Great Minds Think Alike

VMSD’s Designer Dozen bash, hosted by Fleetwood Fixtures (Leesport, Pa.) at the Public Hotel in Chicago, April 17, was a night of intriguing, intimate conversation; networking and reconnecting with old acquaintances. (It didn’t hurt to take the edge off the pain of walking the GlobalShop floor all day, either.)

Attendees had a chance to greet the industry’s most inspiring up-and-comers, ages 35 and younger. From owning their own design firms to actualizing immersive environments for luxury department stores and boutiques, these youthful innovators packed a zeal-filled punch of motivation for all attendees. (For more on their accomplishments, see “Take a Bow,” on page 31 of the May issue).

Recipients traveled from as far as Mexico City (El Palacio de Hierro’s Felipe Gurza Gomez Palacio), San Francisco (Gensler’s Aimee Taylor) and Seattle (Starbucks’ Lisa Kirschman) to receive their awards. We’re sure their careers will take them even farther.

Photography: Richard Cadan, Fairfield, Conn.