Cuban artist Alexandre Arrechea's work explores both public and domestic spaces, looking at power, surveillance, prohibition and subjection. Arrechea's monumental work, Black Sun, was recently projected on the façade of the NASDAQ building in New York's Times Square. "His themes resonate deeply, conveyed through works that seduce with their seemingly playful address" (ArtNexus).
Amir Mohammady
Amir Mohammady (vice president and creative director, Ralph Lauren Media) has been with Ralph Lauren for six years and oversees the creative department of the digital world of Ralph Lauren, including art directors, designers and stylists. As creative director, his role is to ensure the proper representation of the brand across two e-commerce Web sites (RalphLauren.com and Rugby.com) and a multitude of marketing Web sites. Before joining Ralph Lauren, Mohammady was the creative director and co-founder of Seven Design in Paris, working with an exhaustive list of luxury clients.
Amy Flurry
Amy Flurry is a freelance writer, editor and stylist of 15 years with work featured in InStyle, Condé Nast Traveler, Atlanta Peach, O @ Home, The Atlantan and Refinery 29. She served as a regional editor for Lucky magazine for six years and is currently a style correspondent for eBay's online magazine, The Inside Source.
Ashley Abess
Ashley Abess is the business partner of designer Chris Benz. The Miami native's design management background is the yin to Benz's design yang, and the label has been praised for "striking a balance between Benz's own intensely personal visions and the common narrative of any confident woman's life" (Ocean Drive).
Bettina
A supermodel before the word existed, Bettina served as muse and inspiration for several well-known designers, including Balmain, Lucien Lelong, Jacques Fath and Christian Dior. She shared a special relationship with designer Hubert de Givenchy, for whom she worked as a model and press agent. The legendary designer named his first collection after her. She has been photographed by Irving Penn, Richard Avedon and Jean Chevalier.
Brian Bolke
Dallas boutique Forty Five Ten, co-owned by Brian Bolke, is a stunning destination for all things stylish, offering the finest in designer clothing, accessories and collections for the home. Bolke's customers are among the most sophisticated women in the world, including Oprah and Gwyneth Paltrow, and he stocks his boutique with pieces from Givenchy, Lanvin, Alexander McQueen and Alberta Ferretti. Forty Five Ten has been featured in dozens of national style publications, including Vogue, ELLE DECOR, and Town and Country. Designer Doo Ri Chung said, "What Brian and [co-owner] Shelly do is amazing. They care about their customers, and that's why they have longevity" (WWD).
Brian Wolk
Fashion designers Claude Morais and Brian Wolk are the genius behind Ruffian, the line worn by Kirsten Dunst, Cate Blanchett, Kate Moss and Maggie Gyllenhaal. The duo collaborated with Anthropologie to produce Mise en Scene, an exclusive line of clothing and housewares. A recently launched menswear line for Macy's, Threads and Heirs, features casual, modern tops, sweaters, knits and sport jackets in a clean fit. Morais and Wolk design for "an androgynous sensuality and sex appeal of the modern garonne ... all executed with a backward glance at Paris in the Twenties" (WWD).
Britta Riley
Britta Riley is an artist and entrepreneur whose work deals with people, innovation and the environment. Her design firm, Submersible Design, consults with museums and environmental organizations to promote public art participation. In her participatory art practice, which she calls R&D-I-Y (Research-and-develop-it-yourself), she invites people to contribute end-user innovations to an online mass collaboration in an effort to solve big environmental problems. She is the creator of the Windowfarms Project, which encourages people to grow their own food in their apartment windows using hydroponic farming techniques.
Caleb Mulvena
Caleb Mulvena is principal architect at the New York firm Mapos. His Green Depot Light Booth fixture was named "Best New Idea for 2010" by New York Magazine. Mulvena also worked on Louis Vuitton's flagship stores in Paris and New York and the Zegna global concept store in Milan while a senior designer at Peter Marino and Associates.
Cameron Silver
One of Time magazine's "25 Most Influential Names and Faces in Fashion," Cameron Silver is the visionary owner of Decades vintage boutique in Los Angeles, and co-owner of Decadestwo, a contemporary designer consignment boutique. His eye for spotting vintage treasures has led to consulting gigs with luxury brands like Herme`s, Azzaro and Chanel. Silver believes that "stylish women of any age should incorporate vintage into their wardrobe," a maxim that's reflected in his contributions as an expert to Harper's Bazaar UK. He regularly appears on the Style Network and E! Entertainment.
