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New Orleans Design Social
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New Orleans Design Social
Nov 20, 2019 | New Orleans
New Orleans Design Social

Last week, 14 of the industry’s most respected boutique brands traveled to Louisiana to be a part of the New Orleans Design Social, a curated multi-brand pop-up for the design trade created to better connect designers with makers. During the one-day event, more than 150 local interior designers were invited to “pop in” to Paul Costello and Sara Ruffin Costello’s restored church off of Magazine Street and meet makers and creatives from Moore & Giles, McKinnon and Harris, The Urban Electric Co., Peter Dunham Textiles, Marika Meyer Textiles, Rule of Three Studio, Alex Conroy Textiles, Gregg Irby Gallery, Woven, Marked NY, J. Samuel Textiles, Ferrick Mason, CW Stockwell and Cristina Buckley.

While shopping the latest collections from these brands, attendees were able to get a glimpse into their creative processes and learn more about their influences and inspirations. Notable attendees included Melissa Rufty, Jane Scott Hodges, Ware Porter, Katie Logan LeblancJensen Killen, Sweet Dupuy, Bill Brockschmidt and Courtney Coleman, and Bunkhouse Group’s Liz Lambert and Bobby Johns, who were in town from Austin, Texas, to oversee work on the Saint Vincent, their new hotel project on Magazine Street.

The day’s highlights included two panels: “Meet the Makers,” moderated by Business of Home and sponsored by the New York Design Center, and an evening panel moderated by Veranda and sponsored by Oldfields Advisors and James Showroom.

Kaitlin Petersen, editor in chief of Business of Home, led a spirited discussion with Alex Mason of Ferrick Mason, Cristina Buckley of Cristina Buckley, Katy Polsby of CW Stockwell, and Paige Cleveland of Rule of Three Studio about their creative processes and how they are keeping their craft alive in a digital age. As part of its sponsorship of the Business of Home panel, the New York Design Center collected business cards from designer attendees to enter to win an exclusive New York Design Experience featuring a day of guided tours and activities, lunch with NYDC president Jim Druckman and an iconic New York designer, and a special evening of design at one of the industry’s top events.

“The New York Design Center is thrilled to announce that the winner of the exclusive New York Design Experience is Boo Randle of Boo Randle Interiors,” said Chelsea Fagan, director of partnerships and events for the NYDC. “We look forward to additional partnerships with the Design Social and are grateful for the opportunity to continue to cultivate some of those new relationships in New York.”

Ellen McGauley, deputy editor of Veranda, took the stage at the close of the event for a lively conversation with interior, furnishings and textile designer Peter Dunham, exploring his unique design journey, and how travel, mentors and inspiration—and a few leaps of faith—can lead to a successful career.

“Part of the magic of the Design Social concept is to focus on emerging markets that are somewhat underserved in terms of design resources,” said Brooks Morrison, vice president of product design and merchandising for Moore & Giles and organizer of the Design Social. ‘These are the communities where there is remarkable opportunity to connect with and better serve designers.” 

The next Design Social will be in Charlotte on March 11 at The Duke Mansion. Birmingham and Charleston are also on the list for 2020, and as momentum gains, Design Social hopes to expand into markets in the Midwest, West and Northwest.

“As our industry becomes more and more digital driven, experiential events like these have never been more important,” said Morrison. “The designer/maker connection is one of the best things about our industry. We inspire one another. We need more opportunities to connect and have meaningful face-to-face conversations to make it all worth it!”

Images courtesy of The Design Social Pop-up.

