the bestselling book violence through NYSID’s experiential learning course, Design Rules. Griffin told NYSID’s graduates, “If you will conducted at the Queens Child Advocacy Center. She seek the soul of everything you do—of your clients, of a recalled, “There were two siblings, aged six and two …I table, of a tree whose colors you look to for inspiration, or of noticed the little boy had burns and scratches on the CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS NATE BERKUS AND ELAINE GRIFFIN, a child who just asks for a pretty pink bedroom—if you will side of his face. It was in that moment I was encouraged GRADUATES EMBRACING AFTER THE CEREMONY, RYAN LACY ’19 (MFA-1) AND ASHLEY DAI ’19 (MFA-1), seek the soul, and not yourself, you will be unstoppable.” to design with purpose, empathy, and commitment.” RACHEL EDELSTEIN ’19 (BFA), PAULA VICTORIA EDRALIN DAVIDSOHN ’19 (MFA-1). NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN FALL 2019 | 21

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS NATE BERKUS AND ELAINE GRIFFIN, GRADUATES EMBRACING AFTER THE CEREMONY, RYAN LACY ’19 (MFA-1) AND ASHLEY DAI ’19 (MFA-1), RACHEL EDELSTEIN ’19 (BFA), PAULA VICTORIA EDRALIN DAVIDSOHN ’19 (MFA-1). NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN FALL 2019 | 23

LAYOUT / New and Notable at NYSID (Continued from page 7)

 STANDOUT PUBLIC PROGRAMS

Straight Talk on Adversity and Inclusion ROOMS Series Opens With a from the Black Interior Design Network Felix Rodewaldt Exhibit

On December 19, NYSID welcomed alumna The new ROOMS exhibition series, Beth Diana Smith ’14 (AAS) back to her alma mater curated and designed by Darling for an event featuring her and other members of Green, explores a cross-section of the Black Interior Design Network on the subject art and interior design. It’s fitting, of “Breaking the Mold.” The other speakers were therefore, that Felix Rodewaldt moderator Keia McSwain, project manager of became the first artist featured in this Kimberly & Cameron Interiors and president of series as he has created many room- the Black Interior Designers Network (BIDN), and defining works for restaurants, clubs, interior designers Alicia Bailey, Kesha Franklin, and embassies. Rodewaldt is best Keita Turner and Saudah Saleem. A large crowd known for his bold, geometric murals, turned out for the event. Panelist Saudah Saleem often made using adhesive tape and said to Business of Home after the talk, “For many of house paint. The paint was generously us, design was not even introduced as a possibility donated by Farrow & Ball. as a career; whereas in other communities, design is something introduced in childhood. So, to have so many people in one space and feeling the same thing was really powerful.”

“More Than a Pretty Space” Focuses on Design Entrepreneurism

On April 17, some of the most enterprising interior designers in the field gathered to discuss the business of building an interior design brand and the importance of Alumnus Laurie Smith on Taking building a network of peers in the Home Design to the Airwaves visual arts. Malene Barnett, cross- NYSID’s public media artist, principal of Malene NYSID alumna Laurie Smith was one of programs feature B Atelier and founder of The Black the first designers to hit the airwaves on accomplished design Artists & Designers Guild, interviewed TLC’s Emmy-nominated show “Trading professionals who NYSID trustee Alexa Hampton, Spaces” in 2000. Smith and the original discuss innovative ideas in interior design, principal of Mark Hampton LLC cast of “Trading Spaces” returned after architecture, and the and the creator of multiple lines of 10 years to TLC in the spring of 2018 Cindy Allen on Interior Design Magazine’s HallHall ofof FameFame built environment. stylish home products that bear her with the series reboot, and starred name; Sheila Bridges, principal of On January 30, the editor in chief of InteriorInterior DesignDesign, Cindy Allen, introduced in a second season this spring, 2019. Visit nysid.edu to find Shelia Bridges Design and Benjamin the process behind selecting designers who make itit intointo thethe magazine’smagazine’s “Hall“Hall On May 8, Smith, also the author of out what’s on the schedule for fall 2019. Noriega-Ortiz, principal of BNO Design. of Fame,” and discussed the contributions of this year’s inductees: Kengo Discovering Home, returned to her alma Kuma, Marcel Wanders, Patrick Tighe and Iwamoto Scott. She also shared mater to discuss her unconventional nysid.edu/events her principles for success with NYSID’s students, wisdom that included: career, in which she successfully melds “Fight to be original; Find mentors to support you; Collaborate withoutwithout fearfear oror her expertise in home design with her insecurity; and Work harder than anyone else.”else.” background in broadcast journalism. NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN FALL 2019 | 23

ROOMS Series Opens With a Felix Rodewaldt Exhibit

The new ROOMS exhibition series, curated and designed by Darling Green, explores a cross-section of art and interior design. It’s fi tting, therefore, that Felix Rodewaldt became the fi rst artist featured in this series as he has created many room- defi ning works for restaurants, clubs, and embassies. Rodewaldt is best known for his bold, geometric murals, oft en made using adhesive tape and house paint. The paint was generously donated by Farrow & Ball.

Alumnus Laurie Smith on Taking Home Design to the Airwaves NYSID’s public NYSID alumna Laurie Smith was one of programs feature the fi rst designers to hit the airwaves on accomplished design TLC’s Emmy-nominated show “Trading professionals who Spaces” in 2000. Smith and the original discuss innovative ideas in interior design, cast of “Trading Spaces” returned aft er architecture, and the 10 years to TLC in the spring of 2018 built environment. with the series reboot, and starred in a second season this spring, 2019. Visit nysid.edu to fi nd On May 8, Smith, also the author of out what’s on the schedule for fall 2019. Discovering Home, returned to her alma mater to discuss her unconventional nysid.edu/events career, in which she successfully melds her expertise in home design with her background in broadcast journalism. #emerging

NYSID’s Digital Natives Are Posting with Fun and Intention NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN FALL 2019 | 25

YSID students’ approaches to Instagram are as Ndiverse as their design sensibilities, demonstrating there’s more than one right way to market yourself as an interior designer.

