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.

Welcome to our third edition of Design Connection, where we feature conversations with industry leaders, sneak peeks into our day to day work life and what’s on our radar, and a look at how design can transform the world for good. This week we speak to our own visionary, PR thought leader, and advocate for equity, Joseph Cephas about Black History Month, and celebrate a few of our favorite pink and red products for Valentines Day. It’s a shorter newsletter for a short month. Please share with your friends and subscribe to receive the next edition in your inbox or on your LinkedIn home page.

A Conversation Between Novità Founder and CEO Chris Abbate and Senior Vice President Joseph Cephas

After working with Joseph through our partnership with the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) for 4 years, we had the pleasure of welcoming him to our team in early 2020.? As a thought leader in the design and PR industries, he currently serves on the health equity advisory board for International Well Building Institute (IWBI) and was an advisor in the creation of The PR Net’s BIPOC Mentorship program, where he also served as a career development mentor to BIPOC students. He is a frequent featured speaker and moderator on panels and speaking engagements, on topics that range from how designers can get published, to PR in the 21st century, and diversity in design. We are honored to have him as a member of the Novità family, where he leads a strong team of 5 communications professionals representing 13 clients.?

I wanted to have a conversation with him for this newsletter, as it goes out on the first day of Black History Month. In 2020, the design industry, along with so many others, faced a reckoning in which we collectively had to own the lack of access, representation, and equity for the Black community within the work environment we all share. As we explored our own role in that and established a collective of PR professionals working for change, Joseph led a panel of powerful design professionals examining the state of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in design and architecture. You can view that panel in two parts here. He is currently working to revive that panel for a renewed look at the state of the industry, and we will keep you posted about when and where you can tune into that. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy our conversation below. It is worth noting that this conversation takes place in an ongoing climate of racism and discrimination across the United States, but for the purposes of this conversation we are narrowing our lens to focus on our industry and our profession, and the many inspiring Black figures who have shaped and designed our built environment.

CA: Before we jump in, I’d love it if we could share a little about your background. How did you get your start in the design industry and what inspired you to carve out a career in this space?

JC: As you know Chris, I get a little uncomfortable speaking about myself, but I’ll give it a shot! My career has touched every facet of communications - public relations, marketing, branding, speechwriting, etc. I have a Master’s degree and Bachelor’s degree in Communications from PennWest - Edinboro in my home state of Pennsylvania. After graduating, I moved to Washington, D.C. where I worked for multiple associations, leading their marketing, branding, and public relations, and specializing in organizations that were going through brand identity issues. I’ve worked as a Communications Manager, Director of Marketing & Communications, and Vice President of Public Relations.

My most recent role before joining Novità was as the Vice President of Communications & Brand Experience for ASID. I led the marketing, research, and meetings teams. It was there that my love of design and my deep passion for communications united. That led me to hire Novità as ASID’s PR firm. Following four successful years at ASID I decided to move to New York City after 13 years in DC, and wanted to leverage my expertise to support multiple companies while remaining in the design sector. All of that made Novità the ideal move. Well, that and the fact I absolutely love this team.?

CA: The design industry recently went through a period where it was forced to evaluate and acknowledge how few voices of color, and particularly Black voices are represented in this industry. Some changes have been made, but we still have a long way to go. If there was one change you would like to see in this industry, what would it be?

JC: That’s a tough question because there is so much work to be done. If I had to pick one it would be to actually look at and acknowledge the industry’s history. I think the design industry has had a difficult time properly analyzing why the diversity issue is so prevalent. Whether you're looking at architecture, interior design, urban planning, landscape architecture, and so on, the number of Black people in the profession lags way behind national averages. That is not accidental. The leaders in these industries need to understand their history and how it caused the lack of diversity we continue to face today - or else they’re prone to continue down the same path.?

Beyond that, the architecture and design industry needs to review how the work is contributing to systemic racism on a macro level. Issues such as redlining have had generational impacts in every corner of the U.S. How have these industries contributed to or supported these systems and how can the professionals not only work to right the wrongs but build a more equitable future? These are questions that need to be answered.??

CA: Despite under-representation, there are some incredibly inspiring figures from Black history that have helped build this world and shape the industry, and many more groundbreaking designers continuing to shift the design narrative and move the needle forward today. Can you share a couple of Black design leaders who inspire you both from history and today?

JC: Sure. I love shining a light on the Black geniuses who have helped build this country. I always begin with Paul Revere Williams, aka the Architect for the Stars. Williams made a name for himself by designing some of the most famous celebrity homes. He also designed the iconic tower at LAX Airport. This great man taught himself to draw upside down because he was not allowed to sit on the same side of the table as his clients during design meetings. Architect Julian Abele built much of the Duke University campus and there was no record of his efforts on the campus until 1988. He also was not permitted to stay on campus while completing the work. A few others whose work I greatly admire: Beverly Lorraine Greene (the first registered Black women architect), John Warren Moutoussamy, Norma Merrick Sklarek, and of course, the incomparable interior designer Cecil Hayes.

