Las Vegas Market — Aug. 2-6

Speakers, tours and top design
displays enrich summer

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LAS VEGAS — Design professionals attending Las Vegas Market August 2-6 will find an inspiring environment of education-packed seminars, renowned speakers and insight into the latest industry developments.

This series of exclusive programming aims to help designers succeed in the challenging marketplace while offering accreditation and continued professional development.

“Nearly a quarter of our buying audience is comprised of designers, and that segment is on the rise. February’s Market saw a staggering a 40 percent increase in registration among international designers,” said Randy Wells, vice president of the Las Vegas Design Center. “That’s due in large part to the incredible series of design-focused speaking engagements, original events and CEU-accredited seminars. We are a venue where the design community comes to be intellectually and creatively stimulated.”

“In addition to educational and networking opportunities, the creative programming gives industry professionals the chance to find inspiration through design, itself,” said Margaret Casey, director of programming for World Market Center Las Vegas.

Highlights include the first-of-its-kind Alfresco furnishings exhibit located in the expansive Grand Plaza, which brings together the finest in design, merchandising, display and inspiration for outdoor living. In addition, the fashion-forward destinations on B-2 (Alfresco Spaces, Design + Living and Context) are a favorite source for the enterprising designer who is looking for new and next.

“Everyone is looking to reinvent themselves right now in order to stay relevant,” says Casey.  “Designers have an endless appetite for fresh inspiration and sometimes it’s tough to take care of business and be creative. Any topic that supports them being successful in both areas can be found on the agenda here at Las Vegas Market.”

One success tool is the presentation WithIt Keynote: Meet the Minds of Luxury Residential Interiors (Monday, August 2, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Building B, 16th floor). WithIt, founded in 1997, is a women’s leadership development network serving the home and furnishings industries. This panel discussion, coordinated by WithIt’s West Coast Vice President Kassie Smith, will hone in on the luxury market through the eyes of some key players, including Kay Lang, designer for Mandarin Oriental, Lee Lundquist of Robb & Stucky, Leigh Mitchell of Dahlgren Duck & Associates and Jennifer Matthews, publisher of Luxe Magazine.

Throughout the week, varied events will continue to enlighten. Join designer and Shabby Chic brand founder Rachel Ashwell during her presentation, Turning Inspiration into Reality, (Monday, August 2, 11 a.m.-12 noon, Building B, World Forum) as she speaks about her design inspiration and how she’s propelled her company forward for 20 years.

Steve Nobel explores the state of the market during Aiming at Affluence: Marketing Interior Design to Luxury Clients (Tuesday, August 3, 11 a.m. to 12 noon, Building C, room 176). The Founder, Chairman of The Luxury Home Alliance and sustaining member of The Luxury Marketing Council Worldwide looks at the efforts underway to promote the value of design to the affluent population. Luncheon to follow in Jordan Spencer Design Showroom, C188.

Pop a cork in style as Las Vegas Design Center, WithIt and Van Cleef & Arpels present Luxury Champagne Tour: City Center Art & Architecture (Tuesday, August 3, 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., transportation terminal). CityCenter, which opened December 2009, is a 67-acre urban community and an astonishing world destination filled with fine art and spectacular architecture. Properties showcase design by an incomparable group of architects, including Pelli Clarke of Pelli Architects, RV Architecture led by Rafael Vinoly, Helmut Jahn, Studio Daniel Libeskind, Rockwell Group, Kohn Pedersen Fox, Foster + Partners, and Gensler. CityCenter Fine Art Collection, the first major collection of contemporary art in Las Vegas to be integrated into public space, features work by 15 internationally renowned artists including Maya Lin, Jenny Holzer, Nancy Rubins, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, Frank Stella, Henry Moore, and Richard Long. See it all after enjoying champagnes and hors d'oeuvres at Van Cleef & Arpels. Advance registration is required based on a first-come, first-serve basis and available by RSVPing to citycentertour@wmclv.com.

Stop in for a screening of Art of Design Awards: Redefining Luxury (Wednesday, August 4, 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon, Building C, 1st floor), followed by a panel discussion moderated by Carolyn Englefield, Veranda editor-at-large, discussing redefining luxury in today’s marketplace. The program will feature featuring Roger Thomas, Bobby McAlpine, Suzanne Kasler and Art of Design recipient, Jason Phillips.

Freshen up on cyber-relevance with New Media Day: Design Bloggers - Building a Community of Design (Thursday, August 5, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 am, Building B, floor 16). Moderated by Julia Noran and Tori Mellott of Editor-at-Large, this panel discussion features five of the top design bloggers in the U.S. and abroad and will explore how new media is changing the interior design industry. Panelists will take questions from the audience via Twitter tweets. Featuring Jackie Von Tobel, Tobi Fairley, Ronda Carman, Brad Ford and Laura Day.
  
First Friday at Las Vegas Design Center will reacquaint attendees with “The Divas of Design/The Great Lady Decorators 1870 to 1955” (Friday, August 6, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Building C, floor 1). Author Adam Lewis will share parts of his book, the Great Lady Decorators: The Women Who Defined Interior Design 1870-1955, which is the first book to fully survey the complete history on the subject of the legendary lady designers. Featuring Elsie de Wolfe, Dorothy Draper, Frances Elkins, Syrie Maugham and Mrs. Henry Parish II and others.

Las Vegas Market will be held August 2-6, 2010, accompanied by the launch the new Gift+HomeTM and VegasKidsTM. Attendees can book discounted rooms online now at www.LasVegasMarket.com.