As students begin to transform into selfi es with loved-ones along with interior designers through their her enthusiasm for the Hermès Home studies at NYSID, they’re thinking fabrics collection in the Dedar Milano strategically about how to use their showroom social media accounts to fi nd a design Keisuke Omata (@keisuke.o213), community and build their reputations. a graphic designer from Tokyo in his NYSID’s digital natives have grown fi rst year of NYSID’s MFA-1 program, up documenting their lives on social is moving in a diff erent direction, media, and now they’re using social removing his personal content, such media to express their evolving as shots of his futsal team, from his DAHIANA PEÑA aesthetics. Rather than treating social account and centering it around the media as a chore, these students take concept of shape. He wants it to have a pleasure in sharing new knowledge, uniform look, and comments, “I’m not and making meaningful connections into sharing my private life. I think of along the way. The curriculum at NYSID my Instagram as an evolving portfolio is rigorous, and students expressed that for both my graphic design work and they don’t usually have time to engage my interior design work.” Omata has regularly on more than one social started an additional account with media outlet. The consensus among the graphic designer Kei Maeyama, for a students we spoke to is that they hone digital magazine they’ve created called in on Instagram as it’s the most useful 811 (@811magazine), intended to reveal for designers. the design secrets behind beautiful spaces in New York, with issues devoted Negotiate the Line Between to places like Sushi Lin and Public. Personal & Professional Sydney Dalis Stein, co-founder of Says Dahiana Peña (@itsdahiana), a Wimze Digital, a social-fi rst digital

fi rst year MFA-1 candidate, who also agency, says, “Instagram is a fi rst ATIQUE RAHMAN serves as social media coordinator for NYSID’s Graduate Student Association and who formerly worked in corporate marketing, “There was a conversation among my friends last week, aft er class, about whether we were going to create a distinct design account or evolve our own personal accounts to refl ect our professional identities. It became clear that I needed my personal and professional identities to merge on social media, because interior design is a way of life.” NYSID students are catching on to the fact that their lives are oft en a part of their brand in social media marketing as interior designers. On @itsdahiana, Peña shares KEISUKE OMATA GISSELLE SÁNCHEZ 26 | ATELIER MAGAZINE FEATURES NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN FALL 2019 | 27 impression platform portfolio, and you “It became clear that I needed my Use Social to Deepen want to make sure that this impression Understanding Perhaps the best lesson is the right one.” She believes the personal and professional identities Dahiana Peña says, “As I go to talks, one can take from the ideal way to approach Instagram is to panels, exhibitions and studio tours register a separate business account, to merge on social media, because through school, professors often throw social media accounts of because business accounts receive out names and my first instinct is to specific insights into how posts interior design is a way of life.” go to their Instagram feeds and start these emerging interior perform. However, building a business following them so that I can learn more DAHIANA PEÑA ’21 (MFA-1) account from the ground up can be about them. My class went to Flavor designers is not a tip but a time consuming, so she says, “If you Paper to watch handmade wallpaper tone. Their original feeds already have a strong following on your someone of her stature appreciates it on Instagram, including the posts of being made in Brooklyn, and I posted personal account, the best strategy if you take a picture with her and tag David Scott, Shawn Henderson, Drew about my experience, and now I’m are about their unbridled is to shift your personal account to a her. The design industry is heavily McGukin and Patrick McGrath. He even learning so much about this craft.” more intentional voice that reflects your networked. If you don’t have a way to had the opportunity to meet Patrick enthusiasm for design, business ethos and visual aesthetic. start a conversation, it’s difficult to get McGrath while the well-known designer Apply Specific Hashtags Even a personal brand can work toward out there.” Gisselle Sánchez had the was taking a course at NYSID. Rahman General tags, such as #InteriorDesign an excitement that draws receiving the Instagram ‘blue badge,’ opportunity to take a photograph with connected to McGrath on Instagram, or #InteriorArchitecture, are important, which would give validity to your her design hero, Kelly Wearstler (@ commented on his posts and chatted but even more important are specific in fans of the field. business.” kellywearstler), whom she also tagged. with him about designs through hashtags, what Sidney Dalis Stein Recently, Wearstler has been liking messaging. When McGrath posted a job calls “micro-hashtags.” Gisselle Consider Longevity of a Post Sánchez’s posts in return. Sydney Dalis opportunity for a design assistant last Sánchez uses 20 to 30 hashtags MFA-1 student Gisselle Sánchez Stein of Wimze Digital advises her November, Rahman applied and got the (Instagram’s limit) on each of her (@gissellesanchez_) uses Instagram smaller clients to “start by engaging paid internship. posts, some of them as specific as Stories in a more personal way than with highly targeted micro-influencers, #GothicRevivalArchitecture or #Neon. Follow the Instagram accounts she uses her main Instagram profile, people with 4,000 to 15,000 followers, These hashtags help people with using it to develop her design identity. so you don’t get lost in the abyss. Make similar interests and tastes find mentioned in this article. IG Stories disappear after 24 hours. a list of micro-influencers who speak their posts. ¡ DAHIANA PEÑA @itsdahiana Because the posts fade away in a day to your visual aesthetic and values. Be “I’m not into Make Time for a and as they go directly to the top of the genuine and people will respond.” sharing my ¡ KEISUKE OMATA @keisuke.o213 and feeds of followers, she’s more apt to use Branding Exercise @811magazine Stories to let people into profoundly Engage with People private life. I think Social media expert Sydney Dalis personal moments of her life, such as Who Inspire You Stein says the most important advice ¡ GISSELLE SÁNCHEZ @gissellesanchez_ the beauty of a traditional Honduran BFA student Atique Rahman (@atiq2a) of my Instagram she gives is, “Figure out your place in Punta ritual at a beloved relative’s immigrated to the United States from the industry. What do you offer that is ¡ ATIQUE RAHMAN @atiq2a funeral. She feels that her Stories build Bangladesh to study engineering when as an evolving unique? Map out your values ahead of engagement, especially because they he was 17 years old. However, he began time, and use those core values to guide ¡ CINDY ALLEN @thecindygram show the interplay between her life and to despise engineering, and dropped portfolio for what you post, how you post it and her designs. out of his first bachelor’s program after whom you tag.” ¡ KELLY WEARSTLER @kellywearstler a couple of semesters. Even though