Maison & Objet, the international trade fair for design, decoration and lifestyle, held every September and January in Paris, will shine a spotlight on the United States by honoring up-and-coming American designers with its Rising Talent Awards.
An exhibition of products by this group will be a highlight of the next edition of the fair, which is scheduled for Sept. 6-10, 2019.
Introduced in 1995, the Rising Talent Awards celebrate emerging designers from different parts of the world, who are selected by a local jury of renowned industry leaders. The most recent program, in January, honored six Chinese designers representing a new generation of creative excellence. The work of the honorees was prominently displayed at Maison & Objet in the exhibition center at Paris Nord Villepinte, and the young designers were feted at a celebration attended by design luminaries, dignitaries and the international press.
Previous editions of the fair have focused on Rising Talents from the United Kingdom, Italy and Lebanon. Like their predecessors, the U.S. Rising Talents will have an unparalleled opportunity to meet and share their ideas with the many manufacturers, interior designers, stylists, buyers, hoteliers, restaurateurs, journalists and trend hunters who attend Maison & Objet.
“After concentrating on Europe, the Middle East and Asia these last few years, we wanted to turn to another great nation of design,” says Philippe Brocart, Managing Director of SAFI, the company that organizes Maison & Objet. “The size and cultural diversity of the United States give rise to impressive design achievements, and we are excited to discover the next generation of designers and their influences.”
Members of the jury for the U.S. Rising Talent Awards include:
- Rafael de Cárdenas, the Principal of Architecture at Large, a New York studio that designs captivating interiors and furnishings for clients including Baccarat, Cartier and Nike
- Odile Hainaut and Claire Pijoulat, the visionary founders of WantedDesign, a trade show and cultural event produced annually in New York City
- Jerry Helling, the President and Creative Director of Bernhardt Design
- Nasir Kassamali, the founder with his wife, Nargis, of the groundbreaking modern design emporium Luminaire
- David Rockwell, the architect and designer of many award-winning restaurants, hotels and theatrical productions
- Rosanne Somerson, the President of Rhode Island School of Design and a noted furniture designer and educator
The names of the designers selected as U.S. Rising Talents will be released in May, along with biographical information and comments from the jury.
