WASHINGTON – The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), in partnership with Merchandise Mart Properties Inc., (MMPI) introduced the first-ever ASID National Conference at NeoCon, June 15 – 17 in Chicago. Moving the annual Society conference to the world’s largest design exposition proved to be a huge success, as seen in the attendance numbers and via the Web site created to capture the experience: ASIDlive.com.
View photos, videos, Twitter posts and blog entries from the conference at www.asidlive.com. The show may be over, but attendees continue to share their NeoCon experience on the site.
Robert Wright, FASID, shared this comment about the show: “The ASID National Conference at NeoCon was a perfect mix. I look forward to next year.”
During the conference, ASID members chose from 150 seminars, keynotes and off-site learning opportunities, some of which were sponsored by ASID. Nearly all were full and sold out. The ASID keynote, given by Paola Antonelli, curator of New York’s Museum of Modern Art, attracted a standing-room-only crowd. The ASID party at Enclave nightclub, FIRSTnight, was overflowing with more than 500 conference-goers.
Captured in a video on ASIDlive, Charrisse Johnston, ASID, LEED AP, CID, an ASID board member says, “I am still on a high this morning because I met Paola Antonelli and got to hear her amazing speech. I think I’m going to be on that cloud for a couple of weeks.”
The student career exchange and student lounge were also popular spots during NeoCon. A steady stream of students stopped by the lounge at the Merchandise Mart throughout the conference to relax on bean bags, enjoy a caffeine boost from Red Bull and talk with interior design legends such as ASID president Bruce Brigham, FASID.
“This was my first time to NeoCon and I wasn't sure what to expect, but it exceeded every expectations I had,” says Gabriela Hernandez, student member ASID from the Art Institute of Dallas. “ASID’s student lounge gave me the opportunity to speak with designers in the industry and get feedback about what to look forward to, as well as great advice on how to get your foot in the door of the design industry. I can't wait until next year!”
Ashleigh Lessard, allied member ASID, associate IIDA, commented on the career exchange and said, “It was invaluable to students and young professionals who are job searching in this tough economy. The feedback from the design firms and professionals was excellent and I feel it will help me continue to grow as a designer.”
ASID would like to thank the generous ASID National Conference sponsors:
Restoration Hardware, Sherwin-Williams, Closet Factory, Lutron, Art Rent & Lease, PLiNTH & CHiNTZ, CS Interiors/ Modern Luxury magazine, Metropolis, Spectrum West, Bentley Prince Street, Allermuir, and InterfaceFLOR.
About ASID
The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) is a community of people—designers, industry representatives, educators and students—committed to interior design. Through education, knowledge sharing, advocacy, community building and outreach, the Society strives to advance the interior design profession and, in the process, to demonstrate and celebrate the power of design to positively change people’s lives. Its more than 40,000 members engage in a variety of professional programs and activities through a network of 48 Chapters throughout the United States and Canada. www.asid.org.