Today, there are way too many talented Black designers to list. Kia Weatherspoon is an absolute trailblazer. My good friend Mike Johnson II is doing amazing things at Hickcock Cole in DC. He’s one of the few registered architects and certified interior designers. Mavis Wiggins was just inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame. There are leaders like Leyden Lewis, Everick Brown, Nina Cooke John, and all of the incredible designers in the Black Artist and Designers Guild. But if you listen to each and every one of their stories, their paths as Black designers were riddled with discrimination and racism.?

CA: You are actively involved in the PR Net’s BIPOC Membership Program. Can you share a brief window into the work that committee is doing to promote Black voices in and beyond the PR world?

JC: The PR Net is a network of public relations professionals that share best practices and opportunities. The founder and leader, Lisa Smith, recognized the lack of Black voices in the public relations industry. She gathered a group of diverse leaders in the industry, including me, to discuss how we can make a positive impact. One thing became abundantly clear in our first meeting; none of us had anyone to look up to who looked like us. We never saw US! So we decided to start the PRNet BIPOC Mentorship Program. We had a small group of about 10 diverse PR leaders who agreed to mentor Black people who were about to enter the PR field or were very early in their career. We built a syllabus that was to be followed for 3 months that included weekly mentorship meetings and a presentation at the end by mentees. We thought we would get about 20 applications, but we received well over 100!?

The program is now in its third edition. Almost two years later and I’m still in regular contact with my mentee. I have so much confidence in the next generation. They’re going to be much better than we ever were. I just hope that we provided a glimmer of hope to these future Black leaders.

Thanks for the talk, CA!

Novità’s Favorite Pink and Red Items to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, our love of all things pink and red is in full-force. There’s no better way to brighten up a space for professing your love than with a few bold splashes of these passionate hues. We hope you love the following items as much as we do:

Gucci’s Heron print wallpaper checks off all the boxes for me—the dreamlike depiction of herons and dragonflies in motion against a textured pink background offers the perfect blend of both whimsy and drama. - Nicole Haddad

I’ve been coveting this cheerful bar cart from Anthropologie, which offers a pop of color and a perfectly sized tray for drinks and trinkets. - Katherine Smythe

One of my favorite pink designs is the album cover of The Divine Feminine by late artist Mac Miller. The Divine Feminine is Mac's expression of love to a woman and to the universe. - Giuseppe Cardia

My sister, Anastasia Inciardi, is a food printmaker. She recently gave me one of her San Marzano Linocut prints with bright red tomatoes to hang up in my kitchen, and I absolutely love it. – Alex Inciardi

My partner is a sucker for all things Noguchi. This red print I gifted him a few years ago is one of his favorites. - Katie

And to keep the theme going, here are a few of our favorite pink and red offerings from our clients:

Room & Board Business Interiors | The Emmet Swing; just big enough for two

The Emmet sustainable outdoor swing is crafted from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) made partially from recycled plastics. In an exclusive design partnership with Loll Designs, Room & Board Business Interiors offers this circular product, for commercial and residential use.

STYLEX | The Dau chair; a cozy spot to perch near a loved one… or colleague

A collection of upholstered sofas, benches, poufs, and lounge chairs, Dau offers every element designers need to create dynamic lounge environments. Optional casters and handles make the pieces easy to rearrange, while complementary tables—including side, coffee, and tablet models—provide surfaces upon which to rest a computer or cup of coffee.

Lodes | ROD from Diesel Living in Soft Pink; to cast a soft light on a romantic evening

A portable and rechargeable indoor/outdoor table lamp, ROD’s features render it a perfect choice for both bedside reading and patio dinners alike. To adjust light levels, the user can simply tap the shade’s top for ease of use––functional elements typically applied externally are integrated into the lamp’s internal structure. Additionally, with an eight-hour battery life at maximum power, ROD ensures exceptional performance without compromising on aesthetics.

True Residential | The Slide-Top Beverage Refrigerator in Retro Red; perfect for chilling a bottle of bubbles for two

True Residential’s mobile Slide-Top Beverage Refrigerator allows homeowners to enjoy an easy-access, icy-cold beverage storage solution at home, indoors and out. Available in 24” and 36” sizes with each respectively accommodating 108 12 oz. bottles or 144 12 oz. cans and 264 12 oz. bottles or 348 12 oz. cans. A heavy-duty steel interior provides long-term durability while LED lighting beautifully illuminates the interiors.

A Couple Events to Bookmark This Month

KBIS & IBS 2023 | This year’s Kitchen and Bath Show and International Builders Show is already underway in Las Vegas, running through February 2nd. Follow along on our stories for updates from our team on the ground.

ADFF: Chicago and ONLINE | The Architecture and Design Film Festival returns this month, first in Chicago from February 1-5 in association with the Chicago Architecture Center, and then online from February 8-17 for US and Canadian audiences. Plan your schedule for Chicago here and for the online festival here.