May 28, 2021

NYCxDESIGN Announces Breakout Grant Winners

NYCxDESIGN announced the recipients of its inaugural Breakout Grant program this week, which supports designers and design businesses based in the city to further the development of a product or project currently in the works. Grant recipients Matt Tyson of Modos Furniture, Danielle Arps of Artisan Alliance, and Gisue Hariri and Mojgan Hariri of Hariri & Hariri Architectureselected by a panel of esteemed jurors including Interior Design editor in chief Cindy Allen, are in the midst of creating work that will leave a lasting impact, tackling sustainability, emergency preparedness, and mentorship for the next generation of BIPOC designers. 

“The vast imagination, range and talent of New York’s design community was deeply evident in this program, with impressive submissions ranging right across the design disciplines including urban planning, architecture, industrial, interior and product design, and digital and tech design,” reflects Elissa Black, NYCxDESIGN executive director. “As an ongoing program of NYCxDESIGN, the Breakout Grant will continue to annually showcase the innovative capacity of New York City’s design sector towards envisioning and creating a more just and resilient future for all.”

Learn more about the winning concepts below and for more information, go here

Reclaimed Plastic Furniture Connector by Modos Furniture. With plans to replace connectors made of extruded aluminum with recycled ocean plastic, the Breakout Grant enables the team to partner with OceanWorks, a recycled plastic material supplier; secure a design patent, making it easier to bring on additional partners; and support an ongoing partnership with the Brooklyn Navy Yard and the Department of Education for students interested in design. Image courtesy of Modos Furniture. 
Launching this summer, Artisan Alliance by Danielle Arps will offer brokerage, design, project management, and furniture to smaller companies, and use the Breakout Grant to establish a mentorship program called Artisan Mentored. The program will provide students of color exposure and experience within the design, architecture, and real estate sectors. Image courtesy of Artisan Alliance and Danielle Arps. 
Disaster Relief Folding Pod by Hariri & Hariri Architects. Modest, modular, and prefabricated with recyclable materials, the Folding Pod is inspired by origami and features a hinged frame and lightweight, sustainable panels. Its flexible design facilitates easy shipping and assembly, unfolding with the simple push of a button and a solar-powered portable generator. Rendering courtesy of Hariri & Hariri Architects. 

Recent DesignWire