“With Design Miami/ Podium we are excited to be able to offer not only our debut digital incarnation of our fair, but also a moment to physically come together, safely, to celebrate design and showcase the work of some of the world’s most talented designers. I really want to thank our galleries, designers, partners and the Design Miami/ team for their positive response to Design Miami/ Podium, without their support we would not have been able to achieve what we have done here today at the Moore Building and we look forward to building on this for 2021 and hopefully all being back together, in person, again soon” Jennifer Roberts, CEO of Design Miami/

DESIGN MIAMI/PODIUMExploring the theme America(s), the featured Design Miami/ Podium exhibition has been curated by Curatorial Director Aric Chen and looks at the meaning and understanding of America through the juxtaposition of significant works of design and craft. While highlights include a rare Navajo Wedge Weave Blanket presented by Shiprock Santa Fe, a collection of very rare and important painted Shaker boxes from John Keith Russell, and important twentieth century works by designers including George Nakashima, Wendell Castle, Charles Eames, and Eero Saarinen, they also include designs from across Latin America and further afield. Also featured is a diverse selection of contemporary designs, many from underrepresented voices and exploring social and political themes from Black Lives Matter to gender and environmental issues, and two nearly complete dinosaur skeletons excavated from what is now Wyoming. “The exhibition is not about defining ‘American design’ per se, but rather aims to examine ‘America’ as an idea, ideal and work-in-progress—one that offers multiple narratives, histories, interpretations, and futures,” says Chen.

DESIGN MIAMI/ AWARDSAhead of the opening today, the Design Miami/ awards jury convened to review the show and identify the top ten designs in two categories, historical and contemporary. The jury included Miami design collector and connoisseur Al Eiber, Wolfsonian–FIU Chief Curator Silvia Barisione, Design Miami/ Director of Exhibitions Jillian Choi, and New York architect and design expert Lee Mindel, who served as Jury Chair.Architect-designer Gaetano Pesce’s latest take on his classic Pratt Chairs—produced this year as the legend turned 80—was awarded Best in Show in the contemporary category. “Gaetano is living history,” said Mindel. “It’s amazing to see someone have such a long career and remain as relevant today as he was forty years ago.”

In the historical category, Best in Show was awarded to a set of antique walking canes, produced in the US between the late 19th century and early 20th. Crafted in a range of words, each cane is crowned with a carved fist. “Looking at this usual collection of objects, you’re reminded that some struggles have been around for a long time,” remarked Mindel. “But hopefully things are getting better too.”

The full list of award winners, in no particular order:TOP 10 CONTEMPORARYSurfin USA Chair by OrtaMiklos/ Friedman Benda Ritual Calendar by Ini Archibong/ Friedman Benda 3 Pratt Chairs by Gaetano Pesce/ Salon 94 Design Island Lamp by Stuart Haygarth/ Carpenters Workshop Gallery Palmea Wall Unit by Khaled El Mays/ House of Today presented by R & Company Basin by Donte Hayes/ Mindy Solomon Gallery Nest #1 Chair by hettler.tüllmann/ Mindy Solomon Gallery Wall Platter by Jaydan Moore/ Ornamentum Centerpiece by Iris Eichengerg/ Ornamentum The Party’s Over by Michelle Erickson/ Michelle Erickson Pottery

TOP 10 HISTORICAL23 Shaker Oval Boxes/ John Keith Russell Executive Rosewood Writing Table by Bodil Kjær/ Morentz Gallery Power to the People Walking Sticks/ Olde Hope Five Leaf Chair by George Nelson/ R & Company Space Arcology Nuggets Space for Peace Drawing by Paolo Soleri/ Converso Tea Cart by Jorge Zalszupin/ Mercado Moderno 8-Drawer Chest by George Nakashima/ Moderne Gallery Hessian Hills Child’s Chair by Wharton Esherick/ Moderne Gallery Gazelle Lounge Chairs by Dan Johnson/ Ponce Berga Wishbone by JD Blunk/ Jason Jacques GalleryDESIGN MIAMI/PODIUM VIRTUAL PROGRAMMINGAs well as evolving the physical presence of Design Miami/ in 2020, new digital formats have been embraced by Design Miami’s galleries and partners who have worked tirelessly to offer exceptional contemporary and historic content to a truly global audience. In addition to the ability to search and shop pieces from the physical fair online via Design Miami/ Shop, visitors can also digitally navigate the fair in 3D, exploring the exhibition and individual objects up close. Live virtual tours hosted by Aric Chen will also allow visitors tuning in from across the world the opportunity to join real-time walkthroughs of the fair.DESIGN MIAMI/ TALKS FORUMThe Design Miami/ Talks Forum also goes digital in 2020 with an expansive schedule of over 20 virtual talks across 10 days all streamed online at Design Miami/ Shop. The full schedule can be found here and highlights include:America, America(s): Rethinking "American" DesignFriday 27th November, 2PM ESTLaunching both the America(s) theme of Design Miami/ and the America issue of Harvard Design Magazine, this discussion will examine how new narratives and histories of design are being constructed just as notions of "America" itself are being questioned, challenged, and revised.In the Work: Makers and ShakersSunday 20th November, 2 PM ESTIn this two-part series, produced by Shaker Museum and Design Miami/, Lacy Schutz, Executive Director of Shaker Museum, talks with contemporary artists Katie Stout and Emily Adams Bode about the resonance of Shaker ideals and aesthetics in modern design, with a special acknowledgement to the feminist ideals espoused by the Shaker community.

