Our daily look at the world through the lens of design.
December 06, 2023
The Design Dispatch offers expertly written and essential news from the design world crafted by our dedicated team. Think of it as your cheat sheet for the day in design delivered to your inbox before you’ve had your coffee. Subscribe now.
Have a news story our readers need to see? Submit it here
Droopy Pink Fabric Covers a Miami Design District Building
Andrés Reisinger is the type of artist whose work demands double takes, from the oasis-like dreamworlds that secured the graphic designer viral Instagram fame to the petal-clad chair he rendered digitally—and then physically—after a follower asked him to make one. That task, it turns out, ended up forecasting how the Barcelona-based talent would spend his next few years as he learned how to fuse digital and physical realms in intriguing new ways. Earlier this year, he unveiled a series of hyperreal virtual art installations that drape his theatrical fluffy, bouncy pink forms over landmarks in London, Paris, Rome, New York City, and Tokyo. As soon as he posted them, inquiries about when, where, and how to see the interventions flooded his inbox.
Once relegated to the Instagram grid, his monumental “Take Overs” can now be experienced in real life during Miami Art Week. He’ll drape an entire Miami Design District building (78 E 39th St) with ballooning pink fabric that injects unexpected verve into a neighborhood already noted for its architectural flair. “The street and building are the perfect representation of everything that contemporary Miami is: vibrant, modern, welcoming, and infused with creative possibilities,” Reisinger says, noting how his signature pink shade aims to spark feelings of universality and shared human experience. “To me, anything that forms an experience is real.” —Ryan Waddoups
Studio Gang unveils visuals for the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival’s new theater.
Studio Gang has unveiled visuals for a new theater for the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival (HVSF) in Garrison, New York, which aims to be the country’s first purpose-built LEED Platinum theater. Covering more than 13,800 square feet, the building will serve as HVSF’s permanent home and will emphasize sustainability and social engagement. The theater’s architecture integrates with the surrounding landscape, offering flexibility to actors and scenic views of the Hudson River and Breakneck Ridge, while also including outdoor spaces designed for biodiversity and reduced resource use. Construction is scheduled to kick off in 2024, aligning with HVSF’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality for the campus by 2040.
Qatar Museums has unveiled the inaugural Design Doha, a biennial event slated for February 24–28 in the Doha Design District. More than 100 designers from the Middle East and North African region will participate, spanning various fields from architecture and urbanism to graphic design, textiles, and more. International designers like Choi Byung Hoon and Joris Laarman will also contribute, with permanent installations planned at the National Museum of Qatar and Doha Design District. The program’s centerpiece, Arab Design Now, will spotlight 70 Arab designers, emphasizing a blend of contemporary and regional design elements. Additionally, Design Doha will host exhibitions, talks, and open calls for submissions to celebrate Arab creatives and foster innovation in the region’s design community.
The Pacific Northwest is renowned for its vast forests and has a rich history in the lumber industry. ZGF’s scheme for the Portland International Airport, which has been named “America’s Best Airport,” incorporates mass timber in a stunning new terminal. Using locally sourced materials from Oregon and Washington State forests, including glulam beams and mass plywood panels, the terminal showcases the beauty of timber with sinuous wood-lined ceilings, skylights, and y-shaped timber columns, all while flooding the interior with natural light. The project not only exemplifies material responsibility but also raises the bar for large-scale infrastructure projects by combining aesthetics and sustainability through mass timber.
Phillips is close to finalizing an agreement to sell more than 200 artworks previously owned by Lisa Schiff, the art advisor facing fraud allegations. Pending court approval, these artworks, featuring pieces Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, and Richard Prince, will be auctioned in multiple sales planned for 2024. Schiff, who faced lawsuits from clients and creditors, including American Express, previously liquidated her advisory firm and sold some artworks and assets to repay debts. The proposed auctions are set to begin with an online design auction in February and conclude with a sale in December 2024, potentially generating up to $1.5 million in revenue.
Jonathan Anderson has been named Designer of the Year at the annual Fashion Awards.
The Fashion Awards at the Royal Albert Hall celebrated outstanding talents in the fashion world. Notable winners included Jonathan Anderson, who received the Designer of the Year award for his work with JW Anderson and Loewe. Sarah Burton, known for her tenure at Alexander McQueen, was honored with a Special Recognition Award. British Womenswear Designer of the Year went to Maximilian Davis for Ferragamo, while Martine Rose claimed British Menswear Designer of the Year. Paloma Elsesser made history as the Model of the Year, marking a significant moment for size inclusivity in fashion.
Here’s how Dyson’s vacuums and home electronics became status symbols.
The Oxford English Dictionary officially names “rizz” as the word of the year.
Catalonian artist Alicia Framis becomes the first woman to marry a hologram.
This group of hikers hauls heavy, framed paintings up Griffith Park’s trails.
Previous Next