Event Attracted Crowd of Talented Design Professionals from Tri-State Area ≈
The New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) held its 2018 Design Symposium & Industry Trade Show at Jersey City’s Liberty Science Center on Wednesday, September 12. Themed Design I T: Design, It’s in Our DNA, the stimulating day-long event was attended by a range of chapter members and other interior designers, architects, design students, media and industry partners.
The morning began with a choice of two out of four informative CEUs:
- Moen: The Latest in Shower Design and Technology
- Steelcase: Wellness and the Visual Environment
- Steelcase: Speech, Privacy and Sound Masking
- Phyllis Harbinger: Getting Organized and Streamlining your Workflow
Then, the Keynote Luncheon featured award-winning interior designer Ghislaine Viñas, who was born in the Netherlands and raised in South Africa. She spoke about her path to the profession and how she creates happiness for her clients in bold and colorful ways that draw upon her international background.
The trade show floor with resources from every segment of the industry was on the agenda from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and proved very productive for both attendees and exhibitors.
Following, attendees experienced “Wonders of the Night Sky” in the newest and largest planetarium in our hemisphere. Last but not least, attendees ended the day by celebrating with the Meant To Be jazz ensemble, a Steinway SPIRIO and refreshments.
Blackman®, one of the Northeast’s largest distributors of luxury fixtures and so much more, with over 20 locations throughout New York, New Jersey and Florida, was the Platinum event sponsor. Porcelanosa, a global leader in the innovation, design, manufacture and distribution of tile, kitchen and bath products, was the Gold event sponsor. Media sponsors included Design NJ: New Jersey’s Home and Design Magazine Aspire Design and Homeand Design NJ: New Jersey’s Home and Design Magazine.
“Design I T: It’s in Our DNA allowed attendees to gain new insights in the field of design, cultivate new relationships and discover new products and resources in a stimulating, interactive environment,” said Holly George, President of the New Jersey Chapter of ASID. “It was also a great opportunity for our Industry Partners and others to exhibit their latest innovations to a receptive audience and gain visibility and strengthen connections with the design community.”
Francesca Messina, Blackman Marketing Manager, echoed that sentiment, “Everyone at Blackman was eager to once again work with ASID and participating industry members. I and my team greatly value the relationships we have made and look forward to our continued partnership with the organization.”
“Porcelanosa is always striving to stay ahead of the industry in design and innovation and the ASID NJ Trade Show is the perfect forum for us to showcase our newest product line,” concluded Donna Levy, Porcelanosa Sales Manager. “We value our relationships; the trade show gives us the opportunity to reach out to new designers and at the same time interact with those already familiar with our company.”
Key players in the success of the ASID NJ Chapter 2018 Design Symposium and Industry Trade Show, from left to right, Charles Sachs, co-chair, Keynote Speaker designer Ghislaine Viñas; Holly George, co-chair and ASID NJ President-elect; Joan Ravasy, ASID NJ President; Kaitlyn Isola, Marketing Specialist from Blackman, the Platinum chapter sponsor, and Donna Levy, Sales Manager for Porcelanosa, the Gold chapter sponsor.
About ASID
The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) believes that design transforms lives. ASID serves the full range of the interior design profession and practice through the Society’s programs, networks, and advocacy. We thrive on the strength of cross-functional and interdisciplinary relationships among designers of all specialties, including workplace, healthcare, retail and hospitality, education, institutional, and residential. We lead interior designers in shared conversations around topics that matter: from evidence-based and humancentric design to social responsibility, well-being, and sustainability. We showcase the impact of design on the human experience and the value interior designers provide. ASID was founded 40 years ago when two organizations became one, but its legacy dates back to the early 1930s. As we celebrate nearly 85 years of industry leadership, we are leading the future of interior design, continuing to integrate the advantages of local connections with national reach, of small firms with big, and of the places we live with the places we work, play, and heal. Learn more at asid.org.