4.21.08 | If you haven't been to the NYC Leaders Breakfast, it's worth the trip just to see everyone all suited up. But for the bright sunlight and gorgeous water views, it could have been a semi-formal cocktail party affair.

4.21.08 | There are generally two significant ways in which building design can impact occupants. The first area is the science of building performance; this describes the process of maximizing variables that influence occupants' perception of comfort such as acoustics, lighting, daylighting, temperature, and indoor air quality. Other variables that affect the perception of comfort in a more peripheral way include human factors and ergonomics

4.21.08 | During NeoCon 07, an alarm was sounded for the interior design profession. The warning was loud and clear: a serious decline in the pool of interior design educators was and is putting our profession in jeopardy. We realized we need to do something fast to continue fostering future generations of interior designers with the ever increasingly complex skill set demanded by our clients. The original Call to Action Dialogue at NeoCon 07 to address the declining pool of interior design educators, sponsored by Kimball Office, was well attended by interior design educators and practitioners. It became clear that the problem has many challenging and disparate components.

4.21.08 | A year ago, I had never heard of IFI- The International Federation of Interior Architects/ Designers but this august organization was formed when interior design was still in its infancy in the United States. IFI was founded in Denmark in 1963 to unite and provide discussion of interior design issues within a handful of European countries. Now, the organization has membership representing 52 member associations, institutions and schools in 45 countries on every continent and, through its membership associations, represents over 25,000 practicing interior designers worldwide. In the U.S., the American Society of Interior Designers is a full member, and several interior design schools are members. Shashi Caan, as an ASID member, is the president-elect of IFI.

4.14.08 | Teknion’'s new Boston showroom opened on April 4^th to a crowd of hundreds. The area’s A&D community came out in droves to welcome the company and all of its heavy hitters to celebrate the opening of the space.

4.14.08 | You don'’t have to be a designer to get excited by the variety and quality of Luna Textiles’ offerings. It used to be, and for many still is, the case that fabric is an afterthought. But who would design a fantastic interior without considering the aesthetic of color and texture? In that way, Luna, known as “the Armani of textiles,” is a designer’s dream.

4.14.08 | Imagine you were a state legislator and some folks asked you to pass a law making it a crime to give advice about paint colors and throw pillows without a license. Well, that‘'s pretty hard to imagine, but it’s how Clark Neily, Esq., of the ironically named Institute for Justice, a libertarian organization, began his opinion piece in the April 1, 2008 Wall Street Journal.

4.14.08 | As Modern architecture ages to a point where preservation is necessary, the methods and technology used in this preservation have to be carefully considered to maintain the design integrity of the building. Theodore H.M. Prudon’s (PhD, FAIA) Preservation Of Modern Architecture (published by Wiley) provides useful guidance, with many case studies, for the professional architect interested in a broad background in preservation as a field as well as specific material and technology issues in preservation.

4.14.08 | Benjamin Moore presented its annual HUE Awards on March 27 in New York City.This year’'s honorees competition winners were:

• STUDIOS Architecture, San Francisco, for Contract Interiors
• Donald Lococo Architects, Washington, DC, for Residential Exteriors.
• Danielle Bokor, of Bokor Consulting, Inc., Woodmere, NY, for Residential Interiors

4.14.08 | Last month, officeinsight went to the exhibition of the 2007 International Design Awards at the Museum of Design, Art, and Architecture in Culver City, CA. The International Design Awards is a new competition whose mission is to “recognize, celebrate and promote legendary design visionaries and to uncover emerging talent in architecture and interior, product, graphic and fashion design.” IDA was founded by the Farmani Group, the same minds that created the Lucie Awards for Photography.

4.7.08 | The HON Company, one of HNI Corporation’'s big financial engines and a mid-market furniture powerhouse, continues to be a treasure house of surprises. Generally, most people are aware of its operational superiority, but few know what that means and how that translates to worker attitude, and a variety of other essential corporate attitude.  Recently, I met with HON'’s Don Mead, Vice President of Marketing, Jim Cahill, Vice President of Systems and Mindy Billingsley, Environmental Marketing Manager, along with several of their colleagues, who offered an excellent overview of HON’'s “green” initiatives, as well as some candid observations on how to effectively communicate the company’s environmental story to its mid-market customers.

4.7.08 | French architect Jean Nouvel is all over the map – both literally, with projects on four continents, and in terms of his design as well. Maybe the diversity of his work is why Pritzker Prize jurors have been slower in recognizing the 62-year-old Nouvel, the 2008 winner, than several of his peers. Unlike, say, previous winners Frank Gehry or Richard Meier, Nouvel has no signature style.

4.7.08 | Knoll has formed a new high-end textile brand called Knoll Luxe. Designed by creative director Dorothy Cosonas, the line incorporates the modern, minimalist style of Florence Knoll, who started the industry's first commercial textile program in 1947.

4.7.08 | HBF and HBF Textiles hosted Pratt Institute Department of Interior Design Career Night last week in its New York City showroom. It was the events fifth year and 80 or so attendees included Pratt students and faculty, design professionals and special guest Dr. Tom Schutte, President of Pratt Institute.

4.7.08 | Late Friday. I was sorting through the email. Invitation; a fundraiser. I reached for the delete button. But paused . . . DIFFA (Design Industry Foundation Fighting AIDS). Dining by Design; food. Allsteel and HOK hosting. (Hmm.) $800 a head. Was I worth it? Hardly, but O.K., I’ll go.