he both my graphic Tag Design Idols knew “nobody” in the design world, You Can’t Fake Passion ¡ DAVID SCOTT @davidscottinteriors With a background in corporate and had little contact with the design design work Perhaps the best lesson one can take marketing from her previous career, community in the United States, he and my interior from the social media accounts of these ¡ SHAWN HENDERSON Dahiana Peña knows that tagging the had always wanted to be a designer, emerging interior designers is not a @shawnhendersonnyc people you admire is important. She and so he eventually made his way design work.” tip but a tone. Their original feeds are says, “Every time I hear someone speak to NYSID after supporting himself for about their unbridled enthusiasm for ¡ DREW MCGUKIN @drewmcgukin at NYSID, a new door of knowledge years. He started with the BID program, KEISUKE OMATA ’21 (MFA-1) design, an excitement that draws in opens for me, and I use social media later transferring to the AAS, and fans of the field. n ¡ PATRICK MCGRATH @mrmcgrath to keep the door open. Cindy Allen eventually, to the BFA. An avid design (@thecindygram), editor in chief of fan, he made it his habit to follow the Interior Design, just spoke here. Even creators of designs that caught his eye 26 | ATELIER MAGAZINE FEATURES NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGNDESIGN FALL 2019 || 27 impression platform portfolio, and you “It became clear that I needed my Use Social to Deepen want to make sure that this impression Understanding Perhaps the best lesson is the right one.” She believes the personal and professional identities Dahiana Peña says, “As I go to talks, one can take from the ideal way to approach Instagram is to panels, exhibitions and studio tours register a separate business account, to merge on social media, because through school, professors often throw social media accounts of because business accounts receive out names and my first instinct is to specific insights into how posts interior design is a way of life.” go to their Instagram feeds and start these emerging interior perform. However, building a business following them so that I can learn more DAHIANA PEÑA ’21 (MFA-1) account from the ground up can be about them. My class went to Flavor designers is not a tip but a time consuming, so she says, “If you Paper to watch handmade wallpaper tone. Their original feeds already have a strong following on your someone of her stature appreciates it on Instagram, including the posts of being made in Brooklyn, and I posted personal account, the best strategy if you take a picture with her and tag David Scott, Shawn Henderson, Drew about my experience, and now I’m are about their unbridled is to shift your personal account to a her. The design industry is heavily McGukin and Patrick McGrath. He even learning so much about this craft.” more intentional voice that reflects your networked. If you don’t have a way to had the opportunity to meet Patrick enthusiasm for design, business ethos and visual aesthetic. start a conversation, it’s difficult to get McGrath while the well-known designer Apply Specific Hashtags Even a personal brand can work toward out there.” Gisselle Sánchez had the was taking a course at NYSID. Rahman General tags, such as #InteriorDesign an excitement that draws receiving the Instagram ‘blue badge,’ opportunity to take a photograph with connected to McGrath on Instagram, or #InteriorArchitecture, are important, which would give validity to your her design hero, Kelly Wearstler (@ commented on his posts and chatted but even more important are specific in fans of the field. business.” kellywearstler), whom she also tagged. with him about designs through hashtags, what Sidney Dalis Stein Recently, Wearstler has been liking messaging. When McGrath posted a job calls “micro-hashtags.” Gisselle Consider Longevity of a Post Sánchez’s posts in return. Sydney Dalis opportunity for a design assistant last Sánchez uses 20 to 30 hashtags MFA-1 student Gisselle Sánchez Stein of Wimze Digital advises her November, Rahman applied and got the (Instagram’s limit) on each of her (@gissellesanchez_) uses Instagram smaller clients to “start by engaging paid internship. posts, some of them as specific as Stories in a more personal way than with highly targeted micro-influencers, #GothicRevivalArchitecture or #Neon. Follow the Instagram accounts she uses her main Instagram profile, people with 4,000 to 15,000 followers, These hashtags help people with using it to develop her design identity. so you don’t get lost in the abyss. Make similar interests and tastes find mentioned in this article. IG Stories disappear after 24 hours. a list of micro-influencers who speak their posts. ¡ DAHIANA PEÑA @itsdahiana Because the posts fade away in a day to your visual aesthetic and values. Be “I’m not into Make Time for a and as they go directly to the top of the genuine and people will respond.” sharing my ¡ KEISUKE OMATA @keisuke.o213 and feeds of followers, she’s more apt to use Branding Exercise @811magazine Stories to let people into profoundly Engage with People private life. I think Social media expert Sydney Dalis personal moments of her life, such as Who Inspire You Stein says the most important advice ¡ GISSELLE SÁNCHEZ @gissellesanchez_ the beauty of a traditional Honduran BFA student Atique Rahman (@atiq2a) of my Instagram she gives is, “Figure out your place in Punta ritual at a beloved relative’s immigrated to the United States from the industry. What do you offer that is ¡ ATIQUE RAHMAN @atiq2a funeral. She feels that her Stories build Bangladesh to study engineering when as an evolving unique? Map out your values ahead of engagement, especially because they he was 17 years old. However, he began time, and use those core values to guide ¡ CINDY ALLEN @thecindygram show the interplay between her life and to despise engineering, and dropped portfolio for what you post, how you post it and her designs. out of his first bachelor’s program after whom you tag.” ¡ KELLY WEARSTLER @kellywearstler a couple of semesters. Even though he both my graphic Tag Design Idols knew “nobody” in the design world, You Can’t Fake Passion ¡ DAVID SCOTT @davidscottinteriors With a background in corporate and had little contact with the design design work Perhaps the best lesson one can take marketing from her previous career, community in the United States, he and my interior from the social media accounts of these ¡ SHAWN HENDERSON Dahiana Peña knows that tagging the had always wanted to be a designer, emerging interior designers is not a @shawnhendersonnyc people you admire is important. She and so he eventually made his way design work.” tip but a tone. Their original feeds are says, “Every time I hear someone speak to NYSID after supporting himself for about their unbridled enthusiasm for ¡ DREW MCGUKIN @drewmcgukin at NYSID, a new door of knowledge years. He started with the BID program, KEISUKE OMATA ’21 (MFA-1) design, an excitement that draws in opens for me, and I use social media later transferring to the AAS, and fans of the field. n ¡ PATRICK MCGRATH @mrmcgrath to keep the door open. Cindy Allen eventually, to the BFA. An avid design (@thecindygram), editor in chief of fan, he made it his habit to follow the Interior Design, just spoke here. Even creators of designs that caught his eye 28 | ATELIER MAGAZINE DEPARTMENT

