We talked to Margaret about the first Open Audition held here at the D&D Building in October, and she gives us a behind-the-scenes glimpse to this major event that promises to splash unpublished pros and undiscovered amateurs onto the pages of AD and the pages of the AD website.
It's not trend, it's style. They weren't judges, they were reviewers. And AD isn’t as elitist as you might think. Margaret sets us straight, and she does it with all the charm, grace and elegance you’d expect from the shelter mag that’s been setting the standard of “grown up style” for over 88 years.
What did the Open Auditions reveal about the untapped talent in and around (and far beyond) New York? (The selected Living Room of Illinois designer Judy W. Gordon, shown left.) Why weren’t the AD Reviewers tired after meeting the 400+ people who showed up at this first-of-four high-class cattle calls? And what can those presenting in upcoming markets learn from the first wave of designer guinea pigs? Margaret talks, and AT listens.
Margaret also talks about AD Style, the budget-friendly section of AD, just one of the ways the magazine is reaching out to a broader, less Upper Eastside crowd, and how even the budget-challenged should be picking AD up off the newsstand. And "special guest star" Special Projects Editor James Munn talks about some exciting new features on the AD website.
Read the full list of the New York Auditions selected designers here.
Don’t forget, you can review the first batch of selected designers and vote on your favorites at the AD website.
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
That is one of the only magazines in the world I cannot stand. I can't even bring myself to give it another chance (it's been exactly 10 years) I loathe it so much. I get angry thinking of all the trees that had to die in order to publish it, and all the trees that die because of the offers for professional discount subscriptions they send me without fail every month ever since I cancelled my subscription in a fit of Sylvester Stallone's tacky gold rococo Scarface estate-induced disgust. Are there any other AD haters out there? I feel like people think that reading it makes them sophisticated, but really Hollywood types strive harder to get in there than actual architects do.
Sorry to be such a hater, I'm cranky today.
Becky
view becky's profile
It's a magazine. You might channel that anger and "hate" towards the war or, maybe, smokers.
view Mr. Dangerous's profile
The magazine does glorify the biggest, the most money spent, the most ostentatious, elitist, ego driven projects. Hopefully they are changing their image. Magazines like Domino, Blueprint and even Metropolitan Home are much more approachable and useful. I do like seeing beautiful interiors, but it doesn't take throwing a ton of cash at design to impress me.
Thanks Patrick for another great interview.
view David n DC's profile
I have no opinion one way or another, but Habitually Chic posted a withering takedown of the magazine a few days ago:
http://tinyurl.com/3xq5l2
view mmadden's profile
Yikes, Becky, step away from the Haterade. And you've missed some changes over the ten years of your AD grudge.
I like even the most over-the-top interiors in AD, because it is like looking at haute couture fashion. Perhaps aspirational, but still a kick to dream. And this is where design starts to percolate down and eventually find its way into retail stores the way Paris fashion eventually makes it to the Gap, in one way or another.
And AD regularly features great designers like Peter Marino, Eric Cohler, Victoria Hagen, Mariette Himes Gomez, and others whose work is more modern and pared down.
Sure, it's not Domino... but, um, the prices in Domino aren't bargain basement, either. The magazine just happens to masquerade as a more budget-friendly source when many times, it ain't. It's a style thing. It's okay to like one over another, but it seems silly to point hatred at the topic.
And hey, thanks, David!
view patrick (the other one)'s profile
I've always been curious how Thomas Britt gets featured at least 6 times a year - year after year after year after year after year after year aft...........
view anne's profile