New York Design Week 2014 preview: the 15 must-see events

In case you haven't noticed, New York's creative forces have been showing off around town for the past week. Since festivities first kicked off last Thursday with the return of Collective 2 and Friday's opening of Frieze New York, the city has been engulfed by a flurry of NYCxDesign activity that is now entering a second week. Today New York Design Week will begin to swing into action, welcoming a fresh crop of participants to the stage. From new designer showcases to enlightened collaborations and a host of product launches, we round up our top 15 highlights that should not be missed in exhibition halls, galleries and stores across town...

Makers & Brothers pop-up
The Irish-focused online design shop, Makers & Brothers, brings its flair for elevating the super normal back to New York this weekend with its brick and mortar pop-up, known as The Shed. Installed in the garden of The Standard East Village hotel, the shop will house a selection of Irish design favourites, along with a workshop run by Irish craftsman Jim Carroll, who will carve elegant wooden spoons out of native Irish woods. Makers & Brothers will also unveil a new cheese board, designed exclusively by Max Lamb and produced in his 'Marmoreal' terrazzo.

The Standard Hotel, East Village, 25 Cooper Square, New York, NY 10003
15-20 May

Alexander Girard: An Uncommon Vision, with Herman Miller and Maharam
In celebration of American-born design, Herman Miller has partnered up with luxury textile house Maharam to reissue the furniture and fabric designs of the mid-century design great, Alexander Girard. Staged as a Girard-esque living room installation, the exhibition celebrates the life and legacy of the designer, whose style became closely intertwined with Herman Miller after his tenure as its design director of textiles from 1952-1973. Visitors can not only admire and experience the new collection of furniture and textiles, but also enjoy coffee by La Colombe and peruse official Girard souvenirs from books and blankets to posters and dolls. A special edition pillow produced by Maharam is a particularly unique memento.

446 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10014
May 16-28

Sight Unseen Offsite
For the last four years, Noho Design District has been our go-to destination for discovering new and emerging design talent from around the United States. This year, curators Monica Khemsurov and Jill Singer, founders of the design blog Sight Unseen, have brought their friends together under one roof - in Soho, no less. Entitled 'Offsite', the event will host almost 50 designers, both local and from further afield, and a pop-up café in a stunning 17,000 sq ft warehouse space. As always, the crowd on show demonstrates that Sight Unseen's finger is on the design pulse - AMMA Studio and Mario Milana are just two of the many names that we'll be looking out for.

200 Lafayette Street, New York, NY10012
16-20 May

Wallpaper* Handmade with Jaguar
We're not ones to toot our own horn, but after five iterations, our Handmade exhibition will finally makes its way to the Big Apple this week, thanks to the efforts and support of Jaguar. We've pitched up in DDG's stylish 345 Meatpacking condo to bring some of the highlights from this year's show in Milan, as well as from past exhibitions, to a new audience. From sex toys and tool kits, to glow-in-the-dark wallpaper, perfumes and the ultimate make-up collection, there's a lot on show that we're proud of. We hope you'll agree.

345meatpacking, 345 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10014
16-31 May

Norwegian By Nature: New Designs from Norway
The past few years have seen New York's stalwart design event, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, under pressure to keep up with the vibrancy of creative offerings happening away from its hub, the Javits Center. Luring us back there this year though is a presentation of emerging Norwegian design, supported by the Royal Norwegian Consulate and curated by writer Paul Makovsky. Presenting the work of over 20 young studios, including StokkeAustad, Vera & Kyte and Gunzler Polmar, while highlighting the country's design heritage with a selection of reissued classics by vintage enthusiasts Fuglen, the showcase is as fresh as it gets.

Inside Norway (Booth 922), Jacob K Javits Convention Center, 655 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001
17-20 May

Matter Made
After years of recruiting designers to create modern icons for Matter's in-house label, Matter Made, founder and creative director Jamie Gray has made his own contribution this year - a lighting system, no less. 'Discus' is a family of LED lighting made from aluminum, brass and glass. Streamlined, yet packing a graphic punch, the versatile system is available as hanging pendants, in a floor and table lamp version, and as wall sconces.

Matter Made (Booth 1321), Jacob K Javits Convention Center, 655 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001
17-20 May

Rational x Intuitive Thought: a collection of furniture and objects by Yabu Pushelberg
Like most successful design practices, Yabu Pushelberg has its fingers in many pies. This weekend, the design crowd will have the chance to enjoy the interior design studio's latest product creations all in one place. 'Rational and Intuitive Thought' celebrates the duality that permeates most of the Toronto-based duo's creations, whether it's the whimsical 'Blink' furniture range for Stellarworks or the ornate, marine-inspired tableware range for Pampaloni, which is being unveiled for the first time. Also on display: new geometric works for Avenue Road and stylish shelving for Van Rossum.