“One of the things I love about interior design as a field, and at Gensler in particular, is that there are a lot of women in leadership positions.”

A LEADER OF Designers

Gensler New York Principal Becky Button ’01 (BFA) Shares Her Views of a Changing Industry 28 | ATELIER MAGAZINE DEPARTMENT NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGNDESIGN FALL 2019 || 29

ver dream of being a studio director at a major firm?Becky Button ’01 (BFA) Eleads a studio for Gensler, and provides us with some insights into her job at a company that employs more than 27 NYSID alumni around the globe.

As a principal and studio director at Gensler New York, design to entice people to come to the office. This means NYSID alumna Becky Button ’01 (BFA) runs what she creating amenities that are about optimizing work, not calls a “small business within a large business.” Her studio escaping it. consists of 47 people, three of whom are NYSID alumni: Katie Barons ’11 (MFA-2), Jinsoo An ’12 (BFA), and What did you take from your NYSID experience? Paulina Abela ’12 (AAS). In her role, Button advises a As a BFA student, I worked full time and found the NYSID team of designers on workplace projects, deploys training curriculum very challenging. Now, as the mother of a 5-year programs that support the growth of leaders throughout old, I appreciate the extent to which I learned to juggle the firm and interfaces with clients to ensure her teams are multiple roles while in school, to balance the personal and delivering exceptional partnership and the best of what professional. One of the things I love about interior design Gensler has to offer. Button was also a faculty member at as a field, and at Gensler in particular, is that there are a NYSID and taught Color Theory, Contract I and Professional lot of women in leadership positions. These women leaders Practice. Recognized as one of the “Top 20 under 40” are model examples of how it’s possible to have successful professionals in the industry by Engineering News-Record, careers, and at the same time fulfilling lives outside of work. “One of the things I love Button is NCIDQ-certified, a member of the IIDA and a Another great thing about my education was that my about interior design as LEED-accredited professional. professors were practicing professionals from prominent firms. After school, I was able to jump right into projects a field, and at Gensler in What do you look for when you are hiring an feeling confident that I had the hard skills I needed to keep interior designer? up with the pace of my job. particular, is that there I’m looking for a spark, a passion for brilliant design that intrinsically motivates a person. I value well-roundedness The application of research in design is a growing are a lot of women in and seek designers who bring a variety of skills to the component of the NYSID curriculum. Can you tell me a bit table: the ability to clearly communicate vision by speaking about The Gensler Research Institute and how you’re using leadership positions.” about it, but also through computer renderings and hand data in design? drawings. We often need to sketch out an idea off-the-cuff in Gensler’s research program is the most amazing thing a meeting so a knack for drawing is a desired skill. It’s also because it’s open to any employee, at any level, who key to have a positive attitude and emotional intelligence wants to submit a proposal for a research grant. It’s for dealing with clients and peers. I also like to hire people an entrepreneurial model. Each year there is a call for with fully developed passions, and even work experiences proposals and the firm awards anywhere from 30–35 in areas other than interior design, because I find they bring grants to the winning teams. It allows us to offer primary this experience into their designs. research, producing data we can share with clients to support our design strategy, and which our clients can What movements in the industry are you currently then share with their stakeholders. The data empowers A LEADER OF encountering on the job? companies to take a chance. The research also allows As interior designers, we are crossing the boundary of what’s for innovations in processes, so we have evidence that built into what’s experienced. For example, we may be shows us how to get projects completed more efficiently. enlisted to create the digital experience of a retail space, or a design centered around how a building collects data. We What’s your best piece of advice for emerging designers? Designers are currently seeing a shift to a greater focus on engagement Don’t worry about where the path goes; worry instead about and connection, which is challenging us to reimagine spaces the work at hand. Even if you are designing a bathroom and present their purpose through functional and beautiful floor, create the best version you can. People in this industry Gensler New York Principal Becky Button ’01 (BFA) design. In the workplace, we’re also seeing that high respond to good design, no matter how small the project. performers work everywhere—both inside and outside the You have to put the work in. You have to earn it. n Shares Her Views of a Changing Industry office—so there needs to be a hospitality focus in workplace PORTFOLIO / Select Projects by the Class of 2019

Wei-Yuan Wang Project: The Olfactory Factory Subway Station and Vocational School

Master of Fine Arts (Post-Professional) Instructor: Eric Cohen

With this unique design, Wei-Yuan Wang sought to solve many of the all-too-familiar problems commuters encounter in the NYC subway system: a lack of ADA standards, poor visibility of way-finding systems, a deficit of accessible bathrooms, and of course, bad smells and stale air. A major focus of the project was providing services, hope, and social connection to the homeless people who often shelter in city subway stations, welcoming instead of shunning the homeless in our public transportation hubs. Wang comments, “I built in information centers, consulting booths, laundry rooms, closets for donating clothing, and shower trucks to spread dignity. The school I envisioned as a component of this project not only provides choices for the jobless, but also helps them find connection to society.” A unique aspect of this project was its emphasis on the olfactory experience of a station. “I wanted to reduce the corners and dead ends that collect dust and garbage. Hence, I introduced cove bases and cove crowns throughout the entire project and combined them with the arches and vaults to have a better sense of purity, unity, and linkage to the subway elements,” Wang says. “The central air ventilation fan/light fixture/ planter helps to achieve a better air flow and smell. The system cleans the air, and there are hints of aroma from the plants in the space as well.” NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN FALL 2019 | 31

Ara Kim Project: Hotel McQueen

Master of Fine Arts (Professional) Instructor: Barbara Lowenthal

Hotel McQueen is a luxury hotel and a tribute to the life and work of the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen. “The Butterfly Effect,” the basis of Chaos Theory, is the concept that something as minute as the flapping of a butterfly’s wings can have unpredictable outsized effects, and result in a hurricane, in a complex natural system. This was the inspiration for the look and mood of this hotel: Kim literally envisioned a butterfly generating a storm from its wings, a potent metaphor for the brilliant and chaotic life of Alexander McQueen, who struggled with drug addiction and died at the age of 40. The motif of the butterfly emerged over and over in McQueen’s work, in everything from textiles that mimicked the patterns of Pink Morphos and Tiger Wings, to silk tuxedo jackets that unfurled outwards from the waist like wings. Kim echoes McQueen’s visual language in details like a filmy linen curtain in a transparent guest-room shower, ethereal light fixtures made of glass tubing fabric, and textiles that evoke the wings of butterflies. She says of working with her thesis instructor Barbara Lowenthal, “The point of Barbara’s class was to find a reason, functional or symbolic, for every detail I designed. This made my project more meaningful.” 32 | ATELIER MAGAZINE PORTFOLIO

Phuong Huynh Project: OMM Eco Resort

Bachelor of Fine Arts Instructor: Lissette Carrera

Huynh located this boutique, eco-resort in her hometown in Vietnam, and used this community’s untouched natural surroundings as the inspiration for her design. She blended traditional Vietnamese architecture with Modernist elements. The intended users are the modern travelers who recognize the negative footprint of the massive resorts and hotels being built in pristine habitats throughout Vietnam. “Thesis was an amazing experience because this might be the only time in our lives as designers that we can choose anything we’d want to build, learn so much about that subject, and have total control of our design,” says Huynh. “My thesis advisor, Lisette Carrera, asked us to focus on what we really wanted to show in our project instead of trying to achieve everything. That kept us on track.” NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN FALL 2019 | 33

Juhee Son Project: Korea Reunifi cation Community Center

Bachelor of Fine Arts Instructor: Lissette Carrera

A central image drove the design for this cultural and community center, the “taegeuk,” a traditional symbol of Korea, which has represented the balance between the positive and negative forces of the universe for thousands of years. Juhee Son chose a symbol that emphasizes the shared cultural history of North and South Korea. The guiding purpose of her center is to promote peace and understanding in the ongoing Korean reunifi cation process in the wake of the historic 2018 Inter-Korean Summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-In. The building provides spaces for social programs such as a conference room, lecture rooms, a restaurant, a café, a co-working art studio, and residence rooms for artists. Son was daring and playful in her color choices, balancing vivid hues with neutrals, creating an eff ect that conveys optimism. Says Son of her thesis instructor, Lissette Carrera, “When I had diffi culty choosing from too many ideas, Lissette said, ‘Trust yourself. You already have an answer,’ and I did.” GIVING / Supporting Our Community

