From exhibitions of historic design, such as designer Poul Kjærholm‘s furniture, to a collection of miniatures by Japanese retailer Muji and the much-talked-about freshman fair Shelter, here are 16 must-see events during this year’s NYCxDesign.
New York’s yearly design festival is set to start next week with a plethora of events celebrating the design culture of the city.
After a strong emphasis on themed group shows last year, 2025’s edition is likely to follow suit, with a variety of multi-designer shows filling spaces from Manhattan lofts to a former radio broadcast station.
A loose organisation of events, the fair is anchored by trade fair ICFF at the Jacob K Javits Convention Center in Midtown, while right down the road, newcomer fair Shelter is seeking to become a hub for the week.
Read on for Dezeen’s selection of events to orient New York design lovers, and for a full listing of NYCxDesign events, see our dedicated NYCxDesign Festival Guide.
Antoni Gaudí chairs reimagined by Casa Valle and BD Barcelona
Designers Giancarlo Valle and Jane Keltner have worked with Spanish furniture company BD Barcelona to reimagine a series of furniture designs by architect Antoni Gaudí, who was recently put on the path the sainthood.
Hosted in the team’s downtown location, the exhibition will showcase the expressive wooden chairs alongside Gaudí’s Casa Calvet armchair and stool, as well as other vintage pieces and original designs by Valle.
15 May to TBC at Casa Valle, by appointment
Chroma: A Vibrant Experience of Swiss Design by Consulate General of Switzerland
Curated by designer Nadja Stäubli, Chroma will see the transformation of the atrium space at popular creative hub and office space WSA 180.
The design of the installation will be focused on vibrancy and tactility and feature pieces by a variety of Swiss studios, such as Atelier Oï and USM, as well as Stäubli’s studio, Sula.
16-20 May at WSA
Hug Chair launch by Kouros Maghsoudi
Designer Kouros Maghsoudi will launch a new collection at an event hosted in collaboration with Dezeen.
The designer, who has said he focuses on a revival of “provocative design”, will showcase his metal-and-fibreglass furniture at Spring Place in Manhattan.
16 May at Spring Place
Forced Perspective by NJ Roseti, Caleb Ferris and The House Special Studio
A group of emerging local designers will throw a group show at Radio Star, a restaurant in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neighbourhood on the former site of the broadcast station WNYC.
The showcase will include sculptural furniture and objects curated around themes of reflection in a time of “distorted political and social views”.
19-20 May at Radio Star
Cube One launch by Rarify x Gantri
Modern design shop Rarify and manufacturer Gantri have teamed up to create a modular lighting product, the first design from Rarify. The Cube One light features a fixture made with Gantri’s “revolutionary” manufacturing method and USM components for the frame.
The exhibition of the product will be hosted in an experiential setting by local design outfit Studio Guapo.
17 May at 46 Hester St.
Joaquim Tenreiro: Inventing a modern tropical living by Bossa Furniture
At its new Chelsea annexe, curatorial and restoration project Bossa Furniture will showcase the “most comprehensive presentation” of furniture by Brazilian modernist designer Joaquim Tenreiro.
It will feature typologies ranging from seating to doors, derived from the Brazilian master’s decades-long career.
7 May to 30 June at 555 W 25th Street, Floor 3
NYCxDesignxSouvenir by Boym Partners and Cool Hunting
Located at The Canvas Gallery at the Oculus, the NYCxDesignxSouvenir exhibition will feature New York-inspired works by 72 different designers.
Some of the stand-out features include Justin Gignac’s Garbage Cubes and a metal snack dish set designed in the shape of the five boroughs by Charlie Ruiz and Leon Bora.
15 to 21 May at The Canvas at the Oculus
OUTSIDE/IN by Lyle Gallery
Chinatown gallery Lyle will feature works informed by the outsider art movement, with a focus on “challenging norms”.
The exhibition will showcase experimental and accessibility-focused work by studios such as California-based Soft Geometry, as well as a “therapeutic chair” by Tanuvi Hegde.
13 May to 1 June at Lyle Gallery
Paraphernalia: Desire by Eliza Axelson-Chidsey and Jess Fügler
After a stand-out showing last year, design curators Axelson-Chidsey and Fügler will return with a group show based around the concept of desire.
It will feature designs from Office of Tangible Space and Dan McMahon, with all the designers given a 12-inch by 12-inch (2.5 centimetre) constraint.
7 to 31 May at Fredericks & Mae
Shelter by Afternoon Light
The inaugural Shelter fair by online shop Afternoon Light will feature the work of dozens of designers in the iconic Starrett-Lehigh Building in Chelsea.
Long-running shows such as Jonald Dudd and local galleries including Colony will put on exhibitions, alongside fair programming that includes talks and performances.
17 to 19 May at Starrett-Lehigh Building
The Family Show by Love House
Contemporary design showroom Love House will be curating its “first-ever” group show featuring a collection of more than 60 works.
Bioplastic vessels by product designer Caroline Zimbalist will sit alongside glossy armchairs by Canadian designer Paolo Ferrari, and many more.
9 to 31 May at Love House
Innervwoven by Of the Cloth
Of the Cloth, the curatorial project of designer Tione Trice, will partner with hotel The Standard East Village to showcase design pieces by Black women.
The showcase and retail concept will feature works by textile designer Sarah Nsikak and furniture maker Nifemi Ogunro, among others.
12-31 May at The Standard, East Village
Still Growing by Emily Marant and Amelie du Chalard
Design curator Emily Marant has partnered with gallery Amelie du Chalard to showcase seven designers focused on “the evolving relationship between design and the natural world”.
Designers Jack Simonds and Luke Malaney will contribute work to the exhibition, which will open during the Mercer Street Block Party open gallery event in SoHo.
16 May to 9 June at Amelie du Chalard
Design Legacy: The Poul Kjærholm Collection by Fritz Hansen
Danish design brand Fritz Hansen will showcase the work of iconic designer Poul Kjærholm in their Downtown showroom.
Among the works shown will be the PK15 Arm Chair and PK0 A Chair.
15 May to 21 May at Fritz Hansen New York Showroom
Look Book by Wanted at ICFF
Long-running design showcase Wanted, now inside the trade fair ICFF, will showcase design collections from independent studios across North America.
With a focus on experimentation and aesthetics, the showcase will feature furniture studios such as Hannah Bigeleisen, Juntos Projects and Lauren Goodman.
18 to 20 May at Javits Convention Center
Small Muji by Muji
Japanese retailer Muji has partnered with mitate artist Tatsuya Tanaka to create 16 diaramas featuring cityscapes made up of Muji products.
The miniatures include lotion bottles as diving boards, file organisers as escalators, and a beachscape made from socks and jeans.
16 May to 8 June at Muji 5th Avenue
Visit our dedicated NYCxDesign 2025 guide to keep up with all the design events in the city from 15 to 21 May and the general Dezeen Events Guide for international fairs, showcases and panels in architecture and design.
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