It seems the 10th edition of Design Miami/, which saw a 12 percent increase in attendance since its founding a decade ago—making for a total of 350,000 attendees—was the most exhibitor-packed and visually stimulating show of the design marketplace thus far. It also saw the launch of the inaugural Design Visionary award and the unveiling of a new program, Design Curio.
Peter Marino
Peter Marino received the introductory Design Visionary award, which celebrates individuals who have significantly contributed to the field of design. Marino kicked-off proceedings with an exclusive talk led by Architectural Digest's Margaret Russell. He presented works from his collection in a leather-clad exhibition display, and participated in a standing room-only Design Talk.
Peter Marino exhibition in honor of his award
Highlights of the Design Talks program included an exploration of the work championed by 1980s fire-brand design gallery Art et Industrie; David Adjaye and Theaster Gates discussing their future Chicago projects and social equity with Joseph Grima and Sarah Herda; and a conversation with the practice of Olson Kundig Architects, creators of this year’s Collectors Lounge, 38 Beams.
Design Curio
Design Curio, essentially a series of curiosity cabinets offering immersive environments that go beyond the traditional scope of the fair, also made its debut. The exhibition featured a shrunken architectural masterpiece, a space dictated by coolly regular grids and another dominated by the Memphis Group’s pop geometries.
Design Miami/ exterior exhibition
The 35 galleries selected for 2014's event—designers and design retailers from as far as South Korea, Lebanon and South Africa and, for the first time, from as near as Miami’s own Wynwood art district—each came with a distinctive vision and curated displays featuring the best in collectible design.
Design Miami/ also enjoyed a visible increase in Latin American design, with pieces by Lina Bo Bardi and Joaquim Tenreiro at R & Company, Hechizoo and Sebastian Errazuriz at Cristina Grajales Gallery and the Campana Brothers at Galleria O.
Zaha Hadid display at Design Miami/
Notable visitors included architects Zaha Hadid and David Adjaye, artists Marina Abramovic and Trevor Paglen, magazine editors Glenda Bailey and Margaret Russell, and hotelier André Belazs—not to mention model Elle MacPherson and actors Owen Wilson and Jane Fonda.
Representatives of 49 major international museums—including MoMA, the Design Museum in London, SFMoMA, the Metropolitan Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires—were also in attendance.
For more information on Design Miami/, visit the website. The next edition will take place June 16 – 21 in Basel, Switzerland.