Chris Benz
Designer Chris Benz emerged in the New York fashion scene after winning the CFDA Emerging Designer Award in 2004. Benz began his career as an intern at Marc Jacobs and as a designer of dresses and special occasion items at J.Crew before launching his own line. A favorite among the best dressed, he counts his hometown of Seattle, Washington, as a major influence, and dubbed his latest collection Outward-bound Debutante. The versatile designer's work can be found on the racks of Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue and on the small screen as a part of HBO's hit series How to Make It in America.
Chris Jones
A 20-year veteran of hospitality and real estate, Chris Jones got his start at Jones Lang LaSalle-one of the world's leading real estate and investment firms-and is currently the executive vice president of development design and construction for NYLO Hotels. He oversees the design and development of the NYLO brand and is responsible for the unique look and feel of each property. He has been instrumental in introducing techniques to the hotel industry that enhance design and reduce costs. Prior to joining NYLO, Jones oversaw the development of the $800-million Diplomat Hotels Resort & Spa, a luxury resort in South Florida, for LaSalle Investment Management.
Chris Parachini
Leading the sustainable and "locavore" movements in the Bushwick area of Brooklyn, Chris Parachini built Roberta's restaurant using salvaged, scavenged and sometimes borrowed materials. His rooftop farm supplies produce for the restaurant, and was named one of New York Magazine's "Best New Ideas for 2010." Parachini's projects are a model for sustainable urban design.
Christiane Lemieux
Christiane Lemieux's DwellStudio designs are a direct reflection of her life—graceful, stylish and balanced. Lemieux designed for both Gap and Isaac Mizrahi before founding DwellStudio and growing it to a $20 million-a-year bedding and furniture empire. Her signature use of color and commitment to the highest quality has made Dwell-Studio the go-to supplier for fun and stylish home accessories. Lemieux is an example to everyone who aspires to create a successful design business.
Claude Morais
Fashion designers Claude Morais and Brian Wolk are the genius behind
Ruffian, the line worn by Kirsten Dunst, Cate Blanchett, Kate Moss and
Maggie Gyllenhaal. The duo collaborated with Anthropologie to produce
Mise en Scene, an exclusive line of clothing and housewares. A recently
launched menswear line for Macy's, Threads and Heirs, features casual,
modern tops, sweaters, knits and sport jackets in a clean fit. Morais
and Wolk design for "an androgynous sensuality and sex appeal of the
modern garonne ... all executed with a backward glance at Paris in the
Twenties" (WWD).
Clodagh
Irish designer Clodagh has created interiors and home furnishings and traveled to more than 90 countries in the past 25 years. Recognized as a top interior designer by virtually every leading shelter publication, Clodagh's philosophy that "a space cannot be truly beautiful unless it functions in harmony with who we are" is at the core of her Zen aesthetic. She incorporates feng shui, chromotherapy and sustainable materials in her work, and is a vocal proponent of green design. Her creative philosophy is expressed in her inspirational design books, Total Design and Your Home, Your Sanctuary.
Derek Blasberg
Derek Blasberg has been called "the New York social chronicler," and it's no surprise that he's parlayed his exemplary style and taste into a career in fashion journalism. Blasberg infused his flair for drama and the written word into a stellar compendium of writing credits, including Vogue, Interview and Harper's Bazaar. He currently serves as the editor-at-large of Style.com and news and special projects editor at V and V Man, approaching fashion with his singular sharpened wit and critical eye. His first book, Classy: Exceptional Advice for the Extremely Modern Lady, released in April 2010, is a hilarious handbook for climbing the social ladder with grace.
Derek Lam
Designer and entrepreneur Derek Lam began his fashion career in 1990. After 12 years designing at Michael Kors, Lam launched his eponymous label with his partner Jan-Hendrik Schlottmann. Lam's label features clothes that are luxurious yet wearable, with a feminine but unfussy beauty. The label has grown rapidly since its inception, adding handbags, shoes and eyewear. Lam's abundant recognition within the fashion industry includes the CFDA Perry Ellis-Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent in Womenswear and the Vogue/CFDA Fashion Fund Prize. His work was exhibited at the Kennedy Center and London's Victoria and Albert Museum's exhibit of New York fashion.
