Industry News
Future of Home Goes Virtual
In a changed landscape, leading thinkers look ahead at the future of the home industry.
In a re-imagined virtual format, the annual Future of Home conference, hosted by Business of Home, will analyze how social and economic upheaval have transformed the design landscape—and shine a light on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Business of Home’s second-annual Future of Home conference will be reimagined as a television talk show, live-streamed to the homes of 700 design professionals on September 14 and 15, 2020, and archived for on-demand viewing thereafter. Business of Home’s podcast host and columnist Dennis Scully will welcome more than 20 leading thinkers to a studio in New York City for an entertaining lineup of interviews and presentations. Their discussions will delve into the subjects that matter most to interior designers and home industry professionals.
“The home has taken on new meaning in recent months, as houses and apartments have unexpectedly transformed into the epicenter of daily life,” says Business of Home president Julia Noran Johnston. “Families are suddenly eager to invest in a home that provides a respite from the new realities of remote work and virtual learning, and dollars that were once earmarked for entertainment, travel and fashion are being rerouted to remodels and real estate. For those working in the interior design and home furnishings industry, this is our moment to shine.”
Although the increased interest for designers’ products and services is welcome, it comes with its own set of uncertainties—and questions about sustainable sourcing, moving beyond failures and finding new ways to fold purpose into your firm’s practice remain. “We hope the Future of Home will help design businesses make sense of how social and economic upheaval have transformed the design landscape, and allow you to connect with peers about current challenges and future opportunities,” says Business of Home editor in chief Kaitlin Petersen.
Speakers and topics will include design icon Stefan Sagmeister on how beauty changes behavior; science journalist and author of The Great Indoors Emily Anthes on evidence-based design; entrepreneur and Frictionless author Christiane Lemieux on how to deliver on modern consumer expectations; venture capital investor Ita Ekpoudom on entrepreneurialism; Hotwire, TripIt, and Chairish co-founder Gregg Brockway on how COVID is permanently changing our economy, and how businesses can build for the new future; Roman and Williams principals Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch on value-driven design; architect and educator Nina Cooke John on why innovation depends on new voices; design strategist Alain Sylvain on how purpose leads to progress; architect and design advocate Kia Weatherspoon on equity in design; scientist Andrew Dent on healthy materials; The Renewal Workshop founder Nicole Bassett and Coyuchi CEO Eileen Mockus on how textile businesses can move to a circular model; Kin founder Brad Hargreaves on the future of family life; Primer founder Russ Maschmeyer on how tech and augmentation will shape the future of design; and creative duo Stephen Burks and Malika Leiper on the challenges of scaling craft.
The event will feature several unique, interactive components. During the event, attendees will be invited to meet speakers face-to-face after their talk in a private virtual green room. Attendees will also build their own gift bag by selecting items to receive by mail from a virtual gift shop.
The 2020 Future of Home show has been generously underwritten by the High Point Market Authority, Benjamin Moore, Resource Furniture, and CB2 and Crate & Barrel.
Contact: Kim Trepanier, Marketing Manager, Business of Home ktrepanier@buinessofhome.com
