“It is only when we realize that life is taking us nowhere that it begins to have meaning.” – P.D. Ouspensky
From Novità Communications:
As we become more accustomed to our new normal, we continue to be amazed by all the heartwarming and innovative things our clients, friends and communities are doing to give back and create moments of joy!
Don’t forget to check out our BE WELL series on IGTV and YouTube – this week mixologist Nicole Kanev, founder of Inspired Curated Cocktails shakes up some soothing cocktails, sharing tips for infusing bourbon with chamomile and how to make antioxidant-rich blueberry honey, YUM!
#DesignStandsTogether
Helping Hands
AMEICO Lends A Helping Hand to Small Business Partnerships With New Affiliate Program Initiative
AMEICO, a distributor of modern design, is supporting their retail partners across the country through a newly launched profit-sharing Affiliate Program to help the partners. All retailers that do not have an e-commerce presence can sign up for this free program and receive 35% of the profits of goods purchased through the Ameico website. Retailers get their own landing page and link to share with their customer base to shop on AMEICO’s website. [Princeton Art Museum Example]
Standard Issue Develops Open Source Mask for All
Brooklyn-based design consultancy Standard Issue has created One Mask, an open-source design for a face mask that can be produced quickly and inexpensively on a large scale by any organization with access to automated cutting and seaming technology (CNC). One Mask is designed to use as few materials, parts and steps as possible and, though not medical-grade rated, it is intended for use by the public following CDC recommendations. [Learn More & Download the Design]
Design Industry & Beloved Bar Basso Supports Milan with GoFundMe
This fundraiser, started by designers Todd Bracher, Joe Doucet and Marc Thorpe, was originally set up to support Bar Basso, the beloved Milanese bar known for its Negroni Sbagliato and well-known industry haunt during Salone del Mobile. Maurizio, the owner of the bar, has requested all proceeds go to the Opera San Francesco, a Milanese organization that has been taking care of the needy for over 60 years. They offer 200 meals a day for both lunch and dinner, provide comfort and showers, and try to improve quality of life. And, above all, they have a very efficient free clinic that supports up to 140 patients a day. [Learn More & Donate]
Working Smarter
WFH Serenity: Room & Board’s Chic Accessories Layer in Comfort
Increasing physical comfort is more important than ever. Creating visual interest and layering interiors with soft textures, luscious throw rugs, soothing colors, and inspiring accessories can instill a sense of comfort and boost your mood. Going multidimensional can spark joy – think Room & Board’s sheep skins, lumbar pillows, throw blankets, handcrafted mugs, cork storage boxes, picture frames of loved ones, and colorful rugs which help define space (not to mention provide an acoustic boost when you and your spouse are on competing conference calls!) [View Comfort Products]
ASID’s New Video Series Empowers Interior Designers, Showcases their Value
As part of their mission to educate the world on the impact of design, ASID is proud to announce a new, three-part video series, created in collaboration with the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ). These videos are a helpful tool to showcase the value of the interior design profession and empower professionals as they work with clients, policymakers, and their community. [Watch Here]
How To Create an Effortlessly Flexible Workstation with HBF
How do we ensure that our home offices are both flexible and functional – now and in the future? HBF offers designs that are both timeless and adaptable – with pieces that accommodate a designated home office (like their multi-functional, beautiful Simple Writing Desk) or minimal designs that fit in as a necessary addition to the living room (their Link Satellite table seamlessly works as a laptop station from the couch!) [Ideas Here]
Living Well
Humanscale Honored by World Changing Ideas Awards
Each year, the World Changing Ideas awards, presented by Fast Company, honor remarkable companies & initiatives that are influencing positive change for the good of society and the planet. While we’re all navigating hardship and challenges at this time, this list of change makers will undoubtedly play a role in building a healthier, better world in the wake of this pandemic. Humanscale has been recognized for the second time, this year in the Art & Design Category, for its program, Design with the Environment in Mind, which integrates sustainability into every facet of product development, ensuring that each design’s lifespan has a net positive impact.
Breathe Deep: Quick Tips for Relieving Stress in 5 Minutes
Dr. Matt Lyon explores the power of breath on the Novità BE WELL series. Take five minutes to learn some important breathwork exercises to help de-stress, re-structure and find balance in your day-to-day routine with @dr.mattlyon, Doctor of Chiropractic, an Acupuncturist, and Master of Eastern Medicine. [Watch Video]
Virtual Events
NeoCon Announces New Digital Hub: NeoConnect 2020
Plans are underway to unite the commercial interiors industry this June through a resource and content rich interactive online platform. On June 1, NeoCon will launch NeoConnect 2020: a series of online resources, programming, and events, hosted on neocon.com and designed to virtually connect the NeoCon community. [Learn More]
DIFFA Announces #DiningforDIFFA Design Challenge Winner
Inspired by DIFFA’s signature annual fundraiser which has always showcased creative dining vignettes from New York’s most talented designers, the Dining for DIFFA Design Challenge encouraged everyone at home to share their own dining space, whether it’s a special dining setting or a casual meal al fresco, to see how you celebrate life at home with the best styled tablescapes. A jury of design professionals voted on the top design, and the winner, Michael Tavano, was announced on May 1. [View winning tablescape and finalists here]
Fisher & Paykel Launches #FPSocialKitchen Instagram LIVE
Fisher & Paykel launched their IG Live #FPSocialKitchen series on April 30 with 3 chefs cooking 3 meals across 3 time zones. Beginning in Boston for Breakfast with Chef Michael Scelfo at 10AM EST, heading over to Los Angeles for Lunch with Chef Ludo Lefebvre at 1PM PST and to Auckland, New Zealand for Dinner with Chef Peter Gordon at 7PM NZST, each chef shared a favorite recipe using simple + staple ingredients. Meant to be lively, interactive and creative, we encourage you to follow Fisher & Paykel on Instagram for the most up-to-date announcements regarding these Instagram Live events![#FPSocialKitchen] || [@fisherpaykel]
Poltrona Frau Hosts Design Talks of the Future
For the third conversation in this new series, Nicola Coropulis, CEO of Poltrona Frau, spoke with leading designer, Roberto Lazzeroni. The pair discussed what’s on the horizon for design from trends to broader lifestyle changes underway in the wake of Covid-19. This conversation aired on Poltrona Frau’s Instagram on April 30. Last week’s talk with architect and designer, Roberto Palmoba may be viewed here.