The Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS held its fourth annual end-of-summer fund-raiser, Picnic by Design, at Ramscale Studio in New York on August 5. This year, 17 designers created elaborate picnic baskets, many featuring local, artisanal foods and products, which the 250 attendees could bid on through silent auctions during the event. In previous years, guests purchased baskets prior to the showcase. The new format helped the organization raise a record-breaking $40,000.
Also new, five design experts served as judges and named two designs—from Gensler and MoDMade NY—the best baskets of the bunch. The foundation also launched a social media campaign in conjunction with the event, asking people across the country to #ShowUsYourPicnic and share photos of their own spreads; one participant won two tickets to Cocktails by Design in March.
Here’s a look at some of the highlights of the outdoor dining designs.