Lodes Announces Partnership with Black Bread + Jam Showrooms
(Canada) - Lodes has announced to be of the inaugural brand partners of Black Bread + Jam an Italian design-focused showroom in the Distillery District, Toronto.
The move allows the Venice-based lighting studio to offer a special brand experience and touch point in the Canadian market as part of an overall strategy of growth and expansion on the continent.
Black Bread + Jam’s opening festivities included a kick-off cocktail party organised in concert with the ICFF - Lavazza Inclucity Festival, an event organised by the Italian Contemporary Film Festival (ICFF) taking place in the Distillery District through July.
The to-the-trade showroom will remain open for five years and feature new product vignettes every six month. This will also include a number of other renowned Italian design brands. Encompassing a total of 29 striking illuminating pieces, Lodes will figure prominently in the space’s first-ever design scheme.
Scheduled tours and appointments are available at the showroom by request. The synergistic partnership will provide customers with the unique opportunity to discover the functional and aesthetic brilliance of Lodes’ lighting solutions.
“We’re excited to follow the news of our recent dedicated U.S. subsidiary and office expansion with the announcement of our presence in Toronto through Black Bread + Jam. Located in the Distillery District, an area rich in history and industrial architecture, the exclusive, made-in-Italy, multi-brand design showroom is the ideal venue to showcase our superlative contemporary lighting in the region,” says Massimiliano Tosetto, Manging Director of Lodes.
Black Bread + Jam Managing Director, Giuseppe Avesani says: “we are thrilled to join forces with Lodes to bring their lighting designs to Toronto. Their commitment to design excellence and blending tradition with innovation perfectly aligns with our mission to showcase the time-honoured artistry of Italian design through a curated assortment of exceptional contemporary design solutions.”
Pooky Opens Showroom in West Yorkshire
(UK) - Pooky has officially opened a showroom in the Redbrick department store in West Yorkshire. Located a short drive away from Leeds, this will be Pooky’s first foray outside of the South-West.
Found on the second floor of the location, customers can see a curated edit of best-selling designs and seasonal favourites across the 2,000sqft space. The brand is renowned for its high-end designs at high street prices as well as trademark use of bold colour and patterns. The showroom is offering table lamps, floor lamps, wall lights, pendants, a plethora of shades and an expanding range of accessories.
Pooky has included displays such as its signature wall light cabinets, which open to reveal and surprise customers alongside panel displays for a selection of sockets and switches. Alongside the displays there is a seating area for finalising those tricky lighting decisions.
“We are delighted to be coming to Yorkshire with our brand-new showroom at Redbrick near Leeds. Showcasing the best of the best, we’ve selected all of our favourite and bestselling items to make a beautiful visual display including an array of our amazing rechargeable lamps as well. Redbrick has long been established as the centre for home brands in the North of England and we are so excited to join the other fantastic brands and welcome our northern customers through the doors," says Rohan Blacker, Founder of Pooky.
Registrations opens for European Cruise Ship Interior Design Industry Expo
(UK)- Registration is now open for CSI Europe, is the world’s only exhibition exclusively dedicated to connecting the buyers and suppliers of the European cruise design industry.
On the 29- 30 November 2023 designers, suppliers, and decision-makers from cruise lines and shipyards will take to ExCeL, London to hear the industry’s latest trends and challenges, update their portfolios and samples, and grow their network at this specialised exhibition and conference.
Attendees can look forward to a display of high-quality innovations and expertise from the European cruise interior industry’s leading design firms, outfitters, and suppliers at CSI Europe. Buyers can also expand their supplier order book with the Speed Networking programme. With two sessions running per day, CSI Europe will match industry suppliers with relevant buyers from cruise lines, design studios, and shipyards.
The show will unite the cruise interiors community through a variety of networking opportunities. Day one will entail the opening and happy hour crowning and throughout the show, delegates can connect with peers at the CSIE Pub, which will also be hosting the Pitch & Pint competition. Following a popular launch last year, this high-energy event gave new to CSI Europe suppliers the chance to pitch one headline product or service to design studio and cruise line judges.
Interactive sessions run by industry thought leaders will be also taking place at exhibitor stands throughout the show. These CPD accredited talks will delve into the industry’s most pressing topics and trends, from project management to appealing to the next generation of cruising, wrapped up by an exploration into how disruptive technologies will shake up the cruise design sector.
To commemorate the end of a successful year for the European cruise community, the CSI Awards will wrap up day two of the expo. These coveted awards will celebrate the industry’s biggest achievements over the last year.
Register here for CSI Europe 2023 to receive event updates and your free two-day pass.
cruiseshipinteriors-europe.com
Sustainable Design Summit returns for 2023
(UK) SDS return to London - uniting designers and experts in cruise, hotel and aviation design industries with the shared goal of making hospitality interiors more sustainable.
Held in the Museum of London Dockland’s on the 28 November, the summit will conduct a series of talks, sessions and roundtable discussions. SDS aims to make sustainable choices easier, challenge existing practices and together make practical solutions in the hospitality design sector.
Sustainability is today's most urgent topic for interior designers. In 2021, the World Travel and Tourism Council established an ambitious roadmap to reach net zero by 2050. Hotel, cruise and airlines are making prominent progress including, changes to key industry players setting sustainability targets and initiatives, adoption of circular product lifecycle schemes, and the cruise interiors community collaborating to establish a Sustainable Maritime Interiors initiative.
After a successful inaugural summit, SDS attendees will be turning conversation into action. This will be catered to in a curated agenda featuring interactive breakout sessions. Representatives of the industries will converge to hold deep cross-sector conversations ranging from product lifespan planning to creating a more collaborative supply chain across all stakeholders.
Alongside the sessions and talks, SDS will also host a product showcase featuring the most environmentally responsible products within the cruise, hotel, and aviation design sectors.
