Mart Nouveau was the debut edition of Shelter, a three-day design fair aimed at the residential market. Produced by Afternoon Light, it’s a vision by founders Deirdre Maloney and Minya Quirk for an alternative to the commercial-slanted ICFF and emerging platform focused Wanteddesign. The pair also helm Shoppe Object, the design-focused fashion, gift and tabletop trade show.

Taking place on a single floor of the vast Starrett-Lehigh Building, the show mixed together 100+ established brands with independent designers and artisans. The result was a market-style experience that didn’t feel too rigidly curated. The linear layout and perimeter windows made it an enjoyable show to walk not stress about missing anything.

JONALDDUDD marked a ten year anniversary with ‘Grateful Dudd’ a large group show stretching across a long runway of beige shag carpet. The spread leaned hard in the DUDD aesthetic of quirky shapes and borderline absurd functionality.

At the other end of the spectrum is a collaboration between USM and Henry Julier to create a seating collection out of the precision Swiss component system. Julier proposed meticulously woven panels of cord to create seating surfaces that satisfyingly contrast with the sleek chrome structure.

Lastly, the ceramic table lamps from AFG Objects caught my eye for their geometric precision. A stroke forced creator Alain Grossenbacher to abandon a nearly 20-year creative director career at Bodum find another less computer intensive outlet for his ideas. There’s a unique mix of elements like typography, Bauhaus architecture and 90’s Frog-era industrial design that combine within the collection.

Photos and Text: Dave Pinter