Learn / Industry

Beyond the Showrooms: Reflections from NYCxDESIGN 2026

Design is about more than products. It’s about people, ideas, and the conversations that move our industry forward.

REFLECTIONS FROM NYCxDESIGN

Every May, New York becomes the center of the design world.

Showrooms open their doors. New collections are unveiled. Designers, architects, manufacturers, students, and industry professionals gather to exchange ideas and explore what comes next.

This year’s NYCxDESIGN Festival was no exception.

Over the course of the week, the Robin Reigi team attended a variety of events across Manhattan, connecting with partners, clients, and colleagues while experiencing some of the most exciting conversations happening in architecture, interiors, furniture, and material innovation today.

While every event had its own personality, a few common themes emerged: thoughtful craftsmanship, sensory experience, sustainability, and the growing importance of creating spaces that support how people feel, not just how they function.

KICKING OFF THE NYCxDESIGN FESTIVAL

The week began with the opening celebration of the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, one of the signature events of NYCxDESIGN.

The energy was unmistakable. Designers, manufacturers, media, and industry leaders gathered to celebrate the start of the festival in an atmosphere that felt equal parts professional gathering and creative celebration.

Fantastic food, imaginative cocktails, and live music transformed the evening into an experience that reflected the spirit of the design community itself: creative, collaborative, and optimistic.

We were especially pleased to spend time with our longtime Decospan partner and representative, Mieke Booy. Events like ICFF remind us that while great products are important, the relationships behind them are what truly move our industry forward.

EXPLORING WORKPLACE DESIGN AT TECNO

Another stop during NYCxDESIGN took us to the Tecno showroom, where conversations centered around the future of workplace environments and the evolving relationship between architecture, furniture, and human experience.

As organizations continue to rethink how people gather, collaborate, and focus, manufacturers are responding with solutions that balance flexibility, performance, and design. It was an opportunity to see firsthand how leading European brands are approaching these challenges and contributing to the next generation of workplace design.

Like many of the events we attended throughout the week, the experience reinforced an important theme: great design is increasingly measured not only by how a space looks, but by how effectively it supports the people who use it.

DESIGNING SILENCE WITH ESTEL

One of the most thoughtful events of the week was Designing Silence, hosted by Estel in their New York showroom.

The event explored the growing importance of acoustics and sensory experience in contemporary environments. As workplaces, hospitality spaces, and public interiors become increasingly dynamic, designers are paying closer attention to how spaces sound, feel, and support concentration and well-being.

The conversation resonated strongly with many of the challenges architects and designers face today. Acoustics are no longer an afterthought. They are an essential component of creating successful environments.

A special thank you to Giuseppe Amato and the Estel team for the invitation and their hospitality throughout the evening. Events like these create opportunities for meaningful dialogue and help strengthen the relationships that make our design community so collaborative and innovative.

"NYCxDESIGN brings together everyone from students to industry veterans at a moment when technology, sustainability, and creativity are reshaping the future of design."

Jennifer Daily, Co-Principal, Robin Reigi, Inc.

A SWEET GATHERING OF THE DESIGN COMMUNITY

Of course, no NYCxDESIGN recap would be complete without mentioning our own event.

During the festival, Robin Reigi partnered with AN Interior and Architectural Design Magazine to host an After Dark Grown Folks Ice Cream Social at our Manhattan showroom.

What began as a simple idea quickly became one of our favorite moments of the week.

More than 70 guests joined us for an evening of conversation, connection, music, and plenty of ice cream. Designers, architects, students, manufacturers, librarians, and industry colleagues gathered together in a relaxed atmosphere that encouraged people to slow down, mingle, and make new connections.

Guests enjoyed boozy ice cream creations, delicious bites from Sophie’s Cuban Cuisine, and music powered by superFreq hi-fi speakers. More importantly, they enjoyed each other. New relationships were formed, old friends reconnected, and conversations flowed long after the ice cream was gone.

Events like these remind us that design is ultimately about people. The products, materials, and spaces matter, but it is the community behind them that makes the industry special.

The Ice Cream Social captured the spirit of NYCxDESIGN perfectly: creative, welcoming, collaborative, and just plain fun.

THE POWER OF GATHERING

One of the most valuable aspects of NYCxDESIGN isn’t found in a product launch or keynote presentation.

It’s found in the conversations.

Throughout the week, we connected with architects, interior designers, manufacturers, students, educators, and industry partners from around the world. These interactions provide an opportunity to share ideas, discover emerging trends, and strengthen the relationships that drive our industry forward.

The design community has always been built on collaboration. NYCxDESIGN continues to provide a platform where those collaborations can begin, grow, and flourish.

"NYCxDESIGN reminds us that our industry is built on relationships. It's a chance to reconnect with longtime colleagues, meet new voices, and strengthen the community that makes design such a collaborative and inspiring profession."

Robin Reigi, Founder, Robin Reigi, Inc.

LOOKING AHEAD

Each year, NYCxDESIGN offers a snapshot of where design is heading.

This year reinforced the importance of materials that perform as well as they look, spaces that support human experience, and products that balance craftsmanship with innovation.

For us, the week was filled with inspiration, meaningful conversations, and a renewed appreciation for the people who make this industry so vibrant.

Thank you to everyone who hosted, collaborated, shared ideas, and helped make NYCxDESIGN 2026 such a memorable experience.

We’re already looking forward to next year.