Not unlike the first day of school, Thursday, September 18, will bring all the excitement and anticipation of a fresh design season. With more than 5,000 industry professionals set to attend the annual “What’s New, What’s Next” market day at the New York Design Center (NYDC), showrooms are readying their fall collections and designers are preparing their presentations for over 70 events taking place throughout the building.

Alexa Hampton, Thom Filicia, Windsor Smith

The building will be bustling with designers attending panel discussions, book singings, and product previews. Top editors such as Wendy Goodman, Cindy Allen, Newell Turner, Tori Mellott, Pamela Jaccarino and Michael Boodro, and designers including Thom Filicia, Alexa Hampton, Laura Kirar, Aerin Lauder, Robert Passal and Windsor Smith will be in the house.

“We are proud to present What’s New, What’s Next at the New York Design Center, which continues to offer the most comprehensive view of new product in the interior design industry," said James P. Druckman, President & CEO, New York Design Center. "For the sixth year, this revolutionary event unites top designers, editors and design enthusiasts under one roof, celebrating the present and future of design.”

Watch Marisa Marcantonio interview Wendy Goodman, Clinton Smith, Mat Sanders and Mitch Owens at 'What's New, What's Next' at the New York Design Center (New York, NY, September 2013)

Here’s a look at a selection of events taking place throughout the day:

2:00 p.m. House Beautiful Editor-in-Chief Newell Turner invites designers to the unveiling of Windsor Smith's anticipated ICON collection with Century Furniture. (Century Furniture, Suite 200)

3:00 p.m. Pamela Jaccarino Editor-in-Chief of Luxe Interiors + Design, will host a panel, "Chair Dare," and the big reveal with designers Sam Allen, Anna Burke, Andrew Maier and Jenny Wolf who were challenged to use PALECEK's custom capabilities and Kravet fabrics to create fun, fresh chair designs. Designer chairs will be raffled to attendees following the discussion. (Palacek, Suite 610)

3:15 p.m. Marisa Marcantonio, interior design consultant and Stylebeat Blog creator, will moderate a panel of rising talent who started their own interior design businesses. Juggling new clients and projects with aplomb, designers Lindsey Lane and Eddie Lee will speak candidly, sharing invaluable advice on finding your own design style, how it evolves for clients, and the act of starting and running a company. (Lexington Home Brands, Suite 212)

Watch Marisa Marcantonio interview Victoria Hagan, Bunny Williams, Mario Nievera, Wendell Castle and Amanda Nisbet at 'What's New, What's Next' at the New York Design Center (New York, NY, September 2013)

3:30 p.m. Lonny Executive Editor Irene Edwards will host a fresh, no-holds-barred discussion with three up and coming designers—Jeanine Hays of AphroChic, Samuel Masters and Michelle Smith of Studio MRS—about design staples they love and the flat-out design misses that we should all avoid. Festive cocktails to be served. (Arteriors Home, Suite 608)

4:00 p.m. Editor-in-Chief of New York Spaces magazine, Jason Kontos, will host designers Kerry Delrose, Laura Kirar and David Scott as they explore the evolution of design and offer insights into the mix of periods and cultures. (Baker Knapp & Tubbs, Suite 300)

4:30 p.m. Thom Filicia, in partnership with domino magazine, will celebrate what's new at Sedgwick & Brattle for "Rooms with a View's 20th Anniversary Showhouse." Meet Robert Leleux, the editorial director of domino magazine and Beth Brenner, chief revenue officer of domino, see the new product by Sedgwick & Brattle and celebrate the kickoff of "Rooms With A View," the showhouse that Filicia chairs in Southport, Connecticut. (Sedgwick & Brattle, Suite 815)

4:45 p.m. Dering Hall will present a discussion on the new class of homeowners and interior design clients—millennials, Gen X and Gen Y. Design and practical insights from Carrier & Company and Billy Ceglia Designs will be discussed within the context of The Ipsos Affluent study, the definitive source of information about the lives, lifestyles, spending and media habits of 62.5 million Affluent Americans. (Julian Chichester, Suite 604)

5:00 p.m. Wendy Goodman of New York Magazine will host a discussion on the art and science of light with installation artist Lindsay Packer and architectural lighting expert Leni Schwendinger along with the numerous lighting designers of Dennis Miller Associates. (Dennis Miller Associates, Suite 1210)

Watch Marisa Marcantonio interview Alexa Hampton, Michael Berman, Sarah Richardson and Jon Call at 'What's New, What's Next' at the New York Design Center (New York, NY, September 2013)

5:00 p.m. Currey & Company will host a cocktail reception for the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island's Project Design 2014. Meet interior designers including Suzanne Costa, Brian Patrick Flynn, Philip Gorrivan and Leslie Segretefrom who were part of Phase 1 & Phase 2 of this worthy renovation project, along with Jennifer Nicholson, Director of Special Projects, Ronald McDonald House of Long Island. Donations will be accepted during the event.

5:15 p.m. J. Alexander, fashion icon and TV personality, whose style is consistently termed fabulous, will spark a conversation about the intersection of fashion and design. Interior designers Alexa Hampton and Robert Passal will share their particular points of view about the influence of the runway on modern design. Fashion designers Ginny Hilfiger and Robert Verdi are also on the panel moderated by Quintessence blogger Stacey Bewkes. (John Richard, Suite 603)

6:00 p.m. Architectural Digest Decorative Arts and Antiques Editor Mitchell Owens will introduce artist Hunt Slonem, who will discuss his new book from Assouline, When Art Meets Design. The book offers a view into his fantastically decorated and meticulously restored homes. Slonem will be on hand to sign copies following the presentation. (Profiles, Suite 1211)

6:15 p.m. Interior and product designer Clodagh will join Tucker Robbins in a conversation exploring their practical experience of design as a tool for inspiration, empowerment, and wellbeing. Drawing on their combined 50 years of experience, they will discuss how the pursuit of community development, sustainability, and peace has shaped their numerous collaborations including The Thorn Tree Project, an edible forest, and hotels, spas, and homes in Brazil, the Caribbean, and the USA. (Tucker Robbins, Suite 504)

6:30 p.m. Michael Boodro, Editor-in-Chief of Elle Decor, will host a panel discussion, "Making it Memorable: How to Infuse Personality into Every Room" with interior designers Robert Couturier, Richard Mishaan and Markham Roberts. Book signings to follow. (Cliff Young Ltd., Suite 505)

7:00 p.m. Traditional Home Senior Design + Markets Editor Tori Mellott will host a discussion about incorporating modern touches into spaces to push–but not overstep–the boundaries of traditional design. The panel will feature Chad Graci from Graci Interiors, Katie Lydon and Dana Wolter, all previously selected to Traditional Home's list of New Trad designers.(Grange Furniture, Suite 201)

7:15 p.m. Susanna Salk will moderate a panel including interior designers Sara Gilbane, Gary McBournie, and Amanda Nisbet, who will be speaking about the evolution of current design. After the discussion, Salk will be signing copies of her new book, Decorate Fearlessly! Using Whimsy, Confidence, and a Dash of Surprise to Create Deeply Personal Space. (Niermann Weeks, Suite 905)

Throughout the day, showrooms will host various meet and greets and open houses. Attendees can view the complete interactive event program online, where the website will allow them to plan which presentations to attend, mark their calendars, and view the new product introductions ahead of time.

“What’s New, What’s Next” takes place at the New York Design Center (200 Lexington Avenue, New York City) from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 18. RSVP is required online.