Swiss Institute, 18 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10013
17-19 May

Industry City
Industry City is the newest creative destination to join New York City's design party. Located in Sunset Park in south Brooklyn, and home to many of the city's design companies, the developing neighbourhood - which is formed by a 6 million sq ft cluster of warehouses - has teamed up with Wanted Design to lure visitors out of Manhattan. One installation of note comes from WorkOf, a digital portal that connects interior designers with independent makers, which has created a dream apartment featuring the wares of Souda, Workstead and Calico Wallpaper. Have your shopping list ready.

Industry City, 220 36th Street, Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NY 11204
10-20 May

De La Espada
Luca Nichetto is having a moment. Not only are new works by the Italian designer popping up at Casamania and Seletti this week, he is adding several new pieces to the '50/50' collection that he created for De La Espada. The range, which debuted in February in Stockholm, first launched with the 'Elysia' lounge chair and is now being followed up with the inviting 'Stanley' sofa and dynamic 'Laurel' coffee and side tables. Presented alongside a capsule collection of geometric, wearable assemblages by fashion designer Yulia Yadryshnikova, the expanded range is much anticipated.

Ludlow Studios, 40 Ludlow Street, (between Hester and Grand), New York, NY 10002
16-18 May (open by appointment)

Vitsoe
Vitsoe's signature minimalist aesthetic takes on a playful twist this week. The design icon has invited the artful foodie zine, The Gourmand, to transform its Noho boutique into a neighbourhood fruit stand. With the 606 universal shelving system and other Vitsoe faithfuls serving as a backdrop, The Gourmand will serve locally sourced fruit tarts and homemade sodas, alongside its archive of back issues and other inspirations. Don't forget to take away the limited-edition recipe book, featuring fruit-themed treats and specially commissioned illustrations that the pair have published just for the occasion.

Vitsœ Fruit Stand with The Gourmand, 33 Bond Street, New York, NY 10012
16-19 May

Salvers & Paper at David Weeks Studio
Since opening his first retail space in Tribeca last year, veteran American designer David Weeks has sought out like-minded design folk with which to host exhibitions. This week sees him team up with Neal Feay Studio, the avant-garde, aluminium producer from Santa Barbara, on a collection of six serving trays: designed by Weeks and Neal Feay head honcho, Alex Rasmussen. The technically innovative pieces are the perfect foil to 'Gorillion' - the playful 2D interpretation of Weeks' signature gorilla toy, which launches concurrently. Created by Flavor Paper, whose collaboration with the Haas Brothers is also on show at Wallpaper* Handmade, the hand-screened wallpaper is based on Weeks' sketches for the best-selling toy.

David Weeks Studio, 38 Walker Street, New York, NY 10013
17 May - 20 June

Roll & Hill
Brooklyn-based lighting company Roll & Hill continues to score big with its newest additions to its collections. The label has always had a knack for bringing on stellar collaborators and its latest collection sees contributions from the most buzzed about names, including Philippe Malouin and Bec Brittain. The products are not the only part that it's pushing forward. This week's presentation in a 20,000 sq ft retail space on swanky Fifth Avenue is set to be the largest to date. Designed by Brooklyn-based studio Snarkitecture, the showcase will display the scale and breadth of the company's wares in their full glory.

530 Fifth Avenue (between 44th and 45th Street), New York, NY 10017
17-20 May

Intro/NY
With the backing of Design Junction, Intro/NY is another satellite show championing the cause for emerging designers from around the world. The presentation shines a spotlight on 12 independent designers and labels from Sweden, Canada, New Zealand and beyond. We were particularly taken with the leather creations of New York designer Alissia Melka-Teichroew, who debuts a new range of leather strap planters, and 'All of A Piece', the line of modular tableware from fellow Americans Earnest Studio and Dana Cannam Design.

Openhouse, 201 Mulberry Street, New York, NY 10012
15-19 May

Colony showroom launch
For all the talent, creativity and chutzpah a designer might have, it's certainly not always easy to juggle the numbers and carve out a successful livelihood. Enter Colony: a new designers' co-operative set up by writer and designer Jean Lin. Created to support the independent spirit of contemporary design, Colony debuts its gallery-style showroom space this week, which provides its mostly Brooklyn-based designers with a home-base in the heart of Soho. Amongst the founding 12 designers with works on show are furniture makers Assembly and Egg Collective, and textile specialist Meg Callahan.

324 Canal St, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10013
15-23 May

Wanted Design
Now in its fourth year, Wanted Design continues its upward trajectory with an even more wide-ranging arsenal of exhibitors than before. In addition to representatives from Lebanon, Iran, Turkey, Mexico City and Chile, and booths from international brands like Alessi, Cappellini and Seletti, the fair also looks out for talent on home soil. Design Within Reach premieres a new outdoor furniture collection by the Danish firm Norm Architects, while Brooklyn favourite Areaware presents new additions to its product line from an ongoing partnership with Parsons School of Design.

Terminal Stores, 269 11th Avenue, New York, NY 10001
16-19 May