DESIGNcomm Summit NYC

Capital Creativity: Finance in Design : Patrick D. Sims, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones, and Vanessa DeLeon, CEO & Principal Designer, Vanessa DeLeon Associates, moderated by Patti Carpenter, Principal + Global Trend Ambassador, carpenter + company & Trendscope. Photography Credit Pratya Jankong | IG @pj_photographer

DESIGNcomm Summit NYC

Samsung 837 – 837 Washington Street New York, NY
Tuesday, May 21 at 1:00pm - 5:30pm
Footage of Panels can be found here : https://www.digitalthreadconsulting.com/designcommsummit

By DARYL RASHAAN KING July 5, 2024

            Today is a different day in Contemporary Art due to conflict in the Middle East, environmental damage in Rio Grande do Sul, the crisis in Haiti, the opioid epidemic in the United States, a lower standard of general living, and the death of Frank Stella. Usually, May is a month of celebration, with Frieze Week, the Met Gala, art fairs, and NYC x Design taking place simultaneously. NYC x Design is "an annual citywide celebration featuring hundreds of design events, from exhibits and trade shows to talks and tours, drawing hundreds of thousands of attendees from near and far, making it a must-attend for design enthusiasts worldwide." Over the years, fashion has started to merge calendars with the Design Festival. Special guests could attend the DESIGNcomm Summit, whose mission was to help "Empower  business (owners with the) acumen in this evolving industry while fostering meaningful connections with the fellow community." The Summit was structured around four various panels. Panelists shared guidance that the queer art community could really use to propel their careers.

            Melissa Mittag, Founder of Collyer & Company - a Getting Published Panelist and co-founder of comm collective, stated that "This event is more than just a gathering; it's a strategic platform for networking and sharing innovative ideas at the intersection of media, design, technology, and business." I remember having a similar experience when visiting Dash Snow's art openings at Jeffery Deitch. After years of working in the arts, I realized I could only survive with a long-term strategy focused on how to build a career. Vanessa DeLeon highlighted licensing and having an agent, curator, manager, consultant, or specialist as part of your team. Patrick D. Sims stated, "…My overall message to the attendees was that having a financial team around you and constant communication with that team is critical. Maintaining your long-term goals while pivoting where necessary along that journey of retirement and achieving your dreams as a creative entrepreneur is important. It's important to put YOU first and to protect the asset you've spent so much time shaping so that a buyer in the future can find that same value and reward you for all the years of hard work you put in. The time to start is TODAY!" Knowing where your money goes also allows you to strategically maneuver your way with funds.

Monetize Your Brand : Alvin Wayne, Principal Designer of Alvin Wayne Interiors featured Bilal Rehman, CEO & Principal Designer of Bilal Rehman Studio; Brittany Hennessy, Author of INFLUENCER, and Jessica Davis, Founder of Design Firm Atelier Davis, Founder & Creative Director of Nest Studio, moderated by Byron Cordero, Principal & Brand Strategist, Cordero Consulting. Photography Credit Pratya Jankong | IG @pj_photographer

            First, we must recognize that every creative professional needs a network to help them survive. According to DeLeon, cyclical business factors are unpredictable, and business owners must "Pay themselves because it will also help you put staff first as a means of business operation." You will learn the value of your business and how to stay committed to the goal far ahead into the future. The designer also highlighted the importance of having an emergency fund, business savings, and escrows to help guide yourself. Years later, after relying on emergency funds to survive quarantine, I remember learning to be more responsible about my work and future. That lesson first started when I was a young student. Dash Snow himself, my visits to Jeffrey Deitch gallery, and the tragedy of his career were one early source.The principles offered by the panelists were reminders of tidbits collected throughout the years. As an artist, your work evolves, as do you and the surrounding environment.

A.I. Tools & Strategies : Alexia Adana, VP, Director of Creative Technology, Edelman, Daniel Yoder, Co-Founding Principal, STUDY Architects, Jonah Kilday, Co-Owner & Co-Principal Designer, M.K. Workshop, Michael Opperman, EVP Strategy, Clockwork & Advisory Board, Magik Beans led by Andra Vaduva, Founder, Safe Space. Photography Credit Pratya Jankong | IG @pj_photographer

            One of the most prolific developments across the world is Artificial Intelligence, A.I. Luckily, A.I. Tools & Strategies Panelist Jonah Kilday captured the best use by highlighting how AI allows creators to access a new side of their brain, formerly preoccupied with fundamental tasks: "I find A.I. useful for a lot of cross-functional tasks, everything from administrative and business management, like writing contracts and preparing decks, to creative inspiration. It's a tool to brainstorm or as a starting point. It's that moment of inspiration, the same as you would get from looking through a magazine, so it's merely a tool that helps in the design creative process." As more artists start to use augmented and virtual reality tools, regulation on how these tools will be used and safeguarded is essential. According to Kilday, "Before you even consider incorporating A.I. into standard business practices, I would like to see some regulation and agreed-upon rules regarding intellectual property. As a working creative, I think it's important to set up certain parameters for our work and how it is utilized. So before I adopt more A.I. into my workplace, I want to ensure it's safe and in line with protecting my intellectual property." At a certain point, designers like Kilday would draw by hand before computer-aided design.

Getting Published in an Evolving Media Landscape : Hadley Keller, Director of Editorial & Community Engagement of Design Leadership Network, who moderated a panel conversation with editors Candace Taylor, Features Editor and Reporter of The Wall Street Journal, and Jennifer Quail, Deputy Editor of Aspire Design and home magazine along with P.R. experts Jenny Nguyen, Founder, Hello Human and Melissa Mittag, Founder of Collyer & Company. Photography Credit Pratya Jankong | IG @pj_photographer

            With the prevalence of technology, some creators lost their ability to convey certain ideas. Computers can generate unknown elements and mistakes in between rendering models and drawings. Therefore, the output-input relationship also needs to change. I will always remember how Snow advocated for a community, inviting younger artists into his form of protest. During this current war, I am more aware of the privilege of being a writer and an artist who spent time with that art legend. Especially considering where I started and where I am now, and due to Getting Published in an Evolving Media Landscape. These spaces are mostly occupied by the wealthy and barely accessible to the majority of BIPOC. Therefore, we are all obligated to question what goes on. Hadley Keller certainly appreciated the moment: "During such evolution in media, it's always fascinating to hear from industry experts on their perspectives about shifting strategies; I could have talked to this group for hours!" The common goal is to create a more welcoming and inclusive space reflective of the present.

            I remain fascinated by art, design, and the collision of the two because it used to be a vague dream. However, brand partnerships, such as those represented by a gallery, are unreliable as a single income stream. Monetize your brand by focusing on how to diversify your income. Artists and designers should know how to maintain a pipeline of prototypes that can generate income, regardless of how small or organic. The first question is what kind of contribution you want to make within the creative industry. "When working with brands, it's all about building the relationship so that you can have long-lasting partnerships and your audience knows that it's authentic," as stated by Alvin Wayne. As you get better at using the skills above, when it is time to entertain business offers, you will know how to negotiate on your behalf, avoiding micromanagement. Agents and managers can negotiate on your behalf to create relationships that make you relevant. WM