NYCxDESIGN is guided by core values of community, creativity, inclusivity, diversity, and sustainable design for the greater good. Beyond our annual Festival, our year-round programming provides a platform for NYC’s diverse design talent, from students and emerging designers to seasoned professionals. Each program fosters connection, education, and inspiration, empowering the next generation to use design as a powerful tool for positive impact and addressing the world’s most pressing needs.

Emerging Designer Residency

The Emerging Designer Residency was created to support the work of designers in the early stages of their careers.

NYCxDESIGN and Arts Thread have teamed up again to present the 2024 iteration of the Emerging Designer Residency program in New York City. Four recent graduates in a variety of design disciplines will set up studios in a well trafficked public commercial space to showcase their impressive projects and work in progress.

Erika Choe
Juliana Serna Mesa
Lilach Porges
Alexandra Soiseth

Open to the public from Thursday, May 16th to Thursday, May 23rd

The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards, Level 1

 20 Hudson Yards New York, NY 10001

Program Archive

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Yi Hsuan Sung
Agar Pendant Lamps​
As a curious maker who loves to integrate handcraft and technology to create biodegradable textiles, and a fashion-designer-turned textile florist who enjoys discovering the littlest surprises from the natural world, she has been cooking, weaving, braiding and gardening a glorious world of flowers from agar and food waste with the respect to natural materials and the love of organic colors and textures.
“I wouldn’t have continued working on my agar pendant lamp collection if it wasn’t for the residency opportunity with NYCxDESIGN and ARTS THREAD. The experience allowed me to work on my portfolio while interacting with the public, which generated new ideas and inspiration for my work.” – Yi Hsuan Sung
Lenny Vuitton
Rugs and Pillows
Lenny takes a daring yet exciting approach in his mission to dismantle society’s expectations. A lifestyle brand that unifies art and fashion and design while drawing relations to different aspects of life.
Lenny Vuitton began studying fashion during his undergraduate degree at Columbia College Chicago; afterward he continued on to his studies with a Masters in fashion design at FIT NYC, recently graduating in 2019. Following Lenny Vuitton has continued to work on his own brand with a strong focus on doing collaborations with other brands.
Xin Min
Ceramics
While ceramics is her favorite material, she applies pure color to all her creations to illustrate the minimalist yet delightful aesthetics with maximal practicability.
Aside from her professional work, Xin Min has also been successful in other areas. She emerged second at the 2019 Moroccanoil sustainable product design competition and the 2020 K-Design Design award. She has also been a photographer, marking her presence in 2018 Fashion Week, a producer in 2018 Tmall x Moschino and 2019 Tmall x HM Studio ss live broadcasts.
“The residency is really a wonderful and unique experience for me. Work in a shop which located in a landmark. Set up work space in front of a window and let people can walk by and watch. Interact with public and engage my work is also an interesting experience.” – Xin Min
Lizzy Itzkowitz
Custom Silk Screened Home Accessories
Her love of the visual arts propelled her to NYC’s LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and then The School of Visual Arts, graduating with a BFA in Cartooning in 2018. At SVA she brought her love of bright colors to screen printing and pattern design. She’s now on a mission to spread happiness and energize the world with her fun and intricate designs.
“The residency was a rewarding experience that enabled me to learn new design techniques and processes that I wouldn’t have been able to work on in my home. I want my designs to make people happy, and this opportunity allowed me to spread that joy.” – Lizzy Itzkowitz

Thank you to our 2024 Emerging Designer Residency Supporter