Why I Give: Zach Gibbs

For Zach Gibbs, chief customer officer and co-founder of The Shade Store, the business of premium window treatments is “in the blood.” His grandfather founded the precursor of The Shade Store in 1946, when the custom window treatment business was about “selling fabric off the bolt.” Zach Gibbs entered the family business in 2006. Working alongside his two brothers and his cousin, they recognized an opportunity to take what their family had been doing for generations and to rebrand and restructure the business to make high-quality, handcrafted, custom window treatments accessible to everyone. What The Shade Store offers today is a single, nationwide resource for premium custom window treatments and a suite of services, including over 1,300 in-stock materials for drapery, roman shades, roller shades and wovens; trade exclusive benefits, including special pricing; measure and installation; and state-of-the-art motorization options. What started as an e-commerce business is now supported by 70 showrooms across the nation. In addition to being an innovative businessman, Gibbs is a true fan of interior design, with deep respect for its ability to impact and improve lives. Under the leadership of Gibbs, The Shade Store made a multi-year commitment to the New York School of Interior Design in 2019, underwriting its new “Rising Star” award, which was awarded to Alberto Villalobos for the first time this year. Gibbs shares why he’s chosen to support the New York School of Interior Design.

Why has The Shade Store become a corporate What have you learned from interior designers? sponsor of NYSID? As the industry has evolved, we’ve listened to our designer The interior design community is a large part of our customers and have developed our service and production business, and education is crucial to the continued model to meet their needs. For example, our fast lead times advancement of interior design. Supporting NYSID’s (10 days or less) are a direct result of meeting the customers’ program allows us to interact with established interior expectations. In addition, we know designers work with designers and future interior designers, who are really the clients in multiple cities and so our 70 plus showrooms in people who will be driving innovations in the industry. It all major markets allow us to support them regardless of is designers who determine what materials become stylish, their location. what technologies become standard, and we need to stay connected to a diverse and eclectic talent pool in order to What do you love about what you do? adapt as the industry evolves. Interior design is about adapting to the way people live. This is true even in the world of window treatment. Our part of Why did you choose to underwrite the industry affects how people sleep, how they work, how the Rising Star award? they get privacy. It’s humbling and motivating to contribute Designers bring a level of passion and creativity to their to the way that someone lives. work that inspires companies like ours. We feel it’s important to recognize amazing talents, early on in their careers, to help inspire and motivate the next generation of great designers to set the bar high and continue to Interested in becoming a NYSID “wow” the world with their vision. This award gives us an supporter? Please contact Joy Cooper, incredible opportunity to do that. Director of Development, at 212-452-4197 or [email protected]. NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN FALL 2019 | 35

The Most Successful Gala in NYSID’s History

“By having a healthy scholarship fund, NYSID can attract Integral to the success of the evening was the work and retain the most outstanding students, regardless of of the gala co-chairs: Jill Dienst, Alexa Hampton, their financial circumstances,” saidEllen Kravet, chair of David Kleinberg, Susan Nagle, Betsey Ruprecht, NYSID’s board, at the College’s annual gala on March 5th. Patricia Sovern, and Maria Spears, who delved into Thanks to all your generosity, NYSID’s scholarship fund their networks to bring new supporters and sponsorships received a big boost: this black-tie event was the highest to the table. The gala drew hundreds of NYSID’s friends grossing fundraiser in NYSID’s history. It raised more than from across the country, in a parade of finery, to honor half a million dollars, money that will enable deserving three designers whose work is transforming the field. The design students to develop their talents and realize their evening’s honorees were interior designer Jeffrey Bilhuber, dreams. Addressing the crowd, Rachel Edelstein ’19 (BFA), who received the Albert Hadley Lifetime Achievement the recipient of two Charlotte Moss scholarships, who is award; ceramicist and lamp designer Christopher employed at Beyer Blinder Belle in Washington, D.C., said, Spitzmiller, who received the inaugural Larry Kravet “Charlotte Moss’s generosity in endowing this scholarship Design Industry Innovation award; and interior designer made a critical difference to me: it helped reduce my debt Alberto Villalobos ’06 (AAS), who received the inaugural and enabled me to buy a laptop. Buying that laptop meant I “Rising Star” award, sponsored by The Shade Store. We are could work as many hours as it would take to give school my grateful to the entire NYSID community for helping reward all. And believe me … I gave it my all.” excellence and foster such incredible talent.

ABOVE: RACHEL EDELSTEIN ’19 (BFA) LEFT: CHRISTOPHER SPITZMILLER, JEFFREY BILHUBER, AND ALBERTO VILLALOBOS 36 | ATELIER MAGAZINE GIVING NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN FALL 2019 | 37

