Paris will be enveloped by more creative energy and style than usual this month, and attention will be lavished not on the outré moves of fashion bloggers, street style documentarians or editors, but to the interiors, products and visionaries shaping what’s next in design. The fifth edition of Paris Design Week will take place September 6-13, and has been extended by a day, coinciding with one of the industry’s most elite fairs, Maison et Objet (September 5-9), to create an eight-day extravaganza of events and emerging talents that captures the global design scene.
Paris Design Week 2013
This year’s theme “sharing" celebrates the event’s founding values, as Paris Design Week is now, more than ever, a bridge between the world of design professionals and the general public. The event stands firm in its goal of making design more accessible, steering clear of intellectualism and preconceived notions, while enhancing the international reputation of Parisian creativity.
Just as the new fall collections reach the stores and buyers and trendsetters from around the world come together in Paris, the general public will also take part in the week’s festivities, including pop-up scenographies and events in more than 120 Paris venues. The work of more than 100 emerging designers from 15 countries will be on display, and parties and evening events will take place in showrooms and participating venues in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Le Marais, Étoile-Opéra, and Les Docks–Cité de la Mode et du Designan.
Work by Charlotte Juillard
A highlight of Paris Design Week each year, the now! le Off satellite show, supports the selection of 100 emerging talents who compete for France’s 2014 RADO STAR PRIZE. This year’s designers—Charlotte Juillard, Tamim Daoudi, Jab Collectif, Marie Deley and Gregory Saraceni, among others—have created furniture, accessories, crafts, textiles and lighting in hopes of taking home France’s 2014 RADO STAR PRIZE (Jury’s Prize) and France’s 2014 RADIO STAR PRIZE (Public’s Prize). The Jury’s Prize will award €5,000 to support creative endeavors, and is chosen by a panel of professional judges chaired by Philippe Nigro.
Work by Jab Collectif
Creating a platform for emerging designers, two all-new sections of the show—Designer Village and Sangmyung University—will present product created by students. The Designer Village will feature four talents, including Adrian Blanc, Benjamin Faure, Roxane Andrès and Aurélie Richard; and Sangmyung University will feature four groups of student design from the Korean university’s art department.
Maison et Objet 2013
Across town, designers and trade professionals will be scouring the halls of the Paris Nord Villepinte to experience the debut of furniture, fabric and accessories from more than 3,000 exhibitors at Maison et Objet. Artistic presentation is a hallmark of the fair, and each stand flaunts its unique style in visual merchandising and set design as brands create theatrical, elaborate spaces for their introductions.
Credenza by Jonathan Adler
New exhibitors this year include Jonathan Adler, Lauren G, Objets Interdits, Wood and Steel, Room 2A, Marapatria, Pieter Adam and Sacict.
Pieces by Tom Dixon
In addition, Maison et Objet has named DK Home, Tom Dixon, Kanem, Best Before, Mackenzie-Childs, Ginger Brown, Axel-Olivier Icard and Mariska Meijers as exhibitors to watch this year.
New this year, Hall 7 of Maison et Objet is now the “Business Lounge,” decorated by Reda Amalou and will be used by guests of the show for cocktail gatherings, cooking demonstrations and exhibits focusing on the digital realm including “Smart Life” by Vincent Gregoire for NellyRodi, “Words” by Elizabeth Leriche and “Experiential” by Francois Bernard.
Paris Design Week is open to the public and takes place at venues throughout the city. Maison et Objet is open to the trade only from Friday, September 5, through Monday, September 8, from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Tuesday, September 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