Eddie Ross
Eddie Ross began his career in television on Martha Stewart Living, then was an associate decorating editor for House Beautiful, and later senior style editor of Martha Stewart Living. After an appearance on Bravo's Top Design, Ross established Eddie Ross Inc. with his partner, Jaithan Kochar. Their daily blog at eddieross.com offers inspirational tips for entertaining and decorating beautifully and affordably.
Eugene Migliaro
Eugene Migliaro is the director of new business development for Chris Benz and the former senior wholesale manager for Marc Jacobs Collection worldwide sales, where Benz once interned.
Eva Amurri
The muse of fashion designer Chris Benz, actress Eva Amurri has appeared on House, M.D. and Californication as well as on the big screen in The Banger Sisters, Saved and New York, I Love You. Benz considers Amurri "an ageless sophisticate ... a reckless preppy ... who has a quality of being really assertive and really funny, tenacious and a little tomboyish." She will next be seen in 2011's Isolation.
Faythe Levine
Faythe Levine is a prominent figure in the DIY indie craft movement and an artist herself. Her work was featured on HGTV's That's Clever, and inspired her to open Paper Boat Boutique & Gallery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is the founder of the popular Midwest craft fair, Art vs. Craft, and the director and producer of the documentary film Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY Art, Craft and Design.
Fern Mallis
Fern Mallis began her career in fashion after winning Mademoiselle's "Guest Editor" competition and spending several years as a merchandising editor for the magazine. In 1993, as executive director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Mallis helped to create New York's Fashion Week, the city's first centralized showcase of runway collections. The event has grown into the biannual Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, which generates more than $235 million for New York City each season. As senior vice president of IMG Fashion, Mallis is actively involved in the growing portfolio of fashion events around the world including Mumbai, Moscow, Sydney and Berlin.
Fred Castleberry
In creating his style blog Unabashedly Prep more than two years ago, fashion photographer F.E. Castleberry has unwittingly become a pundit of the preppy aesthetic. Splitting the majority of his time between different locations along the East Coast, he has become part of the subculture he initially set out to document. His commercial clients include Ralph Lauren and Norman Hilton, among others. Castleberry has been published in GQ, Women's Wear Daily, The Rake, Matchbook Magazine and in the forthcoming book "Preppy: Cultivating Ivy Style."
Glen Senk
Glen Senk is the director and chief executive officer of Urban Outfitters Inc., which includes six retail brands: Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Free People, Terrain, Leifsdottir and BHLDN. Senk joined Anthropologie in 1994 as president of a single store prototype. Previously in his career, Senk served in leadership roles at Bloomingdale's and the London-based Habitat Group, and Williams-Sonoma. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, computer science and mathematics from New York University and an M.B.A. degree from the University of Chicago. Senk is on the board of directors of Tory Burch LLC, David Yurman and the Vetri Foundation for Children.
Hamish Bowles
Hamish Bowles is synonymous with style. The revered European editor-at-large for Vogue has covered everything from interior design to celebrity profiles, and is a well-known fixture on the front row of the international fashion runway. As a connoisseur of haute couture, he has consulted for such critically acclaimed exhibitions as the Costume Institute Exhibition Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years—Selections from the John F. Kennedy Library Museum. His collection of more than 2,000 pieces of historic fashion from Trigère to Tom Ford are often lent to the the Louvre and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Heather Ross
Illustrator and designer Heather Ross draws upon her own self-described "rural and unsupervised" childhood to create otherworldly designs and illustrations. Her whimsical drawings appear on everything from textiles and clothing to surfboards and stationery, and her book, Weekend Sewing, inspires do-it-yourself attitude with sentimental style. Ross also stays busy with her blog, Weekend by Heather Ross.
Hutton Wilkinson
Hutton Wilkinson apprenticed under famed American designer Tony Duquette before establishing his own interior design firm, and continued to collaborate with Duquette for the next 25 years. The two became business partners in 1994, and as owner, creative director and president of Tony Duquette Inc., Wilkinson continues to design in Duquette's extravagant aesthetic. Following the mantra that "if it's not fabulous, it's meaningless," Wilkinson has created lavish interiors for Doris Duke, Alida Davison Rockefeller, and Saudi Arabian Prince Tarfa Bin Abdul Aziz, among others.