Clair Fitzgerald Stephen Sills Hadley Scully Leta Austin Foster Maximilian Sinsteden Maria Spears, in memory of Utta Kravet Wendy Goodman Katherine Sita Kevin Sprague Our Supporters 2018–2019 JULY 1, 2018–JUNE 30,30, 20192019 Elizabeth Graziolo Susan Slesin STARK Carpet Corporation John Gutfreund Daisy Soros, in honor of Maria Spears Cordelia Bacher Sweetland, NYSID gratefully acknowledges our generous supporters. Thank you forfor makingmaking Gerald Holbrook/Taconic Builders, Inc. David Sprouls and Kate Wood in honor of Suzanne Rheinstein a difference in the lives of our students. IFDA Educational Foundation Mark Stern Margot Takian Pamela Jaccarino/ Studmuffin Desserts, Inc Courtney Trent Luxe Interiors + Design Magazine Jacqueline Terrebonne Emilia Vincent $60,000+ Robert A.M. Stern Interiors, LLC Dolly Fox and Phillipe Farsi Tham Kannalikham Arthur and Susan Tildesley Olga Votis Maria and Bill Spears Kelly Williams and Andrew Forsyth Paul Golaszewski Celerie Kemble/Kemble Interiors Barbara Tober Yiannos Vrousgos Eloise Goldman James LaForce Barbara Toll Claude Wasserstein $30,000+ $7,50 0 + Tami Goven Peti Lau Suzanne Tucker Kathleen Waterbury David Kleinberg/ Geoffrey N. Bradfield Dr. and Mrs. Joseph G. Haggar Lawrence Levy Phoebe Tudor Lynda Welte, in memory of Utta Kravet David Kleinberg Design Associates Kate and Alex Brodsky Roy Hamilton Susan Magrino Doug Turshen John Dyson Anne Korman Jackson McCard Carol Vargo $250+ $25,000+ Gerold and Jana Klauer Jenny and Trey Laird Sara McCann Ashley Whittaker Carol Atkinson Krystyna Breger Peter Pennoyer Architects Richard Keith Langham John McDermott Josh Wiener Sarah Blank Barry Friedberg and Charlotte Moss The Sherrill Foundation Stewart Manger Mary McDonald Inc Ethel Wood Paige Boller Family Foundation Alison Spear and Alexander Reese Brian McCarthy Marian McEvoy Brittany Bromley Susan Zises Green/The Meyer & Jean Alberto Villalobos Susan Nagle Drew McGukin $500+ Mary Bruene Steinberg Family Foundation Bunny Williams and John Rosselli Mario Nievera Mecox Peter Brandt Liz Caan & Co. Jeff Keswin Nathan Orsman Gail Monaghan Ruth Davis Susan Carras The Shade Store $5,000+ Alex Papachristidis Cynthia Murphy Elizabeth Dexter Joanne Carrocino, Adam Clammer Judith Prause Sheila Newman Sara Dodd in memory of Utta Kravet $20,000+ Dowbuilt Quadrille Fabrics and Wallpapers Amy Nevin Becky Button Espiritu Lawrence Cohen, Edward Ferrell James P. Druckman/ Ingrid Edelman Luther Quintana Elizabeth O’Brien Rene Estacio and Lewis Mittman New York Design Center Kathryn Ireland Markham Roberts Peek Family Foundation Inc. Foley & Cox Interiors John Danzer/Munder-Skiles Ellen Kravet/Kravet Inc. Kohler Co. Schneller, Inc. Pamela Pinheiro Charlotte Ford, Jennifer Dennis Hampton Luzak Alexandra andShuman Michael Shuman Robert Pittman in memory of Mario Buatta Paul Elliott $15,000+ Holly Peterson Foundation Larry and Lauren Sorrel Clare Potter Brett Helsham Schuyler Field Elliot and Janet Greene Pamela Pierce David Steinhardt Kathy Prounis Jane Hoffman Robert Forbes David Scott/David Scott Interiors Lee Rolfe Thompson Dean Family Foundation Ann Pyne Christina Juarez Ross Francis The Shubert Organization Joanna L. Silver/ Vincent Tyer Starrett Zenko Ringbom Lindsay Key Lois Avery Gaeta Michael I. and Patricia M. Sovern Bond Schoeneck & King Anne Van Rensselaer Mark Roberts, in honor of Dennis Miller Don Kossar Wendy Goldberg Newell Turner Eve Robinson Christopher Leavitt Yves Gonnet $10,000+ Wilkinson Global Asset Management LLC $1000+ Ethel Rompilla Silvina Leone Mary Greenebaum, Sara Arnell Michael Baldock Rosehyll Studio Eileen McComb in memory of Arthur Satz Jeffrey Bilhuber $2,500+ Charlotte Barnes Ralph Rucci Sarah Magness Juerg Grimm Cullman & Kravis, Inc. Bruce Addison Edward and Maureen Bousa, Samantha Rudin Liz McDermott Suzy Grote Designers Lighting Forum Andrew Allen in honor of Maria Spears Barbara Sallick Margaret Mintz Elizabeth Guest of New York, Inc James Aman Meg Braff Alicia Saluti Connie Newberry Lewis Haber Jill H. Dienst and Dan Dienst/ Julianne Andersen John Bray, in memory of Utta Kravet Richard Sammons Deborah Nielson Courtnay Daniels Haden Dienst + Dotter Antikviteter Jeff Barish Judith O. Burgert Brian Sawyer Sylvia C. Owen Leslie Heaney Alexa Hampton Andrew Cogan Allison Caccoma Ellen Ward Scarborough Andrew Oyen Michelle Jacobson Edmund Hollander Pierre Crosby/UBERTO Libby Cameron Barry Schwartz Carmine Petrone Leslie Johnson Dennis Miller Elizabeth Foster Dinkel JoseJosé Carlino/Carlino José Carlino Design The Shade Store, William Reynolds James Erwin Lambeth III, Suzanne Rheinstein Kathleen M. Doyle Jesse Carrier in memory of Utta Kravet Stephen Rose in memory of Utta Kravet Betsey Ruprecht Eliza Dyson and Joel LaVangia Drake/Anderson Denise Sheehan-Gabettie Manuel Samora Katherine Embiricos LeFrak Stephanie Booth Shafran Anne Eisenhower John Duffy William P. Short III, Tom Scheerer Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Christopher Spitzmiller Ferguson & Shamamian Architects, LLP Emily Eerdmans in memory of Nancy Jean Fulop Short Frances Schultz Ellen Liman NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN FALL 2019 | 37

Clair Fitzgerald Stephen Sills Hadley Scully Leta Austin Foster Maximilian Sinsteden Maria Spears, in memory of Utta Kravet Wendy Goodman Katherine Sita Kevin Sprague Elizabeth Graziolo Susan Slesin STARK Carpet Corporation John Gutfreund Daisy Soros, in honor of Maria Spears Cordelia Bacher Sweetland, Gerald Holbrook/Taconic Builders, Inc. David Sprouls and Kate Wood in honor of Suzanne Rheinstein IFDA Educational Foundation Mark Stern Margot Takian Pamela Jaccarino/ Studmuffin Desserts, Inc Courtney Trent Luxe Interiors + Design Magazine Jacqueline Terrebonne Emilia Vincent Tham Kannalikham Arthur and Susan Tildesley Olga Votis Celerie Kemble/Kemble Interiors Barbara Tober Yiannos Vrousgos James LaForce Barbara Toll Claude Wasserstein Peti Lau Suzanne Tucker Kathleen Waterbury Lawrence Levy Phoebe Tudor Lynda Welte, in memory of Utta Kravet Susan Magrino Doug Turshen Jackson McCard Carol Vargo $250+ Sara McCann Ashley Whittaker Carol Atkinson John McDermott Josh Wiener Sarah Blank Mary McDonald Inc Ethel Wood Paige Boller Marian McEvoy Brittany Bromley Drew McGukin $500+ Mary Bruene Mecox Peter Brandt Liz Caan & Co. Gail Monaghan Ruth Davis Susan Carras Cynthia Murphy Elizabeth Dexter Joanne Carrocino, Sheila Newman Sara Dodd in memory of Utta Kravet Amy Nevin Becky Button Espiritu Lawrence Cohen, Edward Ferrell Elizabeth O’Brien Rene Estacio and Lewis Mittman Peek Family Foundation Inc. Foley & Cox Interiors John Danzer/Munder-Skiles Pamela Pinheiro Charlotte Ford, Jennifer Dennis Robert Pittman in memory of Mario Buatta Paul Elliott Clare Potter Brett Helsham Schuyler Field Kathy Prounis Jane Hoffman Robert Forbes Ann Pyne Christina Juarez Ross Francis Starrett Zenko Ringbom Lindsay Key Lois Avery Gaeta Mark Roberts, in honor of Dennis Miller Don Kossar Wendy Goldberg Eve Robinson Christopher Leavitt Yves Gonnet Ethel Rompilla Silvina Leone Mary Greenebaum, Rosehyll Studio Eileen McComb in memory of Arthur Satz Ralph Rucci Sarah Magness Juerg Grimm Samantha Rudin Liz McDermott Suzy Grote Barbara Sallick Margaret Mintz Elizabeth Guest Alicia Saluti Connie Newberry Lewis Haber Richard Sammons Deborah Nielson Courtnay Daniels Haden Brian Sawyer Sylvia C. Owen Leslie Heaney Ellen Ward Scarborough Andrew Oyen Michelle Jacobson Barry Schwartz Carmine Petrone Leslie Johnson The Shade Store, William Reynolds James Erwin Lambeth III, in memory of Utta Kravet Stephen Rose in memory of Utta Kravet Denise Sheehan-Gabettie Manuel Samora Katherine Embiricos LeFrak William P. Short III, Tom Scheerer Lenox Hill Neighborhood House in memory of Nancy Jean Fulop Short Frances Schultz Ellen Liman 38 | ATELIER MAGAZINE GIVING

