Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS hosted Dining by Design at Chicago's Merchandise Mart November 4 and 5. This year, planners helped lower the benefit's costs by combining the event's opening-night cocktail bash on Wednesday with the Chef's Tasting, which offered bites from local restaurants. (Previously, the cocktail party and tasting event had taken place on separate nights.) On Thursday, the community viewing and gala dinner took place.
This year's event had a communal dining theme, and several long, adjoined tables were at the center of the space. Along the event's periphery, booths featured installations decorated by furniture manufacturers, event designers, interior designers, architects, and other creative types. Lush floral arrangements were rarely spotted this year (although not entirely absent), and several of the tables had a natural look that incorporated unexpected decorative items from crayons to balloons and candle wax. A travel theme inspired some of the installations, and others took inspiration from honey, hospital waiting rooms, and farmers' markets. Here are 18 design ideas to steal from the creative showcase.
More doodling was encouraged at the table designed by Allsteel and Henricksen. The design incorporated pages plucked from adult coloring books, and centerpieces held crayons and colored pencils. Like many others this year, the table was flower free.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
A red thread, symbolizing the fight against AIDS, ran through several of the communal tables at this year's event. At a table designed by Kimberle Winzeler of Pauline Grace, red thread was wrapped around a tall candelabra.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
Red threads also appeared on the edges of a communal table designed by Perkins & Will and the Ruder Group. Like many of this year's tabletop settings, the design had a natural look. The table had no linens and was topped with succulents and white taper candles. Small sprigs of greenery were tied onto white napkins with twine, and a furry throw added texture to the seats.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
A similarly natural, garden-like design appeared at a table decorated by OFS Brands and student members of the American Society of Interior Design Illinois. With no linens, the table had leafy floral arrangements dotted with berries, and napkins were topped with delicate green sprigs. Settings included copper mugs, golden flatware, and wooden place mats.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
Another communal table, decorated by HOK, CCI, and Knoll Textures, also eschewed linens. The white tabletop was covered in melted wax that had apparently dripped off tall white candles decking the table. Red rose petals were also scattered.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
Wolf Gordon by the Getty's Group curtained off its booth, and guests stood in line to enter the mysterious installation. With a "Secret Society of Benevolence" theme, the space had a back wall made of black envelopes sealed with golden hearts. Guests could take the envelopes off the wall, and instructions inside bid them to perform kind tasks, such as offering compliments to fellow partygoers. A large-scale graphic design was slowly revealed as guests took more envelopes.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
The center of the table had a "fireplace" that was actually made of illuminated water vapor.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
A vignette from Leopardo by VOA evoked a Moroccan train car. Simple wooden tables, topped with white flowers and Moroccan tea glasses, were placed beside windows that appeared to look out onto scenery in motion.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
Another table with a travel theme was designed by Gunlocke/HBF. Miniature hot-air balloons hovered above the table, which was also decked with a globe, clocks, maps folded into origami, and miniature treasure boxes.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
Yet another linen and flower-free table was designed by Thomas Interior Systems and Siebold & Baker by Eastlake Studios. The installation featured a table that had traveled to 10 Chicago communities and served as a pop-up dining space. Those who gathered at the table were encouraged to write on its surface.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
Not all tables were flowerless. A lush arrangement of pink and white peonies formed the centerpiece at a table designed by Debi Lily of A Perfect Event.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
Each place setting at Debi Lilly's table had sparkling charger plates and coupe glasses holding cupcakes with floral frosting designs.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
More flowers were found at—or rather, above—the table sponsored by Modern Luxury Interiors Chicago and decorated by Casa Spazio with Elizabeth Pasquinelli of Debaum Studio. The all-white installation was crowned by a canopy of upside-down carnations.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
A bowl of oranges and a bucket of chilling champagne decorated a tabletop inspired by Portofino, Italy. The table was sponsored by the Design Center at the Merchandise Mart and designed by Tom Stringer Design Partners.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
More fruit was found at the Diffa Farmer's market from Steelcase by Nelson. The whimsical installation invited guests to take home bags of fresh produce.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
A setup from Herman Miller Geiger Furniture by Gensler was loosely inspired by a hospital waiting room. Syringes and small red toys were found on trays next to the wooden seats, and a ceiling of white balloons hung overhead.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
Tie-dye pattern walls surrounded an installation from Modern Luxury Interiors Chicago, Roche Bobois, and Nicholas Moriarty Interiors. Dubbed "A Modern Encampment," the space was meant to have an indoor-outdoor feel and channel a modern boutique hotel.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
Inspired by honey, the vignette from Interior Investments by IA was surrounded by hanging fixtures with honeycomb patterns. The vignette also placed bottles of honey on wooden pedestals surrounded by pillows. A living green wall formed the backdrop.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
