Welcome

This seems to be the season for being out and about–late spring and early summer, just before the beach and those mountain resorts lure hard-working design professionals into vacation nirvana.

And, with the current economy, it pays to be out and about, to network with peers, keep current on trends and to educate yourself. I, too, have been out and about, and have come away with the impression that design professionals are even more hard-working, practical and positive than ever.

One of my recent afternoons was spent at the Arizona Design Center’s Spring ADC Day of Design, sponsored by Sources+Design, which featured Los Angeles-based interior and product designer Barbara Barry as the main speaker. The ADC event drew hundreds who came to explore new offerings at the showrooms and hear the legendary designer, who designs for Ann Sacks, Kravet, Tufenkian and McGuire Furniture as well as creating numerous residential interiors, speak about her background, influences and future plans.

More noteworthy evenst? Collaborate ’09, co-sponsored by Sources+Design, presented by IFDA and NKBA, a series of seminars and a tradeshow also held in Scottsdale. The seminar topics were timely—interiors for aging in place, and working and designing in today’s economy. Sources+Design also participated in The Lake Design Foundation’s furniture sale, also held a the Arizona Design Center. The sale raised funds for student scholarships.

Before I’m accused of only lingering in Arizona, I would like to remind readers of the annual, fabulous Rocky Mountain Designers’ Market May 20 and 21 at the Denver Design District, of which Sources+Design is once again a proud cosponsor. Please join me and other presenters and exhibitors for two days of information, ideas and new product introductions. For more information, www.denverdesign.com.

We’ve been out and about on the pages of this current issue as well. We’re spotlighting the “Stars of ASID,” award-winning residential projects in Colorado and Arizona, as well as the recent winners of AIA Nevada’s design competition, which include a rustic shade structure in an environmentally sensitive area and a creative urban-infill project that makes the most of of an old residential neighborhood. We’re also spotlighting the RedLine studio in downtown Denver, an out-of-the-box project by Semple Brown Design created to help promote art and emerging artists in that city.

And, if you really want to get out and about, try the Green Drinks program in your city, as did contributing editor Phil Hagen for this issue’s “Green Scene” column. The program is a fun, social mixer with a purpose–to connect professionals involved in the burgeoning sustainability industry. And, no, your drink does not have to literally be the color green.

The next issue of Sources+Design will be green (as in sustainable) as we feature environmentally friendly projects and new products.

This spring, we are welcoming the new members of our Editorial Advisory Board: Eric Strain, AIA, of AssemblageStudio and Randy Wells of the Las Vegas Design Center, both in Nevada; Naomi Anderson of Anderson & Company, Gretchen Palmer of PHG Asset Management, and Larry Lake, ASID, all of Arizona.

Finally, please note our new mailing address: Box 9-626, 13835 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85032. Our phone number remains the same: (602) 870-8440.

Design icon Barbara Barry addresses the crowd at the Arizona Design Center in Scottsdale.