Eileen McComb Robert Fineberg, Elise Haderer, in memory of Utta Kravet Stacy McLaughlin in memory of Utta Kravet Felicia Hoffenberg Valerie Mead Eugene Friedman, Kristina Jacob Pauline Metcalf in memory of Utta Kravet Priscilla Lee Peter Millard Eric Gering Frank Leo Jennifer Monaco Lisa Rossi Gorrivan Karen Lerman, in memory of Utta Kravet Amanda Nisbet Michael Harold Kathleen Lipkins Kelly O’Connor Pasciucco Inge Heckel Jennifer Melendez Betsy Pitts Susan Hilty Modern Ornament LLC Nina Reeves Jane Hottensen Elise Morrissey Jose Rolon Young Huh Meg Mullen-Chmiel Gilbert Schafer Scott Hyatt, in memory of Utta Kravet Lia Pepper Steven Sellers, in memory of Utta Kravet Kenneth Jennings Nancy C. Philip Leslie Sherr Anthony Law Cheryl Sadlowski Mary Singh Jonathan Lazarus, Donna Salvo Megan Smythe in memory of Utta Kravet Ingrid Schneider Skip Sroka, in memory of Utta Kravet Michele Manning Christopher Spinelli George Stephenson Joan Miller, in memory of Utta Kravet Barb Theerman, Kari Tiedemann Penni Morganstein in memory of Utta Kravet Mary Van Pelt Nick Olsen Christopher Vinger Monica Webster David Owens-Hill Kerrin Willett Harriet Weintraub Kenneth Robbins, Jonathan Winslow Palmer Weiss in memory of Utta Kravet Jennifer Yates Maureen White Julieta Sibug Stefanie Young Rachel Willard-Chang Fran Taubman Ron Tumpowsky, In-Kind Gifts $100 and under in memory of Utta Kravet NYSID would like to acknowledge, William Abranowicz Lynne Uhalt Farrow & Ball, for being our annual Amazon Smile Sarah Wagner paint sponsor, along with the following Joan Barenholtz Michael Weiss individuals and companies who have Chris Barrett provided in-kind support: Richard Berman, Under $100 Jane Capellini in memory of Mario Buatta Donna Baird Krizia Cantres Susan Bush Cheryl Benner Clovis Cavalcanti Caminiti Associates, Inc. , Michelle Bors Cullman & Kravis Associates, Inc. in memory of Utta Kravet Tika Brewer Paul Donzella Matthew Carter Emily Bringle Gift of the children of Emily Malino Merrill Chaus, in memory of Utta Kravet Kathryn Carey Tripp March Herzlia Clain Laura Catlan Susan McPherson Clean Design Joy Cooper Mikkeller NYC Rosemary Cona, Diane De Angelis Richard Mizdal in memory of Utta Kravet Michael De Angelis Jeffrey Phillip Covington Fabric & Design, LLC, Theresa deCourcelle Kelli C. Potenza in memory of Utta Kravet Lucy Faden Tom Romich Allison Davis Andrea Fahnestock Ethel Rompilla Francisco De León Samantha Fingleton Louisa Ryan Lynde Easterlin Alyson FitzPatrick Kathryn Schott Joan Enger Aly O’Leary FitzPatrick Union Beer Distributors Kostas Fakiris, in memory of Utta Kravet Dianne Garda Daniela Vanegas Karen Figilis Paula Giblin Melissa Guerrero 38 | ATELIER MAGAZINE GIVING LEADERSHIP / Moving the College ForwardForward Eileen McComb Robert Fineberg, Elise Haderer, in memory of Utta Kravet Stacy McLaughlin in memory of Utta Kravet Felicia Hoffenberg Valerie Mead Eugene Friedman, Kristina Jacob Board of Trustees Advisory Board Alumni Council Pauline Metcalf in memory of Utta Kravet Priscilla Lee Ellen Kravet, Chairman Stanley Abercrombie Lawrence Levy ’05 (BFA), President Peter Millard Eric Gering Frank Leo David Sprouls, NYSID President Christian P. Árkay-Leliever Erin Wells ’04 (BFA), Vice- President Jennifer Monaco Lisa Rossi Gorrivan Karen Lerman, in memory of Utta Kravet Amory Armstrong Don Kosser ’95 (BFA), Treasurer Jill H. Dienst Amanda Nisbet Michael Harold Kathleen Lipkins Robin Klehr Avia James P. Druckman Meredith Angrist ’97 (AAS) Kelly O’Connor Pasciucco Inge Heckel Jennifer Melendez Geoffrey Bradfield Susan Zises Green Ruth Burt ’88 (AAS) Betsy Pitts Susan Hilty Modern Ornament LLC Michael Bruno Elliot Greene Maggie Cohen ’75 (DD) Nina Reeves Jane Hottensen Elise Morrissey Clodagh Alexa Hampton Allison Russell Davis ’05 (BFA) Jose Rolon Young Huh Meg Mullen-Chmiel Birch Coffey David Kleinberg Deborah Ann Donovan ’95 (AAS) Gilbert Schafer Scott Hyatt, in memory of Utta Kravet Lia Pepper Kathleen M. Doyle Anne Korman William Engel ’09 (BFA) Steven Sellers, in memory of Utta Kravet Kenneth Jennings Nancy C. Philip David Anthony Easton Dennis Miller Lois Gaeta ’06 (BID) Leslie Sherr Anthony Law Cheryl Sadlowski Anne Eisenhower Susan B. Nagle Michael Harold ’10 (BFA) Mary Singh Jonathan Lazarus, Donna Salvo Mica Ertegun Betsey Ruprecht Fred Kass ’57 (Cert) Megan Smythe in memory of Utta Kravet Ingrid Schneider Ross J. Francis David Scott Maisie Lee ’00 (BFA) Skip Sroka, in memory of Utta Kravet Michele Manning Christopher Spinelli Mariette Himes Gomez MariaPatricia Spears M. Sovern, Chairman Emeritus Silvina Leone ’11 (AAS) George Stephenson Joan Miller, in memory of Utta Kravet Barb Theerman, Gerald A. Holbrook NewellMaria Spears Turner Andrew McGukin ’10 (AAS) Kari Tiedemann Penni Morganstein in memory of Utta Kravet Thomas Jayne KellyNewell M. Turner Williams Valerie Mead ’00 (BFA) Mary Van Pelt Nick Olsen Christopher Vinger Wolfram Koeppe Kelly M. Williams Margaret Mintz ’98 (BFA) Monica Webster David Owens-Hill Kerrin Willett René B. Estacio, Faculty Trustee Jack Lenor Larsen Alejandra Munizaga ’11 (BFA) René B. Estacio, Faculty Trustee Harriet Weintraub Kenneth Robbins, Jonathan Winslow Joanna L. Silver, Esq., Michael Manes Charles Pavarini ’81 (BFA) Joanna L. Silver, Esq., Palmer Weiss in memory of Utta Kravet Jennifer Yates General Counsel Charlotte Moss George Peters ’08 (BFA) General Counsel Maureen White Julieta Sibug Stefanie Young Elaine Wingate Conway, Michele Oka Doner Ethel Rompilla ’84 (BFA) Elaine Wingate Conway, Rachel Willard-Chang Fran Taubman Trustee Emerita Barbara Ostrom Linda Sclafani ’90 (BFA) Trustee Emerita Ron Tumpowsky, In-Kind Gifts Alexander C. Cortesi, Sylvia Owen Addie Sels ’85 (BFA) Alexander C. Cortesi, $100 and under in memory of Utta Kravet NYSID would like to acknowledge, Trustee Emeritus Charles Pavarini, III Susan Thorn ’96 (AAS) Trustee Emeritus William Abranowicz Lynne Uhalt Farrow & Ball, for being our annual Inge Heckel, Trustee Emerita Robyn Pocker Susan Ventura ’06 (BFA) Inge Heckel, Trustee Emerita Amazon Smile Sarah Wagner paint sponsor, along with the following Arthur King Satz, President Emeritus James Stewart Polshek Court Whisman ’06 (AAS) Joan Barenholtz Michael Weiss individuals and companies who have Ann Pyne Chris Barrett provided in-kind support: John Saladino Richard Berman, Under $100 Jane Capellini Peter Sallick in memory of Mario Buatta Donna Baird Krizia Cantres Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill Susan Bush Cheryl Benner Clovis Cavalcanti Alexandra Stoddard Caminiti Associates, Inc. , Michelle Bors Cullman & Kravis Associates, Inc. Calvin Tsao in memory of Utta Kravet Tika Brewer Paul Donzella Bunny Williams Matthew Carter Emily Bringle Gift of the children of Emily Malino Vicente Wolf Merrill Chaus, in memory of Utta Kravet Kathryn Carey Tripp March Herzlia Clain Laura Catlan Susan McPherson Clean Design Joy Cooper Mikkeller NYC Rosemary Cona, Diane De Angelis Richard Mizdal in memory of Utta Kravet Michael De Angelis Jeffrey Phillip The 1916 Society Covington Fabric & Design, LLC, Theresa deCourcelle Kelli C. Potenza in memory of Utta Kravet Lucy Faden NYSID alumni, faculty members, and friends find planned giving a fulfilling way to be part of the future of the Tom Romich Allison Davis Andrea Fahnestock College. Bequests allow for the creation of scholarships and awards that will help students for generations to Ethel Rompilla Francisco De León Samantha Fingleton come, or to recognize NYSID instructors. Others are inspired to provide resources for study in the library or studio, Louisa Ryan Lynde Easterlin Alyson FitzPatrick or for study abroad. Legacy donors like this make up the 1916 Society, named for the year NYSID was founded. Kathryn Schott Joan Enger Aly O’Leary FitzPatrick Union Beer Distributors For information about planned giving contact Joy Cooper, Director of Development, 212-452-4197 Kostas Fakiris, in memory of Utta Kravet Dianne Garda Daniela Vanegas or [email protected]. Karen Figilis Paula Giblin Melissa Guerrero NEXT AT NYSID / Mark Your Calendars

