{"id":192706,"date":"2022-01-25T14:25:50","date_gmt":"2022-01-25T19:25:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interiordesign.net\/?post_type=id_news&p=192706"},"modified":"2022-01-25T16:31:08","modified_gmt":"2022-01-25T21:31:08","slug":"david-davis-encourages-the-ad-community-to-speak-up-in-support-of-original-design","status":"publish","type":"id_news","link":"https:\/\/interiordesign.net\/designwire\/david-davis-encourages-the-ad-community-to-speak-up-in-support-of-original-design\/","title":{"rendered":"David Davis Encourages the A&D Community to Speak Up in Support of Original Design \u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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January 25, 2022<\/p>\n\n\n

Words: <\/span>Carlene Olsen<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photography: <\/span>Eric Petschek<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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David Davis Encourages the A&D Community to Speak Up in Support of Original Design  <\/h1>\n\n\n\n

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David Davis. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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For David Davis, a founding principal of Rottet Studio<\/a>, authentic design is rooted in three words: originality, quality, and value\u2014and his investment in each runs deep. A few years ago, the firm published \u201cAuthentic Design: Lauren Rottet and Rottet Studio\u201d with Rizzoli, for one.  \u201cFor me, it\u2019s really a moral issue,\u201d he shares. \u201cThe fact that there\u2019s an entire industry built on stealing design work is mind boggling to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the problem of knock-offs is systemic, given recurring pressures from clients to find pieces that work for less, which makes it especially challenging to combat. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s where\u00a0Be Original Americas<\/a>, a nonprofit that spotlights the value of original craftsmanship, comes in. The group, cofounded by\u00a0Beth Dickstein of\u00a0BDE\u00a0<\/a>along with\u00a0David Rosenkvist, chief commercial and creative officer at\u00a0Louis Poulsen<\/a>, works to protect authentic designs and actively\u00a0stop the spread of\u00a0knock-offs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBeing involved with Be Original Americas is really an opportunity to take a stand and say to my staff and clients: Rottet Studio supports original design and we will not participate in that process of deceiving people,\u201d says Davis, noting the issue hits especially close to home given the firm\u2019s line of custom furnishings. Even before joining the Be Original Americas board, Davis made a point to talk with staff on a project level about ways to resist pressures from owners who want to incorporate knock-offs. His approach? When met with resistance, offer clients two options: \u201cLet\u2019s do something completely original or let\u2019s use the originally specified product.\u201d Be Original Americas enables Davis to amplify that message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Rottet Studio office in New York features many pieces from Be Original Americas members, including Knoll, Avenue Road and Rottet Collection. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOnce I got involved in Be Original Americas, it gave me an opportunity to make supporting original design an official position of the company,\u201d he says, adding that he immediately added the group\u2019s insignia to the Rottet Studio website as well as his email signature. He also sent a message to the firm\u2019s global team announcing his status as a board member of Be Original Americas to make his commitment clear and, importantly, public. \u201cEveryone understands this is a cause that we\u2019re behind and support,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“We are fortunate to have a light-filled space with exposures on all four sides, so it was important for us to furnish it with products that contributed to that bright, cheerful feeling,” shares Davis of the New York office.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

More broadly, Be Original Americas also is pushing forward a much-needed dialogue on the future of authentic design. As a board member, Davis shares that he often learns about problems he did not know existed from colleagues, which helps him understand how to better craft solutions. And those solutions must reach every aspect of the A&D community, he affirms, from design media, which he urges to take a stand against publishing projects that showcase knock-off designs, to building owners and clients. Put simply, it all comes down to spreading the word. \u201cEvery designer, manufacturer or consumer that even hesitates before specifying a knock-off as a result of something Be Original Americas brought to their attention is a success,\u201d he adds. In other words, every conversation around authentic design counts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Rottet
Products throughout include workstations and desks from Knoll\u2019s Antenna Workspaces Collection, the Life task chair from Knoll, tables from Knoll\u2019s Saarinen Collection, Sebastian Herkner\u2019s Bell table from Avenue Road, and lounge and occasional furniture from the Rottet Collection.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n