NYCxdesign

In the summer of 2023, we met with Ilene Shaw, the newly-named Executive Director of NYCxDESIGN, having closed her first NYCxDESIGN Festival at the helm. We talked about her aspirations for the non-profit, and her plans for the crown jewel: New York City’s official week-long celebration of Design that occurs every May.

Ms. Shaw, a visionary stalwart of the Design community, has a deep sense of community and wanted to ensure that, first and foremost, the needs of that community were met. We therefore took stock of invaluable feedback from the Steering Committee and Board - themselves a collection of leaders from some of the world’s best Design schools; every major American Design professional organization; and local government agencies including Economic Development Corp, New York City Department of Transportation & New York City Tourism + Conventions. We delved deep into the heart of why NYCxDESIGN was founded by the City of New York in the first place: to celebrate New York City as a leading design destination, housing more designers per capita than any other city in the world.

In tandem with reviewing public feedback, we redefined a revised mission and vision for the non-profit that honored the history of the organization, and indicated the bright and prosperous future in store. By digging into what makes NYCxDESIGN intrinsically unique, we together created a brand ethos intended to best organize a set of principles that will guide the organization for years to come.