Interior Design Launches Young Designers Network

Amid a crowd of fresh new faces, Interior Design editor in chief Cindy Allen took the mic: “When I was your age, no one really cared about what I was interested in. But lucky for you, we care.” She was, of course, addressing the 200-strong gang that had gathered for the magazine’s first-ever Young Designers Network. Held on Tuesday at the magazine’s own office in SANDOW global headquarters in New York, the event targeted creatives with less than seven years of experience, offering them a unique opportunity to connect with both their peers and the resources of the magazine.

Interior Design has always championed new and exciting design, and so the office greeted them with open arms. Food provided by Pinch Food Design, a collaboration between a designer and a chef, impressed designers with its spectacular food presentation: caramelized strawberry lollipops dangling from a plank circulated around the crowd. Co-host companies included ASID, Carnegie, Innovations, Interface, Humanscale and Marset. They provided cool door prizes plus a one-year subscription to Interior Design for each young designer in attendance.

And besides the goodies, there was the almost tangible excitement of new collaborations and friendships in the works. Closing out her speech, Allen reminded the designers of two important life lessons: “Always be passionate about what you do—and find your voice!”