Beth Brenner, Jonathan Adler, Windsor Smith, Christina Juarez, Peter Sallick, Shane Reilly, Tom Delavan, Michelle Adams, Suysel DePedro Cunningham and Pilar Guzman were just a few of the keynote panelists at Fall Market at the Design and Decorating Building this year. The design professionals discussed everything from innovative new platforms to digital interaction with others through Twitter to expansion of business.
The advent of social media like Facebook and Twitter has not only opened new doors for designers but also creates a different sort of publicity to manage for PR firms, according to Juarez, who is the president of Christina Juarez and Company, a PR firm specializing in interior design. “I think the role of the designer has changed – there are many different ways to achieve their goals. I do publicity 101 for them first: get everything ready, putting press packages together. But it's a lot more than just publicity,” said Juarez. “Social media is HUGE now! I was resistant I have to admit but it’s not only helped my business but my client's businesses too! It's another way to make yourself a global brand. I think designers can learn from each other. You need to get out there and talk to one another, see what your peers are doing.”
Cunningham, co-founder of Tilton Fenwick, agrees. “We tweet almost every day, it’s a conversation to engage with our readers. And now, top editors can interact with new designers through things like Twitter and Facebook. If people are going to be talking about you on the Internet, you definitely want to be part of it. Bloggers can now come back and disseminate information that we all just used to file away.”
“I feel like the Internet shortens the time between when someone sees something they like and getting something they want,” said Delavan.
During the comments portion of the lectures, one audience member disagreed with technology and its benefit to interior design. “I feel like online social media is actually undermining our industry,” the guest said. “I think that something like 1stdibs is the lazy man’s approach to interior design. Now designers are not learning their craft. The thing to really look at here is how is this industry going to reward experience?”
Smith, Adler, and Sallick had answers to this question. “Well you might be right,” Adler said. “But I think the important thing to note is that that ship has sailed.”
“There’s a huge new world out there,” said Smith. “Times have changed and we have to figure out our place in it.”
“When I was reviewing data, we found that designers and architects are shopping a variety of sources; showrooms, online, vintage,” said Sallick. “I applaud the drive for that creativity and that drive to be successful.”
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