Ira Silverberg
Ira Silverberg is a literary agent and director of foreign rights at Sterling Lord Literistic in New York. Previously, he held positions in book publishing including editor-in-chief of Grove Press, where he acquired Jacqueline Susann's "Valley of the Dolls," "Once is Not Enough," and "The Love Machine" for reissue. He serves on the boards of The New School M.F.A. writing program, The Council of Literary Magazines and Presses, BOMB Magazine and The American Committee of the Jerusalem International Book Fair. He represents style gurus Kate and Andy Spade and Amanda Brooks alongside an array of award-winning writers of literary fiction.
Jada Loveless
Jada Loveless began her career at Celine/LVMH in New York and Drysdale Design Associates in Washington, D.C., before turning her love of vintage jewelry into a burgeoning business. Her exotic animal skin handbags featuring semi-precious stone clasps have been seen in the clutches of Kate Hudson and Candace Bushnell. Loveless' handbag collection has been featured in style bibles like Vogue, Town & Country, and The Atlantan, where she is a contributing fashion editor.
Jaithan Kochar
The co-founder of lifestyle company Eddie Ross Inc., Jaithan Kochar combines business acumen with his art and design background to offer styling services, event production, guided flea market trips, and vintage tabletop and giftware.
Jan-Hendrik Schlottmann
Jan-Hendrik Schlottmann is the CEO of Derek Lam International, a New York-based fashion house he co-founded with his partner, Derek Lam. Schlottmann started his professional career in the fragrance and cosmetics industry, most recently working as a vice president of marketing for the beauty division of the Italian fashion house Prada. He was born in Hamburg, Germany, and has also lived in Italy, Switzerland and France, and in the United States since 1997.
Jaqui Lividini
Jaqui Lividini is an international retail and fashion expert, and was named one of New York Daily News' "100 Most Influential People in the Fashion Industry." Lividini rose through the executive ranks at Saks Fifth Avenue to become senior vice president of fashion merchandising and communications, identifying new design talent and anticipating runway trends for retail. She now runs her own integrated marketing agency, LWP, representing luxury clients such as Coach, MaxMara and Diesel.
Jason Miller
Creative director of contemporary lighting company Roll & Hill, Jason Miller was named an "Avant Guardian" by Surface magazine in 2009 and one of the "Best Breakthrough Designers" by Wallpaper magazine. Before establishing his own design studio, Miller was an art director for Ogilvy & Mather and a designer for Karim Rashid. Miller creates "not art" objects, and "dismisses perfection as a Sisyphean goal, opting instead to make quirky, concept-oriented design" (Dwell).
Jeannette Montgomery Barron
Photographer Jeanette Montgomery Barron's portraits of artists in 1980s New York—including Andy Warhol, Robert Mapplethorpe and Jean-Michel Basquiat—made her famous. Her most recent work, My Mother's Clothes: An Album of Memories, is a more intimate journey. The book began as a project to save her mother’s memory from Alzheimer's and is a stunning catalogue of her mother's vintage designer collection spanning the 1950s through the 1980s. The photos serve as a tribute to the Coca-Cola heiress, her life in Atlanta society, and her fervor for designer fashion.
Jennifer Hyman
You rent DVDs, cars and apartments—why not rent gorgeous gowns? That was Jennifer Hyman's philosophy and the key to her breakthrough new business, Rent the Runway. She and partner Jenny Carter Fleiss believe that designer clothing should not be out of reach. They offer women the opportunity to rent designer clothes at a fraction of their retail cost. The site has signed up more than 100,000 designer clothes-loving members to date. Prior to launching Rent the Runway in 2009, Hyman honed her skills at Starwood Hotels, WeddingChannel.com and IMG.
John Lineweaver
After years of branding experience in renowned advertising agencies such as Young & Rubicam, Hill Holliday and Arnold Communications, John Lineweaver formed Lineweaver Design & Communications in Atlanta. He has designed branding campaigns for everyone from SPANX to Sesame Street and The Atlanta Opera, and most recently he created a stir with his line of Lineweaver stationery, sold in more than 1,000 retail stores nationwide.
Jonathan Olivares
Industrial designer Jonathan Olivares' company, Design Research, provides design services and consultations for clients including Knoll International and Microsoft. Creating innovative products for international corporations such as Danase Milano and Knoll, Olivares' designs "redefine the word versatile" (Metropolitan Home).
Julia Reed
Julia Reed was born in Greenville, Mississippi, and is a contributing editor at Newsweek, where she writes the Food and Drink column, as well as a founding contributor to the women's Web site wowowow.com. She is creative director of taigan.com, a retail Web site that launched in Fall 2009. For 20 years, she served as both senior writer and contributing editor at Vogue. Her profile subjects included George and Laura Bush, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Robert de Niro and Drew Barrymore.
