Through the efforts of pioneers like Noho Design District and Wanted Design, the days surrounding the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in May have evolved into New York Design Week, a celebration of a too-frequently overshadowed art. Now, the city is following suit. Bolstering the spring festivities is the inaugural NYCxDesign, a 12-day, five-borough festival helmed by New York City Council speaker Christine C. Quinn and a steering committee of “more than 30 design leaders from business, civic and cultural groups,” the New York Times reports.

The city’s impetus is economic. Through a series of exhibitions, studio tours, pop-ups, and films covering the spectrum of design disciplines — graphic, industrial, product, fashion, digital, etc… — that coincides with the descent of art lovers on the city for Frieze Art Fair, Quinn hopes to shed a spotlight on the industry and ultimately create more jobs within it. “We have more designers in New York City than any other U.S. city, but we do a terrible job promoting them in their totality,” she told the Times. [NYCxDesign via The New York Times]

— Janelle Zara

Tags: Janelle Zara, News, NYCxDesign