Designing Outside the Box panel at the DDB

Mark your calendars! On June 19th, Crans Baldwin, President of Donghia, will moderate an all-star panel of Amy Lau, Campion Platt, David Scott and Susanna Salk (pictured above) as they discuss "Designing Outside the Box". The designers will talk about maximizing their brands, whether publishing books or launching product lines or venturing into television, and how they continue to grow their businesses. They will be signing copies of their new books immediately following the presentation, part of the DDB Design File series.


Campion Platt


Amy Lau


David Scott


Crans Baldwin

For a taste of what's in store, we asked Salk, a contributing editor to 1stDibs.com and frequent guest on NBC's "Today Show", what the topic means to her. "For me, designing outside the box means being unafraid to cross-pollinate your singular voice across a broad range of creative realms and mediums."

To RSVP, please email RSVP@ddbuilding.com or call 212-759-2969.

Sponsored By: New York Spaces, Donghia, Potterton Books

Event Recap: Scott Frances' MonoVisioN Rocks the DDB (Part 1 of 2)

The DDB's Annex Building was the place to be last week where the celebration of Scott Frances' striking photographs filled all three floors. A stylish crowd made up of designers, editors and artists, the opening of MonoVisioN was an evening to remember.

We made our rounds and chatted with the guests to ask what they loved about Scott's work and what sets him apart.

"I've known Scott for years and I'm excited to be here to support his work," said architect Campion Platt. "What has always made Scott's work exceed the norm has been his understanding of design and of architecture. He has always been ahead of the curve in the technology he uses and has a clear and extensive understanding of a room and how it should be seen in a photograph."

Before we could asked Campion anything further, he dashed off to congratulate Scott in person. Before doing so, he introduced us to architect Alexander Gorlin, another long-time friend and colleague of Scott's.

"It's really obvious why Scott's work is so respected," Alexander said. "When you look at the composition and the perspective of his photography, you're able to appreciate the architecture and design in the picture as well as the skill and art of his work."

Interior designer Alexa Hampton caught up with us to talk about the long history her father, legendary interior designer Mark Hampton, and her company has had with Scott.

"I could go on and on and on and on about how much I love Scott's work," said Alexa. "There's a very good reason that my father and now I always use his photography. My dad respected the way Scott worked and appreciated his attention to detail in every single photograph. Scott and I have known each other for so long, I could talk about him until I'm blue in the face! I'll refrain though because blue isn't my best color!"

You can view MonoVisioN in the DDB’s Suite 110 now through July 29. Stay tuned to GoDesignGo for more on Scott Frances' gallery opening for MonoVisioN.

DDB Spring Market Buzz: The Fine Art of Bed-Making

If the bed we make is the bed we lie in, why not gain experience in the fine art of bed-making? The Lorin Marsh Spring Market event had the experts on hand teach us everything we needed to know about making an exquisite bed.

Lorin Marsh and New York's Little Elves, designer cleaning and maintenance company, asked three top interior designers to demonstrate their vision for beautiful bed-making. Laura Bohn, Campion Platt and Ronald Bricke gave us their tips and top choices for an irresistible bed.

Campion told the audience what he personally never likes on a bed and what he loves to do before leaving his bedroom for a longer trip.

"I hate squares on beds, because a bed isn't square, it's rectangular," Campion said. "I love king-sized, rectangular pillows that are stacked up together because it adds an extra comfy and luxurious look to a bed. I think pillows are great, too, because they add a fancy and done up look to a bed that isn't high-maintenance to do everyday. For me, something like a coverlet is not an everyday thing."

"What I always try to do before I leave my house for a longer trip is make my bed up really beautifully and more fancy than usual. That way, when I get home from my trip, my bed looks perfect and similar to the hotel beds I'm in during my trip."

Campion made sure to tell us before ending that he is not a 'tucker,' and that just because you may not tuck your sheets in, doesn't mean you're a messy bed-maker. We're grateful for that!

"The designers had such interesting ways of looking at beds and bedding," said a Spring Market-goer. "I loved the way that Laura Bohn explained the differences between sheets and blankets and how simple folding can make a bed not only look more lovely in a room, but actually be more comfortable once you're in it!"

DDB Spring Market Buzz: Rose Tarlow Smells Like Roses

It seemed only fitting that the Rose Tarlow showroom's Spring Market event, Authenticity in Design: A Series on Living and Entertaining, included heaps of roses and other flowers. Van Wyck & Van Wyck, a family-owned event design and production firm, hosted the event teaching showroom visitors how to pair flowers together with tasteful design. We even got our own bouquet to take home!

"We wanted to have an event that was more casual in nature, where the atmosphere was less structured and more relaxed," said Showroom Manager Stacy Sinclair. "Bronson Van Wyck, President of Van Wyck, was here to give one on advice and answer any questions that our guests had."

The questions for Bronson ranged in topic matter and included tabletop, lighting, food, music and, of course, flowers. Van Wyck had a team of three floral designers on hand to arrange nosegays with guests as takeaway's, which made visitors positively delighted.

"I love my flower arrangement!" said a Spring Market-goer. "I can't believe I get to keep these! I loved learning the best combinations for my flowers and understanding how to better compose a bouquet. It was so much fun!"

"I loved everything that was going on at the DDB for Spring Market!" Stacey told us. She got a chance to wander around throughout the day and stop into other showrooms for their events. "It was such a wonderful way to welcome in Spring. At Rose Tarlow, the Van Wyck team was just amazing! Bronson and Mary Lynn Van Wyck are so charming; it was such a pleasure to have them here for our first Spring Market."

"The flowers were spectacular. Having such a wide variety of color and species under one roof was so wonderful! We had a great crowd with visitors throughout the day and into the early evening who heard about the Van Wyck flowers. They were all hoping that we had one last nosegay for them!"

Check back with GoDesignGo next week for more DDB Spring Market Buzz, including watercolor painting at Gracie and Campion Platt at Lorin Marsh.

Made to Order

Architect, interior designer and furniture and textile designer Campion Platt has taken no breaks in 2010, and is planning to go full force in 2011 as well with his newly released book "Made to Order."

"Made to Order" is a snapshot of his firm's highly specialized approach to interior design. Projects featured in the book range from a beautiful Hudson Valley estate, a Jewel Box apartment, a Murray Hill Townhouse, a historic tropical bungalow in Palm Beach and a beautiful Country Manor in Southampton, NY. The book's forword is written by his friend, novelist Jay McInerney.

Best known as an architect and interior designer, Campion has been included in Architectural Digest's Top 100 Architects and Designers in the world. He has designed two furniture collections, the Campaign and the Crystalline, as well the Metro Cloth textile collection for Jim Thompson. 

Pick up a copy of Campion's book in Potterton Books at their first floor location at both the DDB and PDC.