Designers & Creatives in a Post-Pandemic World—Lexus & Whitewall Art & Design Innovation SeriesWednesday 2nd December, 2PM ESTThe pandemic has been our new reality for just under a year. What kind of perspective shifts have taken place—personally and creatively—for designers? How will changed human behaviors impact new projects, products, and collaborations? How have visions of the purpose and potential of design altered? A panel of visionary designers and design creatives discuss the big takeaways of 2020. Moderated by Katy Donoghue, Editor in Chief of Whitewall Magazine, panelists include designers Yves Behar and Marcel Wanders, artists the Haas Brothers, and president of CALTY Design Research Kevin Hunter.Reviving Beirut Through Heritage Conservation, presented by Irthi Contemporary Crafts CouncilTuesday 1st December, 2PM ESTIrthi Contemporary Crafts Council's Farah Nasri hosts a conversation with Lebanese creatives to shine a light on Beirut's moveable and immovable cultural heritage—and its immediate need for safeguarding. Architect Bernard Khoury, designer Nada Debs, and Tessa and Tara Sakhi of multidisciplinary studio T SAKHI share their experiences and insights into how to leverage the past for a more environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable future for Beirut.In Conversation: Pusha T x Pharrell Williams x Tina Brehon, presented by AdidasFriday 4th December, 1PM ESTRapper, songwriter, and record executive Pusha T talks with singer, rapper, songwriter, record producer, fashion designer, and entrepreneur Pharrell Williams and the Miami-based creative behind Girl From HUNTERSVILLE, Tina Brehon, in a wide ranging conversation on curiosity, resourcefulness, and not letting humble origins define your potential. Special spotlight on Brehon’s latest collaboration with Williams and adidas, which resulted in a new collection of facemasks that combine safety with self-expression.

In Conversation: Craig Robins x Virgil Abloh, presented by Architectural DigestFriday 4th December, 2 PM ESTAmy Astley, Editor-in-Chief of Architectural Digest, interviews designer, entrepreneur, and DJ Virgil Abloh and real estate developer, entrepreneur, art collector, and philanthropist Craig Robins about the future of cross-disciplinary creativity and its impact on entrepreneurship today.Common Ground: A Project of Hope and Reconciliation through America(s) Clay, Wood, Water, and FoodSunday 6th December, 4PM EST Aric Chen, Design Miami/ Curatorial Director talks with Bobbye Tigerman, Marilyn B. & Calvin B. Gross Curator of Decorative Arts & Design at LACMA, LA artist Adam Silverman, and Foodways professor and activist Scott Barton about Silverman’s ambitious new project, Common Ground. Silverman is in the midst of collecting clay, wood ash, and water from all 56 US states and territories and using the combined materials to make 56 pots and 56 dinnerware sets, which will be used to host meals around the country.

AWAKE NY x TSCHABALALA SELF EXCLUSIVE T-SHIRT FOR DESIGN MIAMI/Today also sees the launch of the limited-edition t-shirt designed by Tshabalala Self and produced by Design Miami/ in partnership with Awake NY, available exclusively on the Design Miami/ Shop website until sold out. Tshabalala’s design uses a drawing from a suite of 24 that became the building blocks for her Bodega Run series which brought to life the world of the bodegas commonplace in her childhood Harlem neighborhood. 100% of net sales of the shirt from both online and on-site at Design Miami/ will benefit the Martin Luther King Economic Development Corporation and The MLK Kitchen Incubator, which has responded to the pandemic's food deficit by providing 1,200 meals per week to seniors in the Miami-Dade community.DESIGN MIAMI/ COLLABORATIONS AND SATELLITESDesign Miami/ has expanded across the Miami Design District with FENDI showcasing their latest design collaboration as a satellite exhibition. The Italian fashion house has commissioned New York-based artist Sarah Coleman to create a series of design pieces using FENDI fabrics and archival imagery to repurpose and renew furniture pieces that will be exhibited in the FENDI Miami Design District Boutique. Design Miami/ is also partnering with Miami Design District to present Space Tomorrow, an experimental VR experience presented by Eventure in partnership with School of Space. Part multisensory installation and part-multi reality activation, Space Tomorrow at Design Miami will facilitate possibilities for designing: Space Tomorrow to help heal America(s).