Highlighting Achievements in Educational Programming, U.S. CBP, and Growth in Support
The non-profit organization, Be Original Americas, is making great strides aimed at educating the design industry and consumers on the importance of original design. Founded in 2012, the organization works to inform, influence, and educated on the value of authentic design while investing in its future.
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Gensler
Gensler, the global architecture, design, and planning firm with 44 locations and more than 5,000 professionals internationally, has joined the organization in championing original design and will serve as a board member in 2018 and 2019. âThe addition of the largest design and architecture firm in our industry will hopefully encourage more end users â and more design firms â to show thought leadership in the fight against counterfeit furnishingsâ, stated John Edelman, CEO, Design Within Reach, and incoming President of Be Original Americas.
Student Design Fellowship
Investing in the future of design is deeply rooted in Be Original Americas mission. The organization is launching the third annual Be Original Americas Student Design Fellowship. The immersive, seven-week program introduces two undergraduate students to all facets of creating innovative, high-quality products through hands-on, in-the-field learning. Applications are currently open until March 12, 2018 through www.beoriginalamericas.com/fellowship.
The program will run June 11-July 31, 2018, during which the fellows will visit member companies in nine cities throughout seven states. Adding West Coast firms for this edition, participating member companies for the 2018 program include:
North East
2×4
Carnegie
Design Within Reach
Emeco
Flavor Paper
Michael Graves Architecture & Design
Niche Modern
Rich Brilliant Willing
Sarkos
Midwest
Herman Miller
South East
Bernhardt Design
Skram
West Coast
Council Inc
Laura Guido-Clark
Pablo Designs
Studio O+A
United States Customs & Border Protection
Be Original Americas and several of its member companies continue to work closely with the United States Customs and Border Protection to help train officers and stifle the flow of knockoffs entering the country. With the help of the organization, the US CBP was able to seize tens of millions of dollars of counterfeit furnishings in 2017. Herman Miller alone saw 47 containers seized in the past 18 months, with goods totaling over $17 million.
Continuing Education Unit (CEU)
Working to make a difference in the industry, Be Original Americas developed a CEU course in 2015, approved by AIA and IDCEC, for architects and interior designers. In 2018, the course will be revised to include advancements in the industry. The course will be provided through webinars, in addition to in-person presentations. The course examines the nature of creativity and innovation, uncovers counterfeitsâ impact on us all, reviews the costs of engaging in the trade of counterfeit design, and illustrates supporting an entire creative ecosystem.
2018 Events
Each year Be Original Americas organizes an aggressive program of panel discussions, in addition to CEU events. In 2018, the group with hold a series of town hall meetings in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago for members and industry professionals in the area. The organization will be speaking at several leading trade shows and industry events, including WantedDesign in New York, Metrocon in Dallas, and Design Week Mexico in Mexico City.
Board, Officers, and Committees
2018 Officers of Be Original Americas include:
⢠President: John Edelman, Design Within Reach
⢠Vice President: Coleman Gutshall, Bernhardt Design
⢠Treasurer: Karolina Dabo, Fritz Hansen
⢠Secretary: Anthony Lebron, Cappellini
In addition, Be Original Americas is pleased to introduce Gensler and Rich Brilliant Willing as new board members for 2018 and 2019. With the growth of the organization to over 750 members, supporters, and followers, the organization will be creating focused committees to lead and execute various initiatives. Members from the board and wider membership base are eligible to participate.
Since its conception, Be Original Americas has:
⢠Grown to over 750 members, supporters, and followers.
⢠Welcomed architecture & design firm members Studio O+A, and Michael Graves Architecture and Design, and in 2018, Gensler, the largest global architecture, design and planning firm.
⢠Launched an annual seven-week Student Design Fellowship in 2016.
⢠Assisted the United States Customs & Border Protection in the seizure of tens of millions of US dollars in counterfeit furnishings.
⢠Developed an AIA and IDCEC approved CEU course and presented it to over 750 interior designers and architects.
⢠Organized over 40 panel discussions in 27 cities throughout Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
⢠Attained 26 North American, both print and digital, media sponsors.
⢠Been recognized as one of 2015âs âTop 10 Most Innovative Companies in Designâ by Fast Company.
ABOUT BE ORIGINAL AMERICAS
Be Original Americas is a nonprofit organization that is committed to initiating discussion on the importance and value of preserving original design across the Americas, through informational, educational and influential marketing initiatives and other efforts to promote this critical issue. Be Original Americas charter members â including Alessi, Bernhardt Design, Design Within Reach, Emeco, Flos, Fritz Hansen, Herman MillerÂŽ, Kartell, Ligne Roset, Poltrona Frau Group and Vitra, and board members, Gensler and Rich Brilliant Willing â believe that the value of authenticity cannot be underestimated or taken for granted in the marketplace. Through an aggressive program of panel discussions and CEU courses, the movement campaigns to establish a set of industry standards that encourages public and professionals, along with our media partners, to fully support creativity and authenticity, to invest in the future of design, to incentivize innovation, and to give back to the industry and the people it serves. www.beoriginalamericas.com
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