Pratt students, faculty, and alumni participated in this year’s NYCxDESIGN Week in a variety of ways, from presenting their work in group exhibitions to discussing projects in solo shows.
The 2025 NYCxDESIGN Student Showcase, held at the Fashion Institute of Technology on May 19, featured work by Bobby Hay, BFA Interior Design ’25, and Nicole Yuen, MID ’25, that explored the theme of perseverance and considered “how creatives [can] bring people together and build bridges.”
Work from 15 Pratt students and graduates was featured in the NYCxDESIGN showcase with Arts Thread, including a ceiling lamp made from discarded materials such as a baking tray, an umbrella, and an advertising banner by Sveva Michahelles, MID ’23; a reimagination of the Swale food forest floating on water by Amy Chien, MArch ‘23; and a “scientifically rigorous” surf shoe by Haocheng Lou, MID ’23.
At the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) at the Javits Center, Zhiwei (Johnny) Xie, BID ’25, received the Best of Students Award for his flat-pack chair designed titled Pivota.
Five other students from the Interior Design and Industrial Design departments participated in The WANTED Design Schools Workshop, organized by WantedDesign, where they explored ways to redesign food systems in NYC.
Professor of Industrial Design Constantin Boym organized the NYCxDESIGNxSOUVENIR showcase, which featured New York City-inspired souvenirs from 72 designers, including numerous Pratt faculty and alumni.
“In the digital world of the 21st Century there is a renewed interest in physical objects that can keep memories and retain emotions,” Boym said about the exhibition. “New technologies and materials now allow for customizable and limited-edition objects that reflect on social, political, and cultural places and events of every passing year. We hope that our exhibition will give New York people a different outlook on souvenirs, and will make them realize that this is a field full of creative potential, fun, and discovery.”
Visiting Assistant Professor of Undergraduate Architecture Kiki Goti curated the group exhibition Forced Perspective, which featured design objects and furniture, including Goti’s intricate glass vase, Irini.
Back on Pratt’s Brooklyn campus, Visiting Instructor of Industrial Design Danielle Begnaud and Visiting Assistant Professor of Interior Design Margot Kleinman hosted Co-Designing a Classroom in the Design Center Gallery. They displayed and discussed their findings from a year of co-designing a classroom space with elementary school students.
Throughout NYCxDESIGN week, these contributions reflected the breadth and depth of design at Pratt, where students, faculty, and alumni are not only shaping the city’s creative dialogue, but also reimagining how design can foster connection, community, and change.