Design Connection, from Novità

Novità is an award-winning PR, marketing, digital, and social media agency, driven by our passion for design, architecture, real estate, art, technology, and culinary excellence and led by our core values of sustainability, wellness, equality and diversity. We are creative connectors, strategists and activators. We are a national team of 24 people in New York, California, Texas, Georgia, and Louisiana. In addition to architecture and design, we love good food, modern art, globe trotting, and curling up with a good magazine or book.

We are so thrilled to present you with the second installment of our newsletter, Design Connection! This installment features a conversation with Architecture and Design Film Festival Director Kyle Bergman and a look ahead to the upcoming festivals in January and February. We will also highlight some need-to-knows and must-haves for settling into the winter season and share an initiative about building a better world that we’re thrilled to see taking place in our industry. We’d also love to know any initiatives leveraging design for a better world that you, our friends and colleagues, know and love. Please feel free to give them a shout in our comments or DMs.?

A Conversation Between Novità Founder and CEO Chris Abbate and ADFF Founder and Festival Director Kyle Bergman

I’ve had the pleasure of working with and in support of Kyle and the incredible Architecture and Design Film Festival (ADFF) for many years and was delighted to have this conversation with him as we look forward to the upcoming film festivals in Washington DC this month, and in Chicago and online in February. Architect Kyle Bergman has always recognized the strong connection between architecture and film, leading him to found the Film Festival in 2008. Under Kyle’s direction and leadership, ADFF educates, entertains and engages all who are passionate about the world of architecture and design.?

I hope you enjoy our conversation below and have the opportunity to take part in the upcoming festivals. XO, Chris

CA: How has ADFF evolved since the first festival in 2009?

KB: When I first started ADFF, I only planned to host the festival in NY and thought everybody would come to NY to see the films. Although many people did attend, I quickly realized it made more sense to take the festival on the road; curating the films once a year but bringing them to other cities. Then, during the pandemic, we decided to not only have the festival in multiple cities but to also bring it online, making it accessible anywhere in the US and Canada. Another change is that when ADFF first started, we never used the words "Documentary Film." We were afraid it might sound boring! Now documentaries are much more appreciated - we know people want to see documentaries - there are entire channels devoted to docs - and we now proudly say that ADFF shows the best architecture and design documentaries from around the world.

CA: What do you hope audiences take away from the films you select for the festival??

?KB: I hope the festival either reminds people or teaches people about the importance and value of good design. One goal of the festival is to raise the design IQ of everybody who attends.

CA: What do you look for in the films you select? Has this changed over time?

KB: The sweet spot we're looking for are films with both a design story and a human story. The ideal film has an engaging design story that design professionals will be interested in as well as a human story that anybody from any background can enjoy. Nathanial Kahn's film My Architect is the perfect example. The design community loved a film about Lou Kahn. However, a much larger general audience was engaged because it was a universal story of a child trying to understand his father.

CA: Is there one film from a past festival that really speaks to you or that you always come back to?

KB:? Over the years, I have previewed over 4,000 potential ADFF films, and we have selected about 275, so there are a lot of films constantly in my thoughts and references. I have always been captivated by a movie called, Unfinished Spaces, about an arts center built in Havana right at the beginning of the revolution. It's a design story that also discusses the politics of the time. It's so balanced that it was equally loved at the Havana and Miami International film festival, which is impressive, as well as at ADFF. Another film I keep thinking about is showing this season. It's called Building Bastille! The Tangled and Improbable story of the Opera Bastille. This is such a fun, well-told story full of surprises and moments that make the audience laugh out loud. It's another great example that truth is often stranger than fiction.

Novità’s Top Must-Haves for Winter?

Winter is officially upon us and we are ready to hibernate. Our team has gathered a list of our cozy favorites for the season and we’d love to share it with you.

What is keeping you cozy this winter? Feel free to share in the comments or DMs.???

“A holiday/winter must-have for me is jazz! Personally, a little bit of Nat King Cole and Chet Baker (etc!) adds a soulful and romantic flair to this season that I look forward to every year.” -Majesty Henry

“Subu slippers are my perennial must-have for staying warm in the winter and this cheeky cotton scarf inspired by the classic paper towel is my new fave!” - Kristin Coleman

“Nothing is cozier to me than snuggling up with a great book or my Kindle Paperwhite in the warmth when it's cold outside. The best books I read in 2022, recommended for your winter reading list, are Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin, The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz, and Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie ” - Lucy Mayer

"Nothing says cozy like snuggling up on the couch with some plush cushions. I love the new decorative cushions in Pelle Frau? Motif Weavers, a digitally printed leather collection, from Poltrona Frau.” - Claudia Chung

"Curling up under a blanket is my ideal winter activity, enhanced by my beloved Big Nudes blanket from Otherwild. When not in use I love folding it over the back of my couch. Seeing the big bright flowers always brings a smile to my face." - Katie Bone

Last, but not least, the Novita holiday playlist has been keeping us all in festive spirits and we plan to keep it on rotation for at least another few weeks. Give it a listen if you want to keep the holiday spirit alive a little longer.?

Building a Better World - Metropolis Launches Design For Equity Primer

This past month we were inspired by the new Design for Equity Primer published by Metropolis. The primer features 20+ resources including toolkits, manuals, and certifications to encourage and enable designers and architects to design for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.?

As the editors specify in the introduction, “A fundamental purpose of architecture and design practice is to shape space for human beings to live, work, play, heal, socialize, and carry out all the activities that are necessary for us to survive and thrive. However, these provisions have not been distributed equally or fairly, with those able to pay for design services shaping the built environment to their purpose, sometimes at the cost of the people that clients are able to, willing to, or happen to ignore.”?

The primer is, in that regard, an effort to undo some of the inherent wrongs in the contemporary practice of design and architecture today. The primers toolkits address equity in design firms, supply chains, project outcomes, and community engagement as well as sustainability and health. It’s a powerful effort to connect with others and build a more just design industry.

A Few Events to Bookmark This Month

Pininfarina will apply its design expertise to three new transportation collaborations at CES, January 5-8 in Las Vegas.?

Ippodo Gallery Opening | Exhibiting Japanese kogei art (art and craft) from 22 living artists, Ippodo Gallery's installation titled, Extreme Surfaces: Cutting Edge Kogei, will be on view from 12 January to 16 February 2023 at gallery's Upper East Side location in New York (32 E 67th Street)

ADFF:DC | The Architecture and Design Film Festival returns to the National Building Museum on January 26-29. Plan your schedule for the festival here.?

Duravit will make an exciting return to KBIS from January 31-February 2, 2023 in Las Vegas. The brand’s booth (#N1539) will feature some of its newest collections, including Sebastian Herkner’s debut Duravit collection Zencha, Philippe Starck’s soothing Soleil by Starck collection, and the versatile, market rate collection Duravit No.1, along with upcoming introductions for 2023.

Dometic is back at KBIS (Booth #W3465) where the brand will feature the compact wine storage solution DrawBar alongside its suite of outdoor entertaining products, including a new line of outdoor refrigeration.?

True Residential is returning to KBIS 2023 (Booth W3601) with an exciting new launch. Showcasing their award-winning new 36” Refrigerator with Bottom Freezer, True will also present a slew of additional full-sized and indoor/outdoor undercounter units outfitted in some of its showstopping hues (and one gorgeous new finish to be unveiled at the show)!

Fisher & Paykel will also have a presence at KBIS 2023, partnering with Hallmark Hardwoods on their booth design (#N1363) which will include select appliances from the brand's portfolio.