Press Release
March 5, 2004

With two months to go, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce has been moving full steam ahead with the production of Brooklyn Designs 2004.

The Chamber is pleased to announce that EXPO Design Center has joined Interior Design Magazine, Time Out New York and Two Trees Management as a sponsor of this year’s show. “We are very proud to be working with the EXPO Design Center.  As a prominent New York retailer and a top home-decor destination, this is a helpful and exciting partnership,” said Kenneth Adams, President of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.  As part of their sponsorship, EXPO Design Center is already working on a hands-on design seminar that will be conducted by an EXPO design expert.

“We are very much looking forward to this opportunity to work with the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.  EXPO is proud to be part of this community," said Public Relations Manager for the EXPO Design Center, Karen Haggerty.

The Brooklyn Designs 2004 exhibitor line-up has expanded significantly and will include several new designers and manufacturers. MAKE Product Development, Inc., a Red Hook-based firm which designs and manufacturers everything from upholstered furnishings to contemporary dinnerware; and one-of-a-kind custom stained glass windows craftsperson Nancy Nicholson are just a few of the new faces to be seen at the year’s show. According to another newcomer, Bart Bettencourt, of Bettencourt Woodworking, “The Brooklyn design industry has become recognized worldwide and as a member of this community I strongly believe that by exhibiting at Brooklyn Designs my work will be exposed to a larger more knowledgeable audience.”

Contemporary tabletop and home accessories designer Lorena Barrezueta said, “I wanted to participate in the Brooklyn Designs show because I feel that it is truly a wonderful and rare opportunity for me as a young designer to exhibit my work along with other Brooklyn-based designers. Brooklyn has become such a creative hub that it really needed a ‘formal’ platform such as this to introduce and in some cases re-introduce the great offbeat design that is being created. By taking part in this exhibition I believe my work will gain significant exposure.”

Also, several of the exhibitors who participated in last year’s inaugural program will be making a second appearance, including: 3 Square Design, A Loomful of Hues, Kea Carpets & Kilim, City Joinery, DYAD Studio, Zia-Priven, Eric Manigian Studio, Hivemind, Even Hughes Furniture, Rico Espinet Design, Scott Jordan, Pratt Institute, Ethan Ames, Martel Designs & Fabrications, Michael Puryear Furnituremaker, Milder Office Inc., Robert Martin Designs, Ladislav Czernek Furniture, and Scott Braun Furniture.   

Two graduates of Pratt Institute that were part of the school’s exhibitor team at last year’s show have joined forces to form one of this year’s new exhibitors, The Design Can. “Participating in the first show as a student with Pratt Institute was a very valuable experience. Brooklyn Designs is just as informative, fun, and eye-opening as other larger design shows, yet it has a unique Brooklyn flair.  We are very excited to take part in this year's show particularly because it embraces young designers and explorative work, and most importantly, it helps to support the artistic growth of our community,” said The Design Can principal, Jeannie Choe.

Show hours for Brooklyn Designs 2004 have been set for Friday, April 30, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, May 1, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; and Sunday, May 2, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.  Pre-registered professional members of the design trade attend for free all day Friday.

Brooklyn Designs is supported by Speaker Sheldon Silver and the Brooklyn Delegation to the New York State Assembly in cooperation with NYS Empire State Development Corporation, the Brooklyn City Council Delegation and the NYC Department of Small Business Services.

For more information visit http://www.brooklyndesigns.net/ or contact Karen Auster at 718-875-1000 ext. 146.