The Hypebeast Guide to NYCxDesign 2025

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During the upcoming NYCxDesign event, the bustling city of New York is gearing up for its annual design festival. This celebration features cutting-edge creations by budding studios, artists, design companies, and prominent furniture brands. From May 15th to the 21st, Design Week in New York will unfold across the city’s vibrant boroughs and artistic communities, with Manhattan serving as its hub, while Brooklyn and Queens host some of the most captivating exhibitions.

Before the bustling season of events like parties, launches, and exhibitions kicks off, TopMob has prepared a list of not-to-be-missed shows and happenings to keep an eye on. The Orior’s Mercer Street Block Party and Lichen’s cozy Biome show in Queens are just a couple of examples from New York’s major events and independent exhibitions taking place around the city. Here, we have compiled some top picks from the city’s outskirts for you.

Read on for our edit.

The International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF)

Without a doubt, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) is essentially NYCxDesign’s version of Milan’s Salone Del Mobile. Taking place at the spacious Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan, ICFF is NYCxDesign’s largest event, filled with numerous booths showcasing installations and exhibitions from manufacturers, artisans, and designers around the globe.

The ICFF show “WANTED” occupies a whopping 20,000 square feet of the floor and aims to spotlight up-and-coming design talent. This includes works from Winkle Ceramic Design, Finnish designer Hanna Anonen, and Devin Wilde. Additionally, rare and collectible furniture dealer Rarify will be back for “Form & Forest: Masters of Contemporary Woodwork,” where they’ll display exceptional wood designs in their most uncommon forms and creative applications.

The fair also offers immersive installations, workshops, and talks on design, led by over 80 experts in the field.

May 18-20 – Javits Center, 429 11th Ave

Shelter

At the helm is a fresh, three-day event titled Shelter, orchestrated by home brand Afternoon Light. For its debut, “VOL. 1: MART NOUVEAU,” you’ll find an impressive lineup of brands such as Blu Dot, Hem, Yamazaki Home, and Mooi, alongside artisanal creators and designers. Notably, the event commemorates the 10-year milestone of the offbeat “JONALD DUDD” exhibit with “GRATEFUL DUDD,” specially curated by Chen Chen and Kai Williams. Furthermore, the newcomer to NYCxDesign, the Queer-led exhibition “Design Dysphoria,” joins forces with Gotham, a local dispensary and store, to showcase its second installment, featuring fresh creations from Studio S II, Lizzy Collins, and Get Sticky Glass.

May 18-20 – Starrett-Lehigh Building, 601 West 26th Street

The Independents by Colony

Under the guidance of its founder Jean Lin, design gallery Colony from Tribeca is set to exhibit “The Independents,” its largest group show yet, featuring 27 artists and designers. This marks the gallery’s 11th exhibition for New York Design Week. In a note to her community, Lin expressed that this show is a heartfelt tribute to the independent designer’s spirit, and the significance of their work. Alongside established and modern studios, fresh faces such as Marmar Studio, Ember Studio, M.Pei Studio, Alara Alkan Studio, Thomas Yang Studio, Another World, Maxwell Taylor-Milner, and BC Joshua will also be showcased.

May 9-20 – Colony 196 West Broadway

Biome by Lichen

At the close of Design Week, the Lichen design studio and shop located in Ridgewood will unveil their group exhibition titled “Biome” on Friday, May 23rd. This show, curated by the Lichen team, will display work by artists such as Yuxuan Huang, Vy Voi, Reginald Sylvester II, and hardware designer Malcolm Ransome. In an Instagram post, Lichen described the show as focusing on ecological community types that adapt to their environment and regional climate. The team stated that the featured artists are part of their network, whose work is bridging the gap between the past and present. On the weekend following the launch, a condensed viewing of selected works from each designer will be available for viewing from 12 pm to 5 pm on May 24th and 25th.

May 23-25 – Lichen, 564 Woodward Ave, Ridgewood, NY 11385

OUTSIDE/IN  by Lyle Gallery

The OUTSIDE/IN exhibit at Lyle Gallery, jointly curated by Hello Human, takes inspiration from the Outside Art Movement and delves into topics of identity, substance, and self-rule using non-traditional pieces crafted by 13 independent artists and makers. By showcasing the distinctive perspectives of each creator, this exhibition focuses on the edges of what has traditionally been deemed “marketable” or “collectible” design. The works of Aliyah Salmon, Inderjeet Sandhu, Jaye Kim, Jirah Joshua, Kawabi, Monica Curiel, Platform Studio, Salù Iwadi Studio, and others will be on display from May to June 1.

May 13 – June 1, Lyle Gallery, 24 Rutgers St, Fl 1

Every Shadow is a Color by Assembly Line

On May 17th, General Assembly’s design firm, The Assembly Line shop, will unveil its “Every Shadow is a Color” exhibit, featuring innovative designs by Juntos Projects from New York City. Inspired by Josef Albers’ groundbreaking book ‘Interaction of Color’, the show delves into how light and shadows impact our perception of colors in three-dimensional items. Besides Juntos Projects, Atelier de Troupe, Blue Green Works, Rye, and Elitis will also display their works. On May 17th, close neighbors such as ceramics studio East Fork, Porta (European tableware and home furnishings brand), and The Primary Essentials home shop will open their doors for Boerum Hill Design Night’s grand opening.

May 17 – Assembly Line, 373 Atlantic Ave

The Family Show by Love House

Love House, a design showroom located in NYC, is hosting a grand exhibition called “The Family Show,” featuring over 60 designers and artists from their creative community. This event, running from May 9 to May 30 (Monday through Friday, 11 am to 5 pm), invites each participant to express their individual perspective on the concept of “family” through their designs. By showcasing this collective creativity, Love House honors its rich artistic fellowship. Some of the noteworthy participants include Eny Lee Parker, Monica Curiel, Farrah Sit, Forma Rosa Studio, Panorammma, Astraeus Clark, and many others. This exhibition takes place before the official design week dates, but Love House welcomes visitors during these hours.

May 9-30 – Lovehouse, 179 E Broadway

Forced Perspective

The two-day event, titled “Forced Perspective,” explores how art and design can offer insights amidst an era when media shapes political and social perceptions in misleading ways, resulting in confusion and division. The exhibition will feature collectible furniture and design pieces by 15 NYC artists, delving into related socio-political themes. Curated by NJ Roseti, Caleb Ferris, Kiki Goti, and The House Special Studio, the lineup includes local talents such as office of tangible space, Luke Malaney, Kim Mupangilaï, and Heechan Kim.

May 19-20 – Radio Star, 13 Greenpoint Ave

Mercer St Block Party by Orior and friends

Wrapping up the list but certainly not in terms of importance, Irish furniture brand Orior will host its third annual Mercer Street Block Party on May 16, unveiling a completely new collection at their revamped showroom. Although spearheaded by Orior, nearby establishments such as Amelie du Chalard, BDDW, Calico + Stellar Works, Henrybuilt + Mljac, Kasthall, Nordic Knots, Roll & Hill, Uprise Art, and Petra + Sight Unseen at HOST will also welcome party-goers from 6 pm – 9 pm. This relaxed event serves as a convenient way to visit several galleries and showrooms early in your list.

May 16 – Orior Showroom, 32 Mercer Street

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2025-05-09 20:26