Todd Avery-Lenahan, Kelly Hushin and Alexis Readinger. Not pictured: Charles de Lisle, third penelist.

Boutique DESIGN's 'Young Innovative Designers' Seminar at IHMRS

by Catherine Tandy Email this blog to a colleague

T his year at IHMRS, boutique DESIGN hosted another (fantastic) seminar, ‘Young. Innovative. Designers.’ which featured two boutique 18 winners, Charles de Lisle and Alexis Readinger, as well as 2008’s Designer of the Year, Todd Avery-Lenahan. The three panelists, moderated by our very own editor-in-chief, Kelly Hushin, discussed their disdain of “trends,” the promise of 2010 and even offered some advice on how to appeal to potential employers.

Lenahan explained that he believes there is an important differentiation to make between something that is ‘fashionable’ versus something that is ‘trendy,’ as fashion tends to be creativity-driven while trends are consumer-driven, fleeting ubiquitous designs that lack any depth or longevity. “A large part of [what I do] is educating the clients,” explained Lenahan. “Sometimes they come to me with pages torn out of a Restoration Hardware catalogue, and say, ‘I want it to look like this.’ We have to break the hypnotic spell.”

Hushin went on to ask the panelists about the ideal projects they would be designing in 2010. Readinger explained that she has always wanted to create a hotel in a vacation spot where people aren’t “spoon fed,” she said. “Somewhere where you don’t just lie around. People will go there because of what there is to do. It’d be like the Burning Man Festival in Nevada where there are only active participants.” Readinger also said she would like to create a property that catered to varying echelons of people, including those who could only trade work for a place to rest.

De Lisle, in discussing 2010 explained that “2010 will not be 2008 but it won’t be 2009 either. The phones have started ringing again. We started laying people off in anticipation of this time last August. But I think jobs here will emerge in about 6 months.” De Lisle also outlined the societal integrity of his new company (Charles de Lisle Workshop) which opened this past June.

“We have a proven track record of increased revenue for properties, but sometimes there are arguments,” de Lisle continued. “We recently had to tell a client that we couldn’t, in good conscience, put in carpet tiles that weren’t totally recyclable. Every 7-9 years all soft goods have to be replaced. They burn out like a light bulb. They take an incredible amount of abuse. But the design and products we choose, no, they may not be as ‘cool’ as they were 9 years ago, but they hold up and still look good.”

Both de Lisle and Lenahan offered some surprising advice for designers in search of employment as well; they’re not just looking for proficiency in AutoCAD. “You can’t create talent but you can cultivate it,” said Lenahan. “I look for people with life experience, that ‘spark,’ enthusiasm. Sometimes it’s not about a more impressive portfolio.”

De Lisle echoed these sentiments, explaining that he still requires potential employees to have a high level of creativity and artistic talent. “You have to be able to draw,” said de Lisle. Sometimes you’re with a client, alone, with no one to help you and you have to be able to illustrate what you’re talking about.”

All three panelists also discussed their previous employment ‘behind the scenes’ of the hospitality industry (as servers) explaining that to create both a beautiful and “useful” design, one has to understand the inner workings of the system. “There are significant merits of having worked behind the scenes, waiting tables or serving drinks,” said Lenahan. “It proves a definitive work ethic. It humanizes and humbles you.”

Readinger regaled the audience with a tale of her past when she opened her own little ‘nightclub’ and learned firsthand about how to make a design “work,” she said. “I realized the width and length of my bar allowed me to serve X amount of drinks in X amount of time.”

Lenahan followed Readinger’s story with a knowing nod, adding that “it’s about understanding the specific business objective. You have to be careful not to steam-roll the client’s or the operator’s needs with your personal vision.”

The seminar finished with Lenahan discussing the recent findings of his survey which sought to determine what luxuries or amenities guests actually care about in order to better prepare for the coming year and the future of design, explained Avery. “It seems simple but it’s eluded the industry for a long time,” explained Lenahan. “[Guests] don’t want slippers by the bed or chocolates on their pillows or bellboys offering them free water every time they walk into the lobby. Surprisingly, all the things people really want, like natural light and a means of experiencing the culture and surroundings of the area, are immaterial.”

The hospitality industry has certainly suffered, but according to our talented insiders, these economic setbacks, challenges and ostensibly stifling times are creating an environment that is exactly the opposite of what one would expect. Designers are heightening their problem-solving skills and overcoming financial barriers with inspired visions and newfound creativity, projects that reflect a more socially conscious design.