ReadyMade: Instructions for everyday life

The ICFF begins tomorrow.

Here, blogger Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge talks about party alternatives, why student work is more fun and the importance of having a business card.

Photo by Anna Wolf

So, what’s your name?
Grace Bonney

What do you do?
I run the blog Design*Sponge.

Been going to the ICFF for a while? For business or pleasure?
Design season (Bklyn Designs, ICFF, National Stationery Show, Surtex) is my favorite time of year in NY. I’ve been going to the shows since 2004 for work and have enjoyed them immensely every year. There’s this palpable sense of energy and creativity at ICFF that can’t help but inspire you.

What’s your biggest piece of advice for a newcomer?
Come early and take your time—I missed a lot the first year because I came later in the afternoon and each booth was packed. It pays to come early and get to actually speak with the designers before they’re mobbed by trade visitors. Oh, and have a business card. I found no one took me seriously until I could hand them that little piece of paper.

Which exhibitors or events are you most looking forward to seeing?
I’m always most excited for the DesignBoom mart and any student booths—they always have the most interesting, thought-provoking work for me. It’s sort of like college basketball versus the NBA—you get much wilder, crazier moves on a college court, and the same goes for college work—it’s always a little bit more out there, and slightly less safe. I like when designers push boundaries a bit and don’t go for “slick and sellable” all the time.

How about parties?
I’m a dangerous combination of shy + homebody so I avoid parties like the plague. I’m not a good networker and honestly, after walking the show aisles from 10am to 5pm I’m ready to go home and hang out with my husband and the cats. I need a little break or design starts to feel less fun and more like a grind.

What’s your favorite thing about design week?
That moment you have when you discover something cool, new, or exciting for the first time. I live for those moments. When you find something new that blows your mind or gives you something new to obsess over for a few weeks, it’s worth the tired week and days upon days of walking aisles. The possibility of finding something inspiring is always the best part.

Any aspects you could do without?
Parties. I’d prefer to turn ICFF into a bar after 5pm—it would be great if everyone could lounge around the booths with a beer or glass of wine and talk to everyone. I hate all the packed bar parties and scene-ster fests that happen off site. It’s always weird when you can’t get into a furniture party because Kanye West’s entourage is blocking the door. That sort of scene just isn’t for me—I usually try to set up a series of small dinners with visiting artists so I can get to talk with people one-on-one a bit more—we find a lot of great content and story leads that way.

For out-of-towners visiting the ICFF, are there any design-related excursions you’d recommend?
Williamsburg usually has some great off-site exhibits, shows and open studios that are worth checking out. But I always recommend taking the morning or evening to do something non-design related. You know, taking the subway to the Cloisters or something. I guess there’s some design in that excursion, but I prefer that to galleries and parties. Although it seems like DesignBoom is doing a cool NYC artists show in the Meatpacking District that I’d like to check out.