SDS is an opportunity for designers to connect and collaborate on how to increase sustainability as it becomes more intrinsic to the interior and lighting design world. Last year’s event has built strong foundations allowing meaningful conversations and insights that provided collaboration and networking opportunities for delegates.
Registration for the Sustainable Design Summit Early Bird pass is now open at https://sustainabledesignsummit.com/
BIID announces new president, May Fawzy
(UK) - British Institution of Interior Design (BIID) has announced May Fawzy as the new President for the 2023-24 term.
May Fawzy officially took over the role on the 6 July during the Annual General Meet held at the RIBA in Portland, London.
After being an establish member at the institute for several years, Fawzy was appointed as both council member and assessor before taking on her new role from former president Matthew Freeman.
Fawzy will be bringing a wealth of experience to the role having worked in numerous multi-national firms since graduating her MA in Interior Design. Specialising in commercial space interiors, the WELL approved designer has been responsible for designing multi-million-pound designs as well as founding her own awarding winning studio - the MF Design Studio in Surrey, London in 2011.
“I’m delighted to take on this exciting new role as President of the BIID. It’s a huge honour to represent our members and to raise awareness of the BIID. I’ll be working closely with the BIID council to ensure the BIID offers our community a wide range of opportunities for professional development, networking and collaboration – I am looking forward to it” says Fawzy.
Registration open for HIX 2023
HIX – Europe’s only hotel design event is bringing the hospitality design community together again for a two-day celebration of everything that makes hotels great.
Held from 16 – 17 November at London’s Business Design Centre, this year’s show theme, ‘A room with a point of view’, is all about people, progress and perspective. Guided by the new ideas and voices set to define the next era of hospitality design, a programme of talks, installations, parties and exhibitions will showcase the latest and greatest hospitality interior experiences.
As operators and design studios seek to develop more inclusive and accessible spaces, HIX 2023 will highlight the people, products and projects breaking down barriers and making the hospitality industry a better place for all.
For an industry that has long operated along strictly defined lines of budget, quality, and service, the recent culture shift in hospitality design is likely to significantly alter the hotel landscape and the way guests engage with projects, as well as the ways they are designed. The conventions surrounding what both ‘luxury’ and ‘good design’ entail are once again up for debate.
As such, HIX’s two-day talks programme of panels, keynotes and presentations will explore what this might mean for guest, operator, designer and developer alike, shining a light on what to expect from the future of hospitality spaces while featuring a cast of voices that truly represents the new hotel interior experience.
Alongside the talks programme, HIX will once again welcome the latest interior products that showcase the full range of tools available to hoteliers in their drive to give hotels identity. From lighting, soft furnishings and wallcoverings to all-encompassing technology systems, HIX will be the place to discover how interior design can give projects a point of view.
Lighting exhibitors include Astro, Aromas del Campo, Chelsom, Contardi, Franklite, LEDS C4, Marset, Northern Lights, and Zico to name just a few.
Last year, HIX explored the intersection of art, design and hospitality experience via The Mush Room – a groundbreaking show bar grown entirely from ultra-sustainable Mycelium and created in collaboration with WeWantMore, La Succulente and Côme Di Meglio.
As works of art from grand lobby sculptures and light installations to collectible digital assets and micro-commissions, become ever-central staples of contemporary hotel design, HIX will once again explore the power of artistic endeavours to generate elements of branding identity, as well as resonant consumer journeys.
More information on planned installations will be released soon; for all up-to-date information and to register for free, visit: hixevent.com
Grimanesa Amorós to headline LiGHT 23
(UK) – Internationally renowned light artist, Grimanesa Amorós headlines [d]arc thoughts talks programme.
Taking to the stage on Tuesday 21 November, Amorós will present 'Illuminating Boundaries: The Exploration and Creation of Art Through Light', followed by a Q&A session with arc magazine's editor, Matt Waring.
Amorós is a Peruvian-born American multimedia creative whose work explores community connections intersecting history, technology, and architecture. Her keen understanding of structure enables her to create monumental sculptures incorporating various elements such as video, lighting, and electronic components to create immersive environments and connect the viewer to their surroundings.
Technology complements the concepts of her work without defining it - a medium of expression. Describing her work as a "constant romance with the unknown", Amorós first incorporated light into her practice following a fated trip to Iceland. While there, she saw the northern lights and realised the powerful ephemeral magic light held. She discusses light's ability to transcend social and geographic boundaries "we all connect to light."
Drawing upon critical cultural legacies and landscapes, Amorós is inspired by the communities she creates within. Installing and programming each piece on-site, direct interaction with the surrounding architecture is key to creating her work. "Ultimately, the piece connects the viewers, space, and light sculpture, merging them into one." Grimanesa Amorós' artwork ties the past, present, and future - pushing viewers to think beyond and challenging their initial perceptions.
Commenting on her involvement in the UK's only exhibition dedicated to lighting specification, Amorós said: "LiGHT 23 will be where those who love light can unite and convene about the latest tech and how light is being used. Join me for this year's LiGHT 23 to learn how light and art intermingle and how to live in 'A constant Romance with the Unknown'. I am looking forward to seeing you all.”
Held over two days at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, LiGHT 23 will be held on 21 & 22 November 2023. [d]arc thoughts, in collaboration with lighting control specialist Lutron, will take place on the Gallery level, in a dedicated conference space. The talks and presentations will focus on trends and innovation within lighting, while being moderated by arc and darc magazine editors as well as guest editors. All talks are completely free to attend, and the full talks programme will be announced in coming weeks.
LiGHT 23 is the UK's only trade show dedicated to high-end lighting specification. For the most recent up-to-date exhibitor list and all visitor information head to www.lightexpo.london
Image credit: Chiara Cussatt
