On September 10, ASID NY Metro hosted Business of Design, a full-day workshop at the Steelcase WorkLife Center. The event was organized to educate students and young designers on the business side of the interior design industry, with panels focused on budgeting, networking, legal questions, and the differences between the commercial and residential design industries. Notable speakers included Phyllis Harbinger, Robin Baron, Drew McGukin, Brad Blythe, Alan Siegel and Rachael Bozsik.

“Coming out of school, there is still so much that we, as young designers, don’t know about the workings of the industry,” says Alex Sobolewski, ASID NY Metro emerging professionals chair and Business of Design organizer. “With this event, I wanted to create an opportunity for us to start opening ourselves up to these important things that we don’t learn in school, but need to know! Through the support of our speakers, sponsors and guests, we were able to learn so much throughout the day, and feel very fortunate that—through ASID—these opportunities are made possible.”

Speakers and lunch-hour sponsors (from left): Filomena Nigro, USGBC NY chapter representative; Phyllis Harbinger, Harbinger Design Consulting; Benjamin Huntington, NCIDQ representative; Suzanne Swift, Save a Sample! representative; Dan Villella, IDLNY president-elect; and Rachael Boszik, The Brand Girls

“Different Perspectives in Design” panelists (from left): Brad Blythe, commercial designer at Spector Group; Drew McGukin, residential designer at Drew McGukin Interiors; Robin Baron, panel moderator and ASID NY Metro president; and Alan Siegel, business and legal expert at Levi Sonet and Siegel LLP

Phyllis Harbinger signs copies of her book The Interior Design Productivity Toolbox. 
 

The “Different Perspectives in Design” panel in action; all images courtesy Matt Carasella