The founders of the multidisciplinary American firm ‘Meyer Davis’ are on the jury of the Archiproducts Design Awards
Architects Will Meyer and Gray Davis – heads of the New York design firm Meyer Davis – are this week’s guests for our series of interviews with the jurors of the 2021 edition of the Archiproducts Design Awards.
Less than a month from the closing date (brands have until September 10 to submit their products), the conversations with the jury members of this year’s edition continue. The ADAs are the annual Awards promoted by Archiproducts to celebrate excellence in international design.
This week we are chatting with Meyer Davis, the multidisciplinary office founded in 1999 in New York by architects Will Meyer and Gray Davis, now globally recognised as one of the most influential names in the field of residential and contract design.
Meyer and Davis, who are on the 2021 Archiproducts Design Awards jury, pursue an approach that interweaves bold design with customisation, focusing on craft and materials. They like to define their style as ‘new modern’ aimed at balancing luxury and simplicity.
More than 20 years after its birth, the firm has opened flagship offices in the heart of Soho in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London and throughout the United States.
Interview with Meyer Davis, on the jury of the 2021 Archiproducts Design Awards
What do you expect from the submissions to the 2021 Archiproducts Design Awards, and what features should the winning products have?
Will Meyer: We are always intrigued by a new approach to a detail or an inspired solution to a problem. We would also like to discover different points of view that can emerge thanks to the intelligent use of materials, technology and innovation.
What should contemporary design look at, and how should it evolve to meet the community’s needs?
Gray Davis: Contemporary product design should seek to solve a problem and create flexibility for designers. This philosophy has always guided our approach to product design at the company we founded – ‘William Gray’.
In the post-pandemic era, how can design define a ‘new normal’?
Will Meyer: The ‘new normal’ is taking shape in such a variety of ways and forms. From our perspective, it means focusing on design quality and delivering extraordinary experiences to our customers. For the hotel and hospitality world in general, the ‘new normal’ is about improving meeting spaces to make the experience of remote meetings satisfying, for example. For the residential sector, the importance of outdoor space has emerged as a design priority.
In general, sustainability must now be considered in every phase of a project of whatever kind.
How do you think the pandemic has affected design?
Gray Davis: The disruption to shipping and delivery has had a significant impact on global manufacturing. This has forced designers to reconsider the role of manufacturing within the design process. It was easy for designers and project managers to continue to work remotely. Still, the pandemic made us more grateful for how industries actively contribute to the process that starts with designers and terminates with the end customer. The disruption allowed us to convince our clients to support and sustain local suppliers and manufacturers to safely meet delivery schedules. This was an unexpected positive outcome.
About Meyer Davis
After years of collaboration, Will Meyer and Gray Davis founded Meyer Davis in 1999. Both designers hail from Tennessee and began their careers in architecture and interior design in New York – Gray with John Saladino and Will with Charles Gwathmey. In addition to many international experiences in architecture and interior design, over the years, the American firm has expanded to include product design, branding and art curation.
The firm’s major hospitality clients include Four Seasons, Auberge Resorts Collection, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Mandarin Oriental, The Ritz Carlton, W Hotels, Loews Hotels, 1 Hotels and Dream Hotels.
Meyer Davis’ latest projects include the Crown Hotel and Residences in Sydney; the W Hotel in Rome; the Mauna Lani in Hawaii; Harrods Brasserie in London; The River House Restaurant in Nashville. By the end of 2021, the firm will also complete Dream Doha, the Grand Hyatt Kuwait and a restaurant at the Ritz Carlton in Mexico City.
Recently, their product design company, William Gray, has collaborated with Stellar Works, Claybrook, Watermark, Rich Brilliant Willing and Contardi.
Meyer Davis has received awards and accolades, including the James Beard Award for the St. Cecilia restaurant in Atlanta, numerous Interior Design Best of Year Awards (for product and interior design), Boutique Design Gold Key Awards, and induction into the Hospitality Design Platinum Circle in 2018.
Entries for the 2021 edition of the award are open!
Each brand can nominate from 1 to 5 products, from Furniture to Lighting to Contract to Building.
The deadline for participation is September 10, 2021.
APPLY NOW!
Meyer Davis_FristHouse
Meyer Davis_Mauna Lani, Halau
Meyer Davis_Mauna Lani, reception
Meyer Davis_Four Seasons Astir Palace_Suite
Meyer Davis_Proxi, bar
Meyer Davis_Rosewood Little Dix Bay_Tree House Living Room
Meyer Davis_Rosewood Little Dix Bay_Tree House Suite
Meyer Davis_The Harrods Brasserie_Dining Banquettes
Meyer Davis_The River House, restaurant
Meyer Davis_Upper East Side Townhouse