Design Miami
Design Miami/ is an international design fair that provides a commercial platform for exhibiting galleries specializing in collectible design, ranging from the turn of the twentieth century to new commissions by contemporary designers. The biannual fair runs for one week and is held in Basel, Switzerland every June and in Miami, Florida, USA every December.
Galleries are selected for each show by the fair’s Gallery Committee, and the works they present at the fair are authenticated by the fair’s Vetting Committee. This process ensures the quality and authenticity of all pieces exhibited.
Design Miami's gallerists are widely considered the world's leading experts in their fields. Their discovery and promotion of designers and design pieces, whether historical or contemporary is considered a sign of excellence and great potential. Museums and collectors alike seek out this group of specialists not only as a source of rare design pieces, but also for their in-depth knowledge, rich experience and trend prediction.
In addition to the Gallery Program, Design Miami/ offers cultural programming that varies according to location, but includes in both instances Design Curio, Satellites, Collaborations and Design Talks. Unique to the Miami fair is the Design Visionary Award presented by Panerai, and an annual Pavilion Commission; while Basel's unique programming includes Design at Large and the Swarovski Designers of the Future Award.
Design Miami/ was co-founded by real-estate developer and collector Craig Robins in 2005 at the suggestion of Sam Keller, then Director of Art Basel. This initial edition of the fair included 12 galleries under the leadership of co-founder Ambra Medda. The fair debuted under the moniker Design .05 and took place in the Miami Design District's Moore Building. Following the success of the fair in Miami, Robins and Medda took the fair to Basel in June 2006 for the first European installment with 17 design galleries presenting in a church and adjacent theater in Basel. This was the first fair to carry the name Design Miami/ Basel.
MCH, the group that owns Art Basel, formalized its relationship with Design Miami/ by acquiring shares of the Basel edition in 2006 and the Miami edition of the fair in 2007.
Design Miami's Florida fair relocated from the Miami Design District to its current location opposite Art Basel Miami Beach in 2010. In Switzerland, the fair took up residence in Hall 5 at the Messeplatz, Basel in 2009 and later moved to its current site in Hall 1 Süd, designed by Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron) also in Messe Basel.
Design Miami/ is currently under the guidance of CEO Jennifer Roberts, former Executive Director of The Salon Art+Design in New York and Founding Publisher of Modern Magazine. Roberts is Design Miami’s first CEO. Rodman Primack, former Chairman of auction house Phillips, is the fair's Executive Director, following Directors Marianne Goebl, Wava Carpenter and Ambra Medda. Craig Robins remains actively involved as Design Miami's Chairman.
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