For the First Time Ever, the Stars of Design Awards Honors Talented Designers in New York City at the Decoration & Design Building

New York, NY (________) – Charles S. Cohen, President/CEO of Cohen Brothers Realty Corporation, which owns and manages the Decoration & Design (D&D) Building in New York City, today announced that, for the first time, that prominent figures in the design industries in the New York metropolitan area will be honored with Stars of Design Awards.  This Awards Ceremony will take place during the D&D Building’s annual fall market.

On Wednesday, October 10, Mr. Cohen will host an intimate invitation-only black-tie awards ceremony at Charlie Palmer’s Astra restaurant to celebrate the achievements of the eight Stars of Design winners and the illustrious panel of jury members who selected them.

The Stars of Design Awards, initially established as part of the Pacific Design Center’s WestWeek market in 1994, has made its way east following the Design Center of the Americas (DCOTA) in Southern Florida, which recently added the Stars of the awards to the WinterMarket program of events in 2007.  The Stars of Design awards consist of eight categories and will be given to those individuals that have impacted and contributed to their area of design. The categories include: Architecture, Interior Design, Product Design, Art, Photography, Graphic Art, Landscape Design and Lifetime achievement.

Making the decision of who walks away with these prestigious honors is a panel of six distinguished individuals who share a passion for and an appreciation of design.  The jury members include:

Harry Benson, photographer:  Mr. Benson is  well-known photojournalist who has photographed various influential figures from  President Richard Nixon to first ladies such as Jackie Kennedy to celebrities including  Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson.  Abrams recently published a book of his work Harry Benson: Fifty Years in Pictures.

Joseph Giovannini, architect:   Mr. Giovannini is both an architect and a writer about architecture and design.  He has been an architecture critic for the New York Times, The New Yorker, The Los Angeles Times and International Design. He is currently a contributing editor for Architectural Digest.

Jamaica Kincaid, author:  Started her career writing articles for Ingénue Magazine in the 60’s  and is currently ?????.

John Loring, design director:  Mr. Loring has been with Tiffany’s since 1979 as their Design Director.  He has written 15 books on Tiffany jewelry, silver, entertaining and style. His latest book, is called Tiffany in Fashion: A Study of American Fashion and Fashion Photograph.

Juan Pablo Molyneux, interior designer: JP Molyneax Studio is best known for its European approach to design with overtones of neo–classicism.  Clients range from Palm Beach to Park Avenue.

Thomas F. Schutte, president, Pratt Institute Brooklyn  - NEED INFO

Mr. Cohen says, “I am so pleased to welcome the Stars of Design awards to New York City.  This region is so rich with innovative and distinctive design talent, and it is my privilege to host an awards ceremony at the D&D building where we can honor their contributions to their respective fields.”

About Charles S. Cohen

Visionary developer Charles S. Cohen is known for his brilliant repositioning of commercial real estate. Mr. Cohen heads a multi-faceted real estate development company that develops, owns and manages more than 12 million square feet of prime office and showroom space in Los Angeles, Manhattan, Florida and Houston, including several of New York City’s most prestigious Class A office building addresses.

Decoration and Design Building

Known nationally and internationally as the world’s most important home to over 120 showrooms, the D&D Building represents over 3000 leading manufacturers dedicated to offering the very best in residential and business interior furnishings, educational opportunities and resource information. Located in Midtown Manhattan, the D&D has a scenic 14^th floor restaurant, events venue and conference center, ASTRA, with cuisine by Charlie Palmer.

D&D Building

979 3rd Avenue Suite 1400

New York, New York 10022

Phone: (212) 759-5408

Fax: (212) 751-8130

ddbuilding.com