event NEWS
The New York Design Center Announces the 2025 “What’s New, What’s Next” with Programming Spanning Design, Lifestyle, and Culture
The New York Design Center, New York’s premiere resource for interior design, will hold the 16th annual “What’s New, What’s Next” event (“WNWN”) on September 18, 2025 at the center’s 16-story building located at 200 Lexington Avenue. The annual event historically brings 4,000 designers, media, and design enthusiasts to 200 Lex, showcasing innovative ideas, surprising designs, brand new materials, and inventive products.
The 2025 WNWN covers all aspects of design with programming topics highlighting art, wellness, entrepreneurship, hospitality, sustainability, and technology, celebrating the design industry’s ambitious creativity, progressive thinking and incredible talent while also looking at the future of the industry through dynamic and insightful discussions, conversations and demonstrations.
“What’s New, What’s Next” promises an unforgettable day of design, inspiration, and discovery at the New York Design Center. Featuring a dynamic lineup of renowned tastemakers, cultural voices, and celebrated editors, WNWN 2025 will showcase more than 60 thought-provoking panels and conversations throughout the day.
Programming highlights include Elle Décor’s Head of Content Elisa Lipsky-Karasz in conversation with iconic designer duo Miles Redd and David Kaihoi on the intersection of fashion, storytelling, and interiors. Galerie Magazine explores the bold spirit of Brutalist design in an inspiring panel with Susan Ferrier, while Business of Home’s Editor in Chief Kaitlin Petersen hosts a candid, no-holds-barred conversation on travel and design with top designers John Cialone, Kristen Rivoli, Greg Tankersley, and Victoria Sass. House Beautiful’s Editorial Director Joanna Saltz celebrates the narrative power of color with design luminaries including Sasha Bikoff, Olivia Song, and more. Veranda’s Style and Market Editor Rachael Burrow Rummel, examines the ever-evolving role of classic design in the modern home with Tony Baratta, Philip Thomas, Sheila Bridges, and Aimee Buccatello. Crestron Electronics’ JoAnn Arcenal leads a conversation on AI and technology with designers Poonam Khanna, Rachael Stollar, and Ward Welch of Studio SFW.
Beyond the panels, the day is packed with exclusive product debuts and showroom celebrations. Attendees will enjoy first looks at launches from 200 Lex showrooms, including Kravet, Peter Dunham Home & Garden, Visual Comfort just to name a few. This year also marks the debut of exciting new showrooms including Astek Wallcoverings, Christopher Farr Cloth, Corston Architectural Detail, Francois & Co, Pooky Lighting, Schumacher, Thibaut, Wells Abbott, Wendover Art, and more.
With even more showroom openings slated for this Fall including Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Sage AV, and a newly expanded Crosby Street Studios; What’s New, What’s Next 2025 sets the stage for a bold new chapter at the New York Design Center as it enters its 100th year in 2026.
“This year’s What’s New, What’s Next is especially exciting as we welcome new showrooms that continue expand the offerings at The New York Design Center. This year’s event exemplifies our dedication to bringing the design industry together and celebrating the talent and craftmanship that make our industry so special. We are proud bring together so many of our partners once again for WNWN and are excited for this year’s event as it sets the stage for our historic 100th anniversary in 2026.” says Jim Druckman, President and CEO of the New York Design Center.
The New York Design Center is supporting this year’s WNWN event through its expanding editorial platform, which will highlight new product introductions, spotlight event ambassadors, and feature key speakers. A dedicated editorial section on the website, alongside exclusive weekly newsletters, offers attendees and subscribers first access to trends, showroom news, and in-depth event coverage. This initiative enhances WNWN’s digital presence, ensuring that the event’s dynamic content reaches a broader audience.
WNWN will take place on Thursday, September 18th with the first panel kicking off at 10AM and programming running throughout the day. For more information, to view the entire schedule, or to register for WNWN, visit wnwn.nydc.com.