SEPTEMBER 3 SEPTEMBER 5 SEPTEMBER 19 FALL SEMESTER BEGINS EXHIBITION OPENING ALUMNI BREAKFAST The studios and classrooms Join us in the NYSID Gallery at Alumni are invited to breakfast will be humming again as new the opening reception for our in Kravet’s new interactive and returning students turn on fall exhibtion. workspace at 200 Lex to their creative engines and start nysid.edu/events check out a new shopping designing the future. experience. For more details, contact Samantha Fingleton at sfi [email protected].

SEPTEMBER 23 OCTOBER 16 OCTOBER 24 EDUCATED EYE LUNCHEON ALUMNI PARTY DIALOGUES ON DESIGN The Educated Eye luncheon Alumni are invited to a Dialogues on Design gives you inaugurates the Dialogues on special party hosted by The an insider’s view of the industry. Design series. Dennis Scully Shade Store in their midtown Join us for the fi rst conversation introduces speakers Cathy showroom. For more details of the 2019/20 season! Graham and Billy Norwich. contact Samantha Fingleton nysid.edu/dialogues-on-design nysid.edu/dialogues-on-design at sfi [email protected].

FALL SESSION STARTS SEPT 3

NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN nysid.edu/icps INSTITUTE FOR CONTINUING & PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

re-skill up-skill new skill PRACTICALITY MEETS CREATIVITY

“NYSID in Three Words” According to Paula Victoria Edralin Davidsohn ’19 (MFA-1)

Paula’s “three words” capture what makes a NYSID education exceptional. We teach students to face the challenges reality inserts into all design work. They teach us that the sky’s the limit on their ingenuity and creative vision.

In Paula’s own words, “We are taught to withstand the pressure so that we can move past it, laugh and eventually say a quiet thank you, and design with purpose, empathy and commitment.”

Give today and help our students design the future. nysid.edu/make-a-gift 170 East 70 Street New York, NY 10021