It’s always inspiring to see all the innovation that comes out of the Boutique Design New York (BDNY) trade show. Surrounded by hospitality design industry peers, we loved the energy, ideas and networking from the November 12-13th, 2016 event.
It’s always inspiring to see all the innovation that comes out of the Boutique Design New York (BDNY) trade show. Surrounded by hospitality design industry peers, we loved the energy, ideas and networking from the November 12-13th, 2016 event.
We decided to be a little different this year and launch a larger booth space, which we were honoured to fill with casegoods we manufactured for various SLS Hotels projects, including SLS Las Vegas, SLS Park Avenue and SLS Brickell.
Our booth concept was centred around inventing the future of hospitality design together. As a design-driven manufacturer, we are privileged to partner with designers from all over North America to turn their visions into reality.
We also unveiled some big news at this year’s show: we’re now manufacturing quality hospitality seating in addition to casegoods. We kicked off the announcement by holding a chair design competition in the booth, where visitors could sketch their design on an iPad for the chance to win their design in real-life, made by BERMANFALK.
We’re pleased to announce we have two winners from this contest: Christian Triana and Alex Woogmaster. We asked each of them to share a bit about themselves, and their work.
Christian Triana
Senior Designer at EoA
1. Tell us a little about your background and work.
My design work is characterized by holistic approaches to design problems through research and analysis of a client’s key identity attributes and goals. I believe design should motivate and inspire people through innovation, make bold statements, generate optimistic attitudes towards life, create cultural connections, and contribute to a strong sustainable society. I’ve worked on a wide variety of projects ranging from retail to hospitality design in which I not only created functional spaces but also developed the ultimate “life-style” for the end user.
2. What was your design inspiration behind your BDNY2016 contest entry?
The inspiration comes from the principles of purism. Creating a straightforward design that is founded on simple geometry and authentic materials. “Technique is only but a tool, humbly at the service of the conception.”
3. What are your favourite materials to work with?
Walnut, marble, and lacquer are the most beautiful materials in my opinion. They represent the authentic, the timeless, and the refined.
4. What is your favourite design style, or designer, in the industry today — and why?
I am mesmerized by the works of Kelly Wearstler and Tom Dixon. There’s truth and romanticism to their design aesthetic. We live in a romantic world that craves storytelling (discovery through layers) and their bold designs satisfy that appetite.
5. And lastly, where are you going to use your new BERMANFALK chair?
I think my new BERMANFALK chair would look incredibly stunning in my apartment. It will validate my passion for this profession and be a constant reminder of my purpose.
Alex Woogmaster
Creative Director at Wynn Design & Development
1. Tell us a little about your background and work.
I’m an East Coaster by birth, and I trained as an architect before moving to Las Vegas to work for Wynn Resorts, where I’m Creative Director for their Interiors department, under Roger Thomas. I have the honor of working on some of the world’s finest hotel properties, and I’ve had a sprinkling of private residential projects over the years, too. I also have a side venture called Woogmaster Studio, where we’ve been developing interior design products ranging from furniture to mirrors to lighting fixtures. You can see my portfolio here: www.woogmasterstudio.com.
2. What was your design inspiration behind your BDNY2016 contest entry?
I’d been toying with some bent wood concepts earlier in the month, so when I was invited to participate in the BERMANFALK BDNY2016 contest, I went back to my hotel room that night and started sketching. The concept is original, but it draws inspiration from a mid-century chaise I found in an Ojai antiques gallery a couple months back. I wanted to change the materiality and give it a strong, contemporary twist. Ultimately the only real similarity now is in the way the upholstered seat floats above the floor plane.
3. What are your favourite materials to work with?
I’m deeply enamoured of the materials used by Jean Michel Frank and Andre Arbus: brass, bronze, veneer inlays, parchment, straw, fine woods, lacquer – all subtle finishes that elevate even the most streamlined surfaces. I love the surprise richness and delicacy of detail found in what at first glance appears to be a fairly homogenous surface material.
4. What is your favourite design style, or designer, in the industry today — and why?
I’m blessed to have a mentor and friend in Roger Thomas, my company’s leader, and a prolific force in the design world. He has an astounding knowledge of contemporary and historic decorative arts, and I love that he’s bold enough to mix them together with magic, irony, and elegance above all. If you really want me to look beyond my company, I’d list Jean-Louis Denoit as another favorite. Similar to Thomas’s hospitality work, Denoit’s designs are deeply thoughtful, layered, and articulate for the residential sphere.
5. And lastly, where are you going to use your new BERMANFALK chair?
My partner and I are planning to move into a new home in the near future: I’m hoping this chair can be the centerpiece of either a new living room grouping, or our study. It’s a chair for reading, so we’ll be comfortable in it wherever it lands at home!
Congratulations, Christian and Alex! We’re excited to manufacture your chair designs, and thank you for inventing with us.