Contract Magazine - February/March 2020 - 17

The 41st Annual Interiors Awards Breakfast,
Shimoda Design Group Custom Designs Awards
presented by Contract, was held at Cipriani 42nd
for Honorees
Street in New York on Jan. 31. Design professionals
Joey Shimoda, Contract's 2013 Designer of the Year
gathered to celebrate the 2020 Designers of
and founder of Los Angeles-based Shimoda Design
the Year, Visionary award, and winning projects
Group, and Susan Chang, founding partner, Shimoda
across 16 categories.
Design Group, designed the awards for this year's
This year's Designers of the Year are Joshua
Interiors Awards ceremony.
Aidlin and David Darling of San Francisco-based Aidlin
The duo created three physical awards that
Darling Design. The duo is dedicated to discovering
evolve in size and complexity from project winner
innovations and uncovering the individual character
to Designer of the Year to Visionary, capturing
of each project through their unique collaborative
the arc of a designer's journey.
design process. Their notable projects include the
"At first, we did the prototyping thinking that
University of Virginia Contemplative Sciences Center,
it would become a cast piece of glass or a carved piece
In Situ, Windhover Contemplative Center, and House
of wood, but I think in the end, by process of elimination,
of Earth and Sky.
we ended up really wanting to 3D-print it," Chang says.
The 2020 Visionary award went to David
Each prototype took an average of 20 hours
Rockwell. Known for his curiosity, creativity, and
to 3D-print, amounting to about a month's worth of
versatility, Rockwell draws on his love of drama and
printing time by the end of the project. Each honoree
community to create immersive environments across
also received a certificate featuring a print of the 3D
disciplines. He is best known for projects including
award's original drawing.
Nobu, JetBlue Marketplace at JFK Airport Terminal 5
"Something that's been lost over time from
in New York, the World Trade Center viewing platform, awards ceremonies and awards trophies is this
Imagination Playground at Burling Slip, and stage
notion of a drawing or a certificate," Shimoda says.
sets for major productions like "Hairspray" and
"I think for us as designers, our primary means of
"She Loves Me." In addition to his powerful impact
communication is always through drawing, and we
on the world of architecture and design, the architect
wanted to celebrate that."
and designer's commitment to New York as well
The 19 awards and accompanying certificates
as his philanthropic and pro bono work with DIFFA
were distributed to the winners at Cipriani 42nd Street
in New York on Jan. 31. "Design is such a personal
and Citymeals on Wheels made him a natural
fit for the inaugural award.
creative endeavor. Each project tests a designer's
In addition to the 2020 Designers of the Year
ability to make something fresh and new," Shimoda
and Visionary, 19 firms and one student received
says. "And when we have the opportunity to
Interiors Awards and were celebrated at this year's
participate in design awards, it allows us all to come
breakfast. Visit contractdesign.com/interiorsawards
together and acknowledge that kind of insight,
for more information on the winning projects.
hard work, and talent." -LAUREN VOLKER

contract

http://www.contractdesign.com/interiorsawards

Contract Magazine - February/March 2020

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