Designers shopping the New Orleans Design Social
Designers shopping the New Orleans Design Social
Designers shopping the New Orleans Design Social
Moore & Giles’s signature 33 Chairs in Mont Blanc Adriatic welcome New Orleans Design Social attendees.
Moore & Giles’s signature 33 Chairs in Mont Blanc Adriatic welcome New Orleans Design Social attendees.
Moore & Giles’s signature 33 Chairs in Mont Blanc Adriatic welcome New Orleans Design Social attendees.
Peter Dunham and Veranda deputy editor Ellen McGauley take the stage for a lively discussion about design.
Peter Dunham and Veranda deputy editor Ellen McGauley take the stage for a lively discussion about design.
Peter Dunham and Veranda deputy editor Ellen McGauley take the stage for a lively discussion about design.
The scene at the New Orleans Design Social
The scene at the New Orleans Design Social
The scene at the New Orleans Design Social
Liz Lambert, Sophie Aurelio and Bobby Johns of Bunkhouse Group shopping at Rule of Three Studio
Liz Lambert, Sophie Aurelio and Bobby Johns of Bunkhouse Group shopping at Rule of Three Studio
Liz Lambert, Sophie Aurelio and Bobby Johns of Bunkhouse Group shopping at Rule of Three Studio
Liz Lambert and Sophie Aurelio of Bunkhouse Group shopping at Peter Dunham Textiles
Liz Lambert and Sophie Aurelio of Bunkhouse Group shopping at Peter Dunham Textiles
Liz Lambert and Sophie Aurelio of Bunkhouse Group shopping at Peter Dunham Textiles
Brooks Morrison of Moore & Giles with Sara Ruffin Costello and Jane Scott Hodges
Brooks Morrison of Moore & Giles with Sara Ruffin Costello and Jane Scott Hodges
Brooks Morrison of Moore & Giles with Sara Ruffin Costello and Jane Scott Hodges
Designers shopping the New Orleans Design Social
Designers shopping the New Orleans Design Social
Designers shopping the New Orleans Design Social
Katy Polsby of CW Stockwell, Cristina Buckley of Cristina Buckley, Paige Cleveland of Rule of Three Studio, Alex Mason of Ferrick Mason, and Kaitlin Petersen of Business of Home
Katy Polsby of CW Stockwell, Cristina Buckley of Cristina Buckley, Paige Cleveland of Rule of Three Studio, Alex Mason of Ferrick Mason, and Kaitlin Petersen of Business of Home
Katy Polsby of CW Stockwell, Cristina Buckley of Cristina Buckley, Paige Cleveland of Rule of Three Studio, Alex Mason of Ferrick Mason, and Kaitlin Petersen of Business of Home
Katy Polsby of CW Stockwell, Cristina Buckley of Cristina Buckley, Paige Cleveland of Rule of Three Studio, Alex Mason of Ferrick Mason, and Kaitlin Petersen of Business of Home
Katy Polsby of CW Stockwell, Cristina Buckley of Cristina Buckley, Paige Cleveland of Rule of Three Studio, Alex Mason of Ferrick Mason, and Kaitlin Petersen of Business of Home
Katy Polsby of CW Stockwell, Cristina Buckley of Cristina Buckley, Paige Cleveland of Rule of Three Studio, Alex Mason of Ferrick Mason, and Kaitlin Petersen of Business of Home
‘Meet the Makers’ panel, moderated by Kaitlin Petersen of Business of Home
‘Meet the Makers’ panel, moderated by Kaitlin Petersen of Business of Home
‘Meet the Makers’ panel, moderated by Kaitlin Petersen of Business of Home
Paul Costello and Sara Ruffin Costello’s restored church off of Magazine Street was the venue for New Orleans Design Social.
Paul Costello and Sara Ruffin Costello’s restored church off of Magazine Street was the venue for New Orleans Design Social.
Paul Costello and Sara Ruffin Costello’s restored church off of Magazine Street was the venue for New Orleans Design Social.
Designer attendees get Social.
Designer attendees get Social.
Designer attendees get Social.
Jamie Thompson and Rebecca Kim of Marika Meyer Textiles
Jamie Thompson and Rebecca Kim of Marika Meyer Textiles
Jamie Thompson and Rebecca Kim of Marika Meyer Textiles
Amy Harper, Katy Polsby and Lydia Cullen of CW Stockwell
Amy Harper, Katy Polsby and Lydia Cullen of CW Stockwell
Amy Harper, Katy Polsby and Lydia Cullen of CW Stockwell
Textile designer Alex Conroy of Alex Conroy Textiles
Textile designer Alex Conroy of Alex Conroy Textiles
Textile designer Alex Conroy of Alex Conroy Textiles
Peter Dunham in front of his namesake textile collection
Peter Dunham in front of his namesake textile collection
Peter Dunham in front of his namesake textile collection
Paige Cleveland of Rule of Three Studio
Paige Cleveland of Rule of Three Studio
Paige Cleveland of Rule of Three Studio
A close-up of Peter Dunham Textiles
A close-up of Peter Dunham Textiles
A close-up of Peter Dunham Textiles
Sara Ruffin Costello shopping Paige Cleveland’s collection of marbelized silks, leather and wallpaper
Sara Ruffin Costello shopping Paige Cleveland’s collection of marbelized silks, leather and wallpaper
Sara Ruffin Costello shopping Paige Cleveland’s collection of marbelized silks, leather and wallpaper
The participating brands at New Orleans Design Social
The participating brands at New Orleans Design Social
The participating brands at New Orleans Design Social