Design Pool’s Highlights of 2023

Looking back on 2023, we feel good about all we have accomplished. Thank you so much for using Design Pool as a pattern resource in your interior design projects, reading our blog posts, and cheering us on. As a small team, we really appreciate everyone supporting our business. So, what are we most excited about? At our year-end staff meeting, we talked about some of the highlights of 2023 and what we’re looking forward to in 2024.

Highlights of 2023

Travel

It felt so good to get out and travel again! Kristen took several trips this year, meeting with printers and attending industry events. She spoke at three different events the Printing United Alliance put on and met many printers eager to break into the commercial interior market.

Design Pool patterns in the wild!

This year, we got the opportunity to see Design Pool patterns out in the wild. First, Paul Lewandowski used our pattern Yarrow in a booth he designed for Bobrick’s NeoCon display. Then, this fall, we visited Sixpoint Brewery and saw our pattern Contort upholstered onto chairs.

The Swallowtail Farm Collection

Kristen had a lot of fun designing the Swallowtail Farm Collection in collaboration with Lauren Pignatello. The collection was named a HiP Award Honoree by Interior Design Magazine at NeoCon 2023. Working with Lauren was so enjoyable that Kristen joined her on a creative retreat in Maine this fall.

The Cryptology Collections book

This book was truly a labor of love, but Kristen was persistent and made it a reality. Available for purchase through Blurb, this book tells the story of the inspiration and creative process behind this award-winning collection.

Events

This year, we participated in two events: the IIDA NE’s Rhode to NeoCon event in Providence and NeoCon in Chicago. (We are crossing our fingers that IIDA NE will do another Rhode Island event in 2024.)

It wasn’t all work.

This year, Kristen took a jewelry making class at Snowfarm and created new jewelry pieces out of metal from old pieces. She also exhibited her punch needle pieces in several gallery shows.

Kristin Crane visited a lot of museums this year, soaking up inspiration. In particular, she loved the Folly Cove exhibit at the Cape Ann Museum and the stunning Dorothy Liebes exhibit at the Cooper Hewitt in New York.  

Looking ahead to 2024.

The Design Pool team is heading back to Chicago for NeoCon June 10 – 12, 2024. And because we’re big fans of adding an inspiration day to a work trip, we’re excited to see that the Art Institute of Chicago has two interesting upcoming exhibits, Threaded Visions: Contemporary Weavings from the Collection and Georgia O’Keeffe: “My New Yorks.”

We hope you’ll be along for the ride in 2024 too! Thank you again for your continued support.