Straight from Erin Cantor's Desk!

Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future

On display at the Museum of the City of New York (MCNY)
through Sunday, January 31, 2010
1220 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10029

Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future

Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future is the first retrospective of this architect's career, which was one of the most prolific, unorthodox, and controversial in the history of 20th-century architecture. From the TWA Terminal at JFK Airport (picture above) and the St. Louis Gateway Arch to the Pedestal Chair for Knoll Associates, Saarinen (1910-1961) created some of the most potent expressions of American identity after World War II. Featuring sketches, working drawings, models, photographs, furnishings, films, and other ephemera, the exhibition examines the architect's career from the 1930s through the early 1960s.

ASSA ABLOY is the global sponsor of Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future.

“scholarly and thoroughly researched... long overdue...”

—The New Criterion

“the curves and glossy surfaces are as seductive as ever... ”

—The New York Times

“profoundly moving... ”

—The Wall Street Journal

The Future at Home: American Furniture, 1940-1955

On display at MCNY through Monday, February 8, 2010

The Future at Home: American Furniture


Presented in conjunction with Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future, this selection of furniture, textiles, and print materials demonstrates the height of the modern movement in American home design. Characterized by simple forms using industrial materials, it was championed by well-known figures such as Eero Saarinen and Charles Eames along with many lesser-known designers.
The aesthetic they created in the 1940s and 1950s drew on prewar European modernism and rose to become a defining element of American design at mid- 20th century.

A note from Erin Cantor...

More Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tours
Saturday & Sunday, January 23 & 24
Saturday, January 30

Due to high demand, OHNY and the Brooklyn Historic Railway Association are again offering special guided tours of the world's oldest subway tunnel, built in 1844 and constructed in seven months using only hand tools and primitive equipment.

Bob Diamond, who rediscovered the tunnel in 1980, will lead tours through the half-mile long underground space. Learn more about the tour and purchase tickets go to www.nycharities.org

Special congrats to our Grads!!

Top:(from left)John Tavarez,Theresa Puchkoff,Robyn Wong,Theresa Giannone,Manda Dabovic,Jessica Ortega
Bottom: Cassandra Geralis,Marlene Rodrigues,Paula Gil Lugo

Marlene Rodrigues

Theresa Puchkoff

Manda Dabovic

Jessica Ortega

John Tavarez

Theresa Giannone

Robyn Wong

Inspiration for today...

The Amazing Green Roof Art School in Singapore
All I can say is WOW! this really is amazing. Not only is this rooftop a green design, but it is also beautiful, I love the way it slopes down to the ground as if it were a walk way to an enchanted forest. I think this is a great idea and I feel it would be beneficial here in NYC. This idea has been used before but never at this altitude, this school went above and beyond! I love it, how about you?

Straight from Erin Cantor's Desk!

Date: January 13, 2009

Location: Museum of the City of New York, New York

Cindy Allen, editor in chief of Interior Design magazine, will moderate a discussion about mid-20th-century modern furniture, exploring both its historical context and its relevance today. She will be joined by Donald Albrecht, Museum of the City of New York Curator of Architecture and Design; Phyllis Ross, author of Gilbert Rohde: Modern Design for Modern Living (Yale University Press, 2009), and Andy Lin and Larry Weinberg, exhibition lenders and founders of Lin/Weinberg Gallery: 20th Century Modern Furnishings. Presented in conjunction with the exhibitions Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future and The Future at Home: American Furniture, 1940-1955, co-curated by Albrecht and Ross.

Reservations required: 917.492.3395 or www.mcny.org/public-programs/$6 museum members; $8 seniors and students; $12 non-members

mcny.org/public-programs

We not only look good but, we are smart too.....

Interior designers have many "Hats" and I'm not just talking about our fashionable good looks. We must be in control of every aspect, we must know our plans inside and out, right down to the type of screw you want on the inside of the cabinets....Yes I know, it's crazy to think about! Interior designers must be "creative, imaginative and artistic. They also need to be disciplined, organized and skilled business people. Combining knowledge with aesthetic vision, interior designers work with clients and other design professionals to develop design solutions that are safe, functional, attractive and meet the needs of the people using the space". http://www.careersininteriordesign.com/what.html.
We are in what you call a service profession, which means we only make money if the client absolutely loves the product or design...and that’s not as easy as it sounds. I'm sure all you ID students figured that out already from the classroom crits, imagine if you actually brought those drawings to life and they were not the big hit you expected...OOPS?
Here are some strategies and suggestions from careersininteriordesign.com

* Artistic and Technical Requirements
Interior designers must know how to plan a space and how to present that plan visually so that it can be communicated to the client. Interior designers must also know about the materials and products that will be used to create and furnish the space, and how texture, color, lighting and other factors combine and interact to make a space. In addition, interior designers must understand the structural requirements of their plans, the health and safety issues, building codes, and many other technical aspects.

* Interpersonal Communications
Interior designers must be comfortable meeting and dealing with many kinds of people. They must communicate clearly and effectively, as well as be attentive listeners. Because they often must work with architects, contractors and other service providers, interior designers need to be both good team leaders and good team players. They must be willing to negotiate and mediate when necessary to solve problems.

* Management Strategies
Interior designers must have excellent time and project management abilities since they frequently work on more than one project at a time under demanding deadlines. Interior designers must understand business planning, and they need to know how to sell their ideas to clients, create informative and persuasive proposals and presentations, and maintain good client relationships.

Yes we must be a sales person, contractor, electrician, a leader, negotiator, and many more but the most important "Hat" you will have to wear in this field is the manager of your own life, you must be able to multi task. O yes, and don't for get to look your best...We always do!

Blood, Sweat, and Tears!!! Interior Design...

So Monday is your first day back to classes, good thing it's nasty outside because it's time for you to get to work!
As we all have said time and time again interior design is by far the toughest program at the school. We have loads of work week after week. we stay up late at night and get up early in the morning, we yell at our computers, cry in class, slice our fingers or even glue them together but when we finish that final detail and add the dimensions to our floor plans the work is done and we are proud!! It's the greatest feeling of accomplishment when we post those annoying gray foam core boards up, and the class wows at your presentation.
We decided to start this blog to connect with student, faculty, and designers. We thought the name "No, we're not decorators" was perfect. Time and time again interior design is called decorating. I as an interior design graduate, feel like we do not get the recognition we deserve for all the hard work we do. Don't get me wrong decorating is a hard job and not everyone can do it, but decorating is just the finishing touch to our grand idea. We go to school to study Architecture, lighting, space planning, Detailing, Drafting/Cad, building systems and codes. I feel that this site can help our department get the message out "no we're not decorators" but, we do it all while looking fabulous!!