“We are proud to be celebrating twenty years of an event that has given so much to the organizations that are leading the charge in the fight against HIV/AIDS,” says Johanna Osburn, Executive Director at DIFFA. “The design community has been a tremendous champion of the cause, investing talent, resources and ingenuity year after year to showcase exceptional design while raising awareness and much-needed funds for an issue that affects so many. We have made great strides, but with an estimated 1.2 million individuals living with HIV in the US, 1 and 8 unaware of their status, our work is not done.”
Through DIFFA’s Student Design Initiative, sponsored by the Angelo Donghia Foundation, local design schools built installations, taking special care to create an installation that raises awareness about HIV/AIDS care and prevention. Students from Parsons will incorporate found materials from each of New York City’s five boroughs, coming together in a single color; an analogy for the many New Yorkers affected by HIV/AIDS. The Pratt Institute installation will represent a “home” in the fight against AIDS. The New York School of Interior Design has titled their installation “Shining Brightly Together.” Evoking emotion and energy through light and color, it symbolically references a pulsating heartbeat. A series of lines merge in the center to embrace a theme of unity.
In addition to the design installations, DINING BY DESIGN will feature a silent auction, complete with innovative products, original artwork and unique experiences. A special part of the auction will include custom-designed pieces from a group of artists and designers that will be featured in a campaign from ONE CONDOMS to benefit DIFFA. ONE Makes a DIFFArence is an educational program in which professional and student artists create one-of-a-kind designs to benefit DIFFA’s work. As part of the program, ONE and DIFFA worked together to educate students in New York City about sexual health.
David Rockwell, former Chair of the Board for DIFFA National whose firm the Rockwell Group has participated in the event since its inception in 1997 adds, “DIFFA’s Dining by Design has become an integral and thriving part of the design community. It’s incredible to see designers come together year after year to make a difference for people living with HIV/AIDS.”
The displays are available for viewing from Thursday through Sunday, and set the stage for two fundraising parties: Cocktails By Design (Thursday, March 16) and the DINING BY DESIGN Gala Dinner (Monday, March 20).
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