She is the author of The House on First Street: My New Orleans Story; Ham Biscuits, Hostess Gowns, and Other Southern Specialties: An Entertaining Life (with Recipes) and Queen of the Turtle Derby and Other Southern Phenomena.
Keegan Singh
Stylist Keegan Singh is creating looks for innovative editorial shoots in Vogue, Teen Vogue and The New York Times, among others. Known for his sleek, rock-and-roll aesthetic, Singh has been plucked to style advertising for Target, Rock & Republic and Visa, and runway shows for up-and-coming designers such as Jen Kao. Singh also worked in front of the cameras as a model, and learned the styling ropes assisting top stylists like Lori Goldstein, Tabitha Simmons and Camilla Nickerson.
Kelly Cutrone
Fashion publicist Kelly Cutrone is the founder of the public relations, branding and marketing firm People's Revolution with offices in New York, Los Angeles and Paris. She is the star of the Bravo reality TV series Kell on Earth and the author of the book If You Have to Cry Go Outside (and Other Things Your Mother Never Told You). Her PR firm represents dozens of clients, including Vivienne Westwood, Agent Provocateur and Valentino, and has produced dazzling runway shows for Patricia Field and Jeremy Scott, among others. Known for her no-nonsense approach to the fast-paced fashion industry, Cutrone told T: The New York Times Style Magazine, "Even if things are instantaneous, there is still a strategy."
Kelly Framel
Kelly Framel's background in fashion and her work as a stylist make her an ideal curator for her blog theglamourai.com. Framel's pitchperfect taste is reflected in both her fashion commentary and her personal style choices, which are lovingly catalogued in Glamourai's posts. Recently, she began designing jewelry, creating gorgeous and expressive statement necklaces, rings and earrings under the Glamourai moniker. "Because of my blog, I've made like-minded friends all over the world, worked with brands I never thought possible, launched my jewelry line, and redefined my career and role in the fashion world," she said.
Kelly Stinnett
Kelly Stinnett is executive vice president of sales for Chris Benz, for which she coordinates trunk shows and retail placement for the line. Previously, she was sales director for the Michael Kors women's collection.
Kip Kotzen
The founder of brand strategy and design distribution company Neo-Utility, Kip Kotzen's philosophy of function and preservation over decoration has made him a vanguard in design. Kotzen has guided Neo-Utility into a leading firm, creating and facilitating products that offer "practicality and joy." Prior to founding Neo-Utility, Kotzen made his mark at Areaware, Vitra and Eames Office.
Laurie Ann Goldman
Sucking it in and keeping it smooth—that's what Laurie Ann Goldman's groundbreaking company SPANX has made possible. As CEO of the Atlanta-based body-shaping hosiery company, she's transformed the undergarment industry and catapulted SPANX into a multimillion-dollar business. Called a "reflection of power" by Forbes magazine, Goldman has helped grow SPANX into a household name.
Lisa Bishop
Lisa Bishop has been the executive director of the Jacqueline Susann Archive for more than 25 years. She has preserved the authenticity of Jackie's work while keeping it relevant in contemporary life. In her career, Bishop has produced and written for theater, film and television. Her love of design began in the theater, and she founded the esteemed Circle West theater company. Bishop was honored at the United Nations for her work with Operation Smile and continues her dedicated efforts on behalf of Wildlife Waystation, Aid for AIDS, Painters Without Walls and The Actors Fund.
Lisa Perry
Lisa Perry is a passionate collector of vintage couture fashion from the late 1960s and early 1970s. She operates a retail location on Madison Avenue in New York City that sells her clothing collection as well as shoes, accessories and home products. Her business idea sprang from people's positive reaction to Perry's own style. Today her creations are chic, elegant and colorful. The garments are inspired by the late 1960s era, but adapt styles for contemporary wearers.
Matt Trainor
Matt Trainor (editor in chief, Ralph Lauren Media) serves as the head of the editorial and copy departments, overseeing a team of writers and editors. In addition to crafting the online "voice" of the company across both e-commerce Web sites and all marketing Web sites, his team also creates the Ralph Lauren Style Guides and Ralph Lauren Magazine. Trainor began his career at Vanity Fair before joining the launch team of Cargo magazine and then moving on to Departures Magazine. Trainor has also been an on-air correspondent for NBC's Today Show and host of a weekly radio program on WOR Radio.
