Tribeca’s Stillfried Wien was packed with designers and artists discussing artisanship in the world of modern business at a Residential Forum hosted by the International Interior Design Association’s (IIDA) New York Chapter on Tuesday, March 15th. At Modern Makers—Artisans on Fleek, attendees enjoyed insight from a panel with a range of experiences and tenure, including Brit Kleinman of Avo, Bill Hilgendorf of Uhuru Design, and David Weeks of David Weeks Studio. Moderated by Jean Lin, the founder of the independent designer co-op Colony, the discussion focused on the striking the balance between artist and business identities and how to stay true to creative vision.
Local artisans face a unique challenge in a global marketplace. Competing with international companies that can scale up their production and cut prices, designers and artists have to find a niche to stay in business. Kleinman, Hilgendorf and Weeks all agreed the artisan niche is established through voicing the value of local manufacturing, small-scale production and customization to consumers.
“I think our best clients are the ones who understand the value of working with an artisan. They see it as an added value to their projects,” Lin said. “New York is a special place for this reason.”
“What’s great about small shops and designers is the flexibility that we can offer to create a product you can’t get otherwise,” agreed Hilgendorf. “Don’t try to compete with the mad market. Find out what you can offer that is different and better.”
Panelists also discussed balancing their passions. Kleinman, Hilgendorf and Weeks all concurred that while they now spend a huge part of their day managing their businesses, designing and creating is still a fundamental and prized part of their workday.
“My hands are very clean but normally they’re stained blue or black,” Kleinman said. “For me, success is that I get to paint everyday. It’s a balance between enjoying my day-to-day and building a business where I want to work. You have to wear a lot of hats.”
This high-energy gathering gave attendees a look into the minds and lives of some of the city’s most inspiring creators, and proved that it’s still possible to make it as an artist in NYC.
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