Legends may be known for its parties and get-togethers, but this year’s attendees returned raving about the programs and panels. Held this spring at La Cienega Design Quarter, the event drew designers, press and other industry pros together for both celebration and education.

LCDQ Legends 2016 Highlights from LCDQ LA on Vimeo

A trademark highlight of the event was the awaited reveal of designer-decorated windows. Sixty-five designers reimagined the windows of the shops and showrooms of the LCDQ, with a theme of “One of a Kind.” Taking top honors were Jamie Bush and Mark Cutler, who won the Editors’ Choice for Best Window, while Birmingham, Alabama, architect Bill Ingram and Los Angeles designer Estee Stanley were chosen by a national team of social media users for their work at Kristen Buckingham and Laurel & Wolf, respectively, and Viewers’ Choice awards went to Nicole Sassaman and Onik Agaronyan.

Other designers among the 60-plus who transformed windows included Nate Berkus, British designers Nina Campbell and India Hicks, Robert Stilin, designer and author Jay Jeffers, Ellen’s Design Challenge collaborator Jane Hallworth, and Flipping Out star Ryan Brown of L.A.’s Brown Design Group.

In addition to the window reveal, the event hosted panels and programming from participants and speakers including editors Michael Boodro of Elle Decor and Sophie Donelson of House Beautiful; Madeline Stuart, AD100 and Elle Decor A-List interior designer; and social media influencers like Justina Blakeney and Marisa Marcantonio.

In addition to the windows, the event’s co-chair, Robert Willson of Downtown, points out that attendees were particularly interested in learning more about the latest in the field. “My experience of Legends 2016 was the most rewarding of all nine years of the event. In past years, the social events have always been the highlight of the week, but this year the programming and lectures were the first segment to sell out.”

“What this tells me,” continues Wilson, “is that the participants are coming to Legends to be inspired, to network, to shop, and to learn from their peers and the legendary speakers and moderators who create within the courtyards, showrooms and galleries of La Cienega Design Quarter a truly unique event for the design community. Each year, the attendance grows and the increase of participants from across the nation and around the world informs us of our responsibility to continue to improve and adapt the event to the needs of the community.”

Legends Blogger Breakfast, held at Hollyhock

Among that programming: La Cienega Design Quarter’s Legends Council, or TLC, was recently created and honors past and present window designers, panelists and moderators; as part of the council and in collaboration with 1stdibs, the LCDQ introduced a new program called TLC Forums, just for TLC members. The four forum topics for this year included “Mindful Design”; “100 Years Behind the Lens”; “Acquisitional Design” and “Creating a Legacy.”

Co-chair Lee Stanton, of Lee Stanton Antiques, tells EAL, “The Legends event has become one of the most anticipated destination events in the country. Thousands of design professionals and design enthusiasts from across the country and around the world descend upon Los Angeles for the thoughtful and inspiring panel discussions as well as to mingle with industry leaders and editors from all the leading shelter magazines. Planning is already underway for Legends 2017.”

Next year’s Legends will unfold over May 9 to 11.