Michael Schmidt
Costume designer Michael Schmidt is known for creating costumes and accessories for a star-studded client list that includes Madonna and Lady Gaga. Many of his extraordinary pieces are on permanent display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In addition to his celebrity commissions, Schmidt designed an exclusive collection of accessories, clothing and furniture for Chrome Hearts. His forays into interior design have included the much-buzzed-about VIP room of the Palladium nightclub in New York and the hotel lobby of the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs.
Mychael Knight
Atlanta-based fashion designer Mychael Knight creates garments with a provocative aesthetic worn by Queen Latifah and Jennifer Hudson. After turning heads on Bravo's Project Runway, Knight launched his clothing label on BET's Rip the Runway, designed a line of custom tees for Starbucks, and has since launched his own fragrance, MajK, and a lingerie line.
Nathan Copan
Nathan Copan (art director, Ralph Lauren Media) joined Ralph Lauren Media two years ago as an art director and has since become an integral part of the brand's multimedia online presence. Serving alternately as a photographer, videographer, director and producer (and sometimes all at once), Copan works to bring the world of Ralph Lauren to life online. Before joining Ralph Lauren, Copan was at Radical Media, where he worked on branded entertainment projects. Prior to that, he was at Ernest Industries.
Nick Olsen
Designing stylish interiors on a budget is Nick Olsen's forte and one he shares in his blog, "Decorating for the Next Great Depression." Before striking out on his own, Olsen was an assistant to designer Miles Redd and wrote the "Deal Hunter" blog for Domino magazine. Olsen's philosophy is, "If I can't afford what I want, I'll make it or fake it myself." He also writes the blog "Nick's Dream House" for Slate, where he muses on design deals, DIY tips, and design dos and don'ts.
Nicole Phelps
Nicole Phelps is the executive editor of Vogue's Style.com and an expert on fashion trends. In her book, Ruffian, Inside Out (Assouline, 2009), she chronicles her experiences following designers Brian Wolk and Claude Morais through their creative process—from sketching in the studio to final New York runway preparations. Phelps honed an inimitable eye for global fashion trends as fashion news editor for ELLE magazine, accessories market editor for W magazine, and sportswear market editor for WWD.
Nina Kummelstedt
Swedish architect Nina Kummelstedt is the owner of the Stockholm-based architecture firm Nina Kummelstedt Ltd. She has designed several major fragrance and fashion-related spaces, including the Nina Ricci flagship store on Paris' Champs-Elysees. She is in the process of developing a furniture line rooted in fine Scandinavian craftsmanship and influenced by her international travels.
Paula Wallace
Paula Wallace, president and chief creative officer of SCAD, loves porches. In this lecture, come hear her share stories and style ideas from her favorite outdoor living spaces around the country, including a few porches right here at SCAD.
Rita Konig
Domestic diva and author Rita Konig has a way of creating spaces that are stylishly inviting. In her blog for T: The New York Times Style Magazine, "Inside Out," the New York-based style writer and interior designer offers ideas for creating moments of perfection in an otherwise chaotic world. Author of the books Domestic Bliss and Rita's Culinary Trickery, Konig has also written for British Vogue, The Telegraph and Domino.
Robert Klanten
Witnessing the end of the first decade in the new millennium, we can see that design is strongly being shaped and influenced by three main undercurrents—digitalization, materialization and self-identity—across all design disciplines, including graphic design, product design and architecture. Founder and publisher of Gestalten—the company best known for the more than 350 books they have published that document and anticipate vital design movements—Robert Klanten will illustrate how these undercurrents are driving product and furniture designers today and will identify the various typologies: modernists, taletellers, inventors and entertainers.
Robert Rufino
The senior editor-at-large for House Beautiful, Robert Rufino is the former vice president of creative services for Tiffany & Co., whose global image he made known throughout the world. His career began at Henri Bendel, and he has more than 30 years of experience in visual merchandising, display and creative direction at publications including Harper's Bazaar, The New York Times and ELLE.
Roland van Kralingen
Internationally renowned marketing and brand management guru Roland van Kralingen is the co-founder of one of Europe's top consulting firms, INNOA, based in Amsterdam. INNOA helps clients grow through innovation management and connects companies like Nissan and Beiersdorf with their markets. A member of the international board of directors for TBWA, he is the founder of several TBWA offices worldwide. He is the author of a number of groundbreaking marketing and branding books, including Superbrands, Make Dust or Eat Dust and The Growth Engine.
