Top Designers Share their Picks from Collective Design 2018

At the sixth annual Collective Design, designers were on the lookout for what’s new and next. At each of the booths at New York’s Clarkson Skylight Studio, a different point of view was on display in a unique and compelling fashion. From the dark woods and early 20^th century furniture at Galerie Michael Bargo to the futuristic inflatable furniture by Alex Schweder, there was no end to the inspiration on display. Here, designers share their favorite finds at the show.

Laura Santos, Laura Santos Interiors

Jean Pierre Laporte Esox chair dated c.1970-1974 at Peter Blake Gallery. Photo: Courtesy of Peter Blake Gallery

“The piece’s playful and whimsical shape doesn’t take away from its inviting and elegant design. It reminds me of Pierre Paulin’s pieces which I have always loved. It is also beautifully reupholstered in Dedar Milano Karakorum boucle wool.”

Reinaldo Leandro, Ashe + Leandro

Galerie Michael Bargo’s booth. Photo: Courtesy of Galerie Michael Bargo

“Michael Bargo’s booth has a marvelous juxtaposition of elements. The mix of primal elements: how the wood was employed almost crate like, the African pieces, the forged metal, the horse hair stool—made for a great form of escapism.”

Andre Tchelistcheff, Andre Tchelistcheff Architects

4Spaces Stripe Tease installation. Photo: Courtesy of 4Spaces/ZIGZAG

“Within a small space “4spaces/ZIGZAGZURICH” provided for an astounding contrast of wall fabrics—with Memphis on one wall opposite their distinctive Stripe Tease on the other, punctuated in-between with stitched and metallic projectile fabrics. The work seemed more painterly and sculptural than one typically expects for wall covering.”

Billy Cotton, Billy Cotton 

Studio Giancarlo Valle’s booth. Photo: Courtesy of Studio Giancarolo Valle

“Studio Giancarlo Valle really epitomized the spirit of the fair with a cross-pollination of furniture, architecture, and artistry. His chairs represented all three elements at the highest level.”

Don Stewart, Desiderata

Jamie Bush’s SIT project. Photo: Courtesy of Jamie Bush

“I just love Jamie Bush’s architectural and design aesthetic. His collection of recent photographic works and the accompanying massive chair sculptures are curiously soothing to me in the SIT installation he created.”

Richard Mishaan, Richard Mishaan Design

Alex Papachristidis’s booth. Photo: Courtesy of Alex Papachristidis

“I picked up an Eve Kaplan mirror from Alex Papachristidis’s installation. I love the piece for the fairytale quality it evokes. The feel of the artists hand makes it magical.”

Brian Sawyer, Sawyer|Berson

“One Pine-board Chair” made in 2017 by Green River Project LLC. Photo: Courtesy of Galerie Michael Bargo

“My favorite pieces were the matching Pierre Chareau macassar chaise and club chair in Michael Bargo’s booth that were custom designed for the Etlin family in Paris on the Rue des Messine in 1919. There’s something both architectural and sexy about them with a somewhat androgynous beauty.”

Bill Brockschmidt, Brockschmidt & Coleman

A bisque porcelain vase by Sandra Davolio at J. Lohmann Gallery. Photo: Courtesy of J. Lohmann Gallery

“We saw many inspiring things, but our favorite piece was a bisque porcelain vase by Sandra Davolio from J. Lohmann Gallery. We have been admiring Sandra’s leafy, scrolling, almost impossibly delicate-looking pieces for years, so we were thrilled that this turned out to be the very first purchase a client made for a new apartment.”

Courtney Coleman, Brockschmidt & Coleman

A ceramic installation by Peter Lane. Photo: Courtesy of Peter Lane Gallery

“One of our main missions in visiting the show was to look for a contemporary artist from whom we could commission a pair of sculptural columns for this project. We came away with some thought-provoking options—from ceramic pieces by Peter Lane and Fausto Salvi to trippy plastics by Handmade Industrials.”

Juan Montoya, Juan Montoya Design

Azadeh Shladovsky Studio’s booth. Photo: Courtesy of Azadeh Shladovsky Studio

“At Azadeh Shladovsky Studio’s booth, I was impressed by the simplicity and the geometry of both the table and chairs, along with the piece’s fresh take on retro colors.”

Watch a video of the event here: