The disconnect and tension between humans and technology was the prevailing theme when planning this year’s Design Connections 2.0, held Oct. 7-8 in Palm Springs, CA.
interiors+sources brand director Steven Sloan and conference chairs Kyle Berry, designer II for AECOM, and Jacquelyn Hunter, an associate for Corgan, hosted the event. It comprised group panel discussions, boardroom meetings, networking events and one-on-one meetings for designers and sponsors.
Photo: Melanie Goodson, interior designer at MHAworks, was selected among attendees as the Chief Disruptor of Design Connections 2.0. She was presented with the award on the final day and is seen with interiors+sources brand director Steven Sloan and program chair for the event Kyle Berry, a previous Design Connections Chief Disruptor. Credit: Image by Robert Nieminen
People and Companies Honored
Throughout the event, Sloan and Robert Nieminen, interiors+sources’ editor-at-large, surveyed over 50 designers and dozens of sponsors, searching for an individual to be named Design Connections’ Chief Disruptors. Melanie Goodson, interior designer at MHAworks, was selected as the Chief Disruptor of the conference.
Goodson was presented with the award at a ceremony on the final day of the event. “Our disruptors are questioning the status quo, pushing us to ask why we do what we do, and is there a better way?” says Sloan on the characteristics of what a Chief Disruptor holds.
Also at the show, attendees were given a voting form to cast a ballot for the company that made the greatest impression on them during their one-to-one meetings and during boardroom discussions with company representatives.
Companies that received the most votes in each of five vertical markets were recognized during the awards ceremony as well.
Winners were:
- Education: Teknion
- Healthcare-Medical: Congoleum
- Healthcare-Senior Living: Mecho Shade Systems
- Workplace: Connectrac
- Hospitality: Sunbrella
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