Sally Brunger
Iconic cover girl of the '80s, Sally Randall Brunger and her husband, Andrew, used their enterprising spirit to create Köl—a line of high-end bath products. They went on to develop The Brungers in 2008, a luxe line of limited selection alpaca and pima cotton knitwear and handmade accessories from Peru. The Brungers is composed of colorful tailored pieces with fine detailing, ideal for the modern urban dandy. Brunger is also the creative director of Holsted Marketing.
Scott Schuman
Known simply as "The Sartorialist," Scott Schuman started the eponymous blog in 2005 and soon shot to prominence as one of the first street style photographers and bloggers. His work has been featured in GQ, Vogue Italia, Vogue Paris and Interview. His advertising clients include Burberry, DKNY Jeans, Gant, Holt Renfrew and Absolut. The New York Times has called his blog "the bellwether American site that turned photo blogging into an art form."
Sid Mashburn
Style concierge Sid Mashburn's men's store is a reflection of his personal style: an unexpected mix of only the best. The modern haberdashery stocks carefully selected apparel and accessories as well as Mashburn's own label. His impressively vast knowledge of menswear is derived from his experience as a design director for J.Crew, and design stints at Ralph Lauren, Lands' End and Tommy Hilfiger.
Stephane Dupoux
French designer Stephane Dupoux is the founder of Dupoux Design, a
full-service architecture and design firm that has designed countless
standout properties, including Gansevoort Beach Club and Buddha Bar New
York. Dupoux believes in incorporating nature into his work, and has
done so for properties around the world. His innovative designs have
won several industry awards, including Best Interior Design from the
Club World Awards for his work with Cielo.
Suzanne Kasler
Suzanne Kasler is an award-winning, Atlanta-based interior designer known for her clean lines, elegant rooms and love of all things French. Her work has been featured in several premier design magazines, including Architectural Digest, ELLE DECOR and Southern Accents, and Kasler was twice named one of the "Top 100 Designers" by House Beautiful.
Thom Filicia
Thom Filicia is credited with helping to bring good design into America's living rooms—first as a design guru on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and more recently as the host of the Style Network's highly acclaimed Dress My Nest—all while running his successful interior design firm, Thom Filicia Inc. He recently collaborated with Pier 1 on a retail home collection and somehow finds time to design for celebrity clients like Jennifer Lopez and major corporate accounts, such as W Hotels. Filicia remains committed to keeping design down-to-earth and budget-friendly.
Vanessa Bertozzi
One of Etsy's first employees, Vanessa Bertozzi is director of communications for Etsy.com, the Internet marketplace for all things crafty. There, she runs Etsy's blog, Storque, developing content relating to the handmade lifestyle, and coordinates events that highlight the Etsy community of artisans.
Victoria Bartlett
Designer Victoria Bartlett's line, VPL (Visible Panty Line), is sold in Barneys New York and Scoop, and is worn by Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Aniston and Victoria Beckham. Bartlett's career started at H&M, and she served as an editor of Allure and fashion director for Interview magazine before launching her own line of undergarments. Her clever designs have been featured in Fall/Winter 2010 Fashion Week, WWD and The New York Times, which said of her work, "Bartlett takes a different tack, making underwear that could easily double as a sporty ensemble, provided you are going to a terribly chic yoga class."
Waris Ahluwalia
Designer and actor Waris Ahluwalia is strongly influenced by the romance and history of ancient kingdoms. His HOUSE of WARIS jewels, which are coveted by fashion icons and sold at the finest boutiques, bring together old world techniques from India and Italy to hatch marvelously modern designs. In 2009, Waris was nominated for the extremely competitive Vogue/CFDA Fashion Fund and later awarded a CFDA/NYCEDC Fashion Incubator grant.
Whitney Robinson
As the executive director of the Jacqueline Susann Archive, Whitney Robinson has brought Jacqueline Susann, one of the most successful writers in the history of American publishing, to a new generation of readers and viewers. Along with partner Lisa Bishop, Robinson created Jacqueline Susann's official website, JacquelineSusann.com, as well as Susann Facebook and Twitter social media websites. Currently, Robinson is senior editor at "Town & Country" magazine, where he oversees design, lifestyle and home coverage.
