Headlining at 12:00 p.m. on Monday is the first NYICS celebrity keynote speaker, designer Jonathan Adler. He will be sharing his design odyssey from production potter to lifestyle brand. Adler's talk underscores this year's show theme of highlighting the process behind the product and the value of artisan goods in the luxury home furnishings market.
Elle Decor returns at 11:00 a.m. with one of last year's most attended events, the Elle Decor Panel Discussion, which has been expanded to include four panelists: Elisabeth Parker, vice president, Christie's, Paul Mello, senior vice president, Fort Street Studio, Joseph Carini , creative director, Joseph Carini Carpets, and David Scott, principal, David Scott Interiors.
New this year is a 1:00 p.m. panel discussion featuring luxury market researcher/author Pam Danziger and Pantone color expert Laurie Pressman. Entitled "Trend Insights: What Consumers Are Looking for Now," the panel will delve into the luxury mindset, lifestyle influences and the living environments.
Rounding out Designer Day, Houzz presents the 2:00 p.m. workshop "How to Differentiate Your Brand in the Digital Age" delivered by Lauren Gold. Attendees will learn how to reach empowered clients, tangible tips for online branding such as storytelling and photography, and best practices from professionals who have transformed their businesses.
This year's addition of the Antique Pavilion offers educational opportunities to learn about one-of-a-kind products and the rich storytelling that may be shared with consumers. Two lectures are scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016:
Hratch Kozibeyokian was born in Syria to a family with a rich tradition of weaving craftsmanship. He immigrated to the U.S. where he attended college, established an award-winning carpet restoration business and rug gallery, and has published papers and spoken at several high-profile events including a congressional press conference at the White House Visitor's Center. At NYICS, Kozibeyokian will speak on the origins and history of common Indo-European symbols in his lecture titled "The Wheel of Eternity."
The second lecture on Sunday will be "Love or Hate? Meifu Head Cloths with Writing, China," by Lee Chinalai. Chinalai received a Rockefeller Foundation residency to study yantra, mystical writing and drawing on cloth from Burma and Thailand. She attended graduate school in Asian Studies at UC, Berkeley, and has authored and co-authored a number of articles. She has spoken about textiles for various museum groups, the Hajji Babas in NYC, and at several Textile Society of America symposiums.