The Design Dispatch offers expertly written and essential news from the design world crafted by our dedicated team. Think of it as your cheat sheet for the day in design delivered to your inbox before you’ve had your coffee. Subscribe now.
Have a news story our readers need to see? Submit it here
Seth Rogen Is Hosting a Pottery Reality TV Show
It’s no secret that Seth Rogenloves weed—and ceramics. Not only did the actor co-found the lifestyle brand Houseplant to bring thoughtfully designed cannabis accessories to the masses, but he also got seriously into pottery during the pandemic. He’s now co-hosting a reality competition television show that proves his affinity for the fine arts is no pastime. “The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down” pits amateur potters against each other in weekly challenges to prove their skills and techniques, much like “The Great British Baking Show.” While there’s sure to be drama, Rogen didn’t let it get to his head. According to co-host Jennifer Roberts, he worked on his own pieces in between takes and even used a blowtorch to dry them.
In other people news, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden announced that Estrellita B. Brodsky was elected as chair of its board of trustees, succeeding Dan Sallick. Topical Cream revealed that Ebony L. Haynes, a senior director at David Zwirner and the visionary behind 52 Walker, was named its 2024 editor-in-residence. Courtney J. Martin is joining the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation as executive director in the spring; she’ll be tasked with furthering its catalogue raisonné project and organizing centennial celebrations for 2025. Marybeth Shaw, the chief creative officer of Wolf-Gordon, was recently honored with this year’s Justin P. Allman Award from the Wallcoverings Association, its highest honor. —Ryan Waddoups
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has unveiled a revised proposal for the Midtown Bus Terminal, a $10 billion project designed by Foster + Partners and A. Epstein and Sons International Inc. The updated plan integrates feedback from stakeholders and aims to address the terminal’s functional obsolescence, offering improved connections between New York and New Jersey. The design features a 2.1 million-square-foot main terminal, enhanced street-level retail spaces, and sustainable elements like electric bus fleets and net-zero emissions technology. The project will be constructed in phases and includes a temporary terminal and new ramps by 2028, with the main terminal’s completion expected by 2032.
New York City is facing its most severe housing shortage in five decades, with the vacancy rate dropping to 1.4 percent in 2023, the lowest since 1968. This shortage exacerbates the ongoing housing crisis, fueled by a lack of construction to meet demand, resulting in escalating rents and worsening homelessness. Despite efforts by Mayor Eric Adams to address the issue through zoning code reforms, significant action from both city and state officials is necessary to alleviate the crisis, which disproportionately affects low-income residents. The data underscores the urgent need for coordinated solutions to increase housing supply and affordability in the city.
Edward Enninful, the departing editor of British Vogue and its newly appointed global creative and cultural advisor, will curate a Robert Mapplethorpe exhibition at Thaddaeus Ropac in Paris Marais. Featuring 46 selected prints from the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation’s extensive archive, the exhibition will open on March 2. Enninful’s long-standing connection to Mapplethorpe’s work, dating back to the 1990s, was sparked by the late photographer’s controversial “Black Book,” which explored Black masculinity through stark contrasts in lighting. The exhibition will present Mapplethorpe’s work in pairs, inspired by magazine spreads, offering fresh insights into themes of light, shadow, skin tone, and clothing juxtapositions.
Related Midwest and Gensler are collaborating to relocate the Chicago White Sox from the South Side to the South Loop, with plans for a stadium at The 78, a mixed-use development. The proposed ballpark would anchor a 62-acre neighborhood along the Chicago River, with hotels, restaurants, and high-rises. Financing for the project remains uncertain, with discussions involving the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority to repurpose existing bonds. Supported by Mayor Brandon Johnson and owner Jerry Reinsdorf, the relocation features skyline views and the potential repurposing of Guaranteed Rate Field as a soccer stadium and housing complex.
The LVMH Prize for Young Designers has announced its 20 semifinalists for the 11th edition, attracting a record-breaking 2,500 applicants. Among them are designers from 18 countries, including Mexico, Moldavia, and Togo, with a notable focus on womenswear. The selected designers will showcase their collections during Paris Fashion Week, vying for a chance to become one of the eight finalists. The overall winner stands to receive 400,000 Euros ($431,466 USD) and mentorship from LVMH, while a new Savoir-Faire Prize will promote craftsmanship, innovation, and sustainability. The competition, which has previously propelled the careers of talents like Jacquemus and Wales Bonner, continues to foster emerging designers globally.