Design Icon Series Names Larry Laslo as Summer 2008 Honoree

Furniture World Magazine

World Market Center Las Vegas announced that it is honoring the design world’s own Larry Laslo of Larry Laslo Designs as a Design Icon during the Summer 2008 Las Vegas Market held July 28 – Aug. 1, 2008. In the exclusive Design Icon Lecture series, design legends share their stories and experience in order to inspire future designers. Laslo is the second Design Icon to be honored in this fashion, with the first being Vladmir Kagan at the previous Winter Las Vegas Market. Laslo will discuss highlights of his life as a designer and sources of his inspiration. He also plans to share insights into the business of design. Laslo’s talk will take place Thursday, January 31 at 2:30 p.m. in the new Building C, on the third floor (C-136) during the Summer Las Vegas Market. After the Design Icon lecture, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on January 31, The Robert Allen Group will honor Laslo with a reception event to be held in Robert Allen│Beacon Hill’s new showroom in Building C-101. Attendees should expect an entertaining talk that is far from dull, as Laslo is known for his sharp wit and colorful stories just like he is for his impeccable designs. The talk will cover the purposes of design, how design evolves and relationships with clients. Laslo even plans to share stories about “crazy clients” and stories of his work on projects in New York City, Mexico City, Aspen, Beverly Hills and the Hamptons. “I am part psychiatrist, part lover, part husband and part designer,” Laslo said. “The families I work for become my family. I am doing third and fourth houses for them.” He joked, “The first house is hard; just like the first marriage.” Laslo said he hopes those who attend his talk will leave with inspiration. “Beauty is skin deep, but ugly goes straight to the bone,” Laslo said. “I like to ask people, does your home look as good as you do.” Laslo will also cover how he has promoted himself and his work over the years. “You can be the most talented designer in the world, but if you don’t get yourself out there you miss opportunities, just like the best singer or the best dancer.” It will be a diverse presentation, as the designer will show everything from a beautiful silver room to a razzle dazzle hot pink dining room. Many design students are expected to attend the talk, and Laslo said he delights in being candid with design students to give them a realistic picture of their chosen career path. Although he said he’s “far too young to be an icon,” Laslo said, “I am very honored to be speaking and very honored to be considered in the same category as Vladmir Kagan.” His new fabric collection “Larry Laslo Designs for Robert Allen” features more than 250 fabrics. In addition to the first collections launched in 2007, Larry will preview his next collections of upholstery and window fabrics and also a new trim collection at Robert Allen | Beacon Hill showroom during Summer Las Vegas Market. Laslo has also created furniture collections for John Widdicomb, Ferguson Copeland and Directional; china for Mikasa and Royal Limoges; lighting for Frederick Cooper; art for Rosenbaum and pottery for Haeger to name just a few. Multi-talented, multi-faceted and multi-directional, Laslo takes his inspiration from the world around him and translates these surroundings into a new definition of “livable contemporary.” For Laslo, contemporary means “timeless.” He is one of the foremost product designers in the world. Laslo has designed brilliant interiors that have graced the editorial pages of Architectural Digest, The New York Time, House & Garden, Vogue, Elle Décor, Vanity Fair, Town & Country, Veranda and W. He is recognized in New York City for the interior design of Takashimaya’s flagship store on Fifth Avenue and the highly regarded look and feel of Bergdorf Goodman, in addition to the one-of-a-kind homes he designs throughout the country. Of World Market Center Las Vegas, Laslo said, “It’s going to be where it’s all at in the future and I’m happy to be a part of it early on.” The Summer 2008 Las Vegas Market is scheduled for July 28 through Aug. 1, 2008 at the World Market Center & Pavilions. For more information about World Market Center Las Vegas, including registration and discounted hotel room offers, please visit www.LasVegasMarket.com. About World Market Center Las Vegas: World Market Center Las Vegas is an integrated home and hospitality contract furnishings showroom and trade complex in Las Vegas. In July 2008, when Building C opens, World Market Center will stand at more than five million square feet of space, exceeding the size of any trade merchandise mart in the United States. When fully built, at 12 million square feet in 8 buildings, World Market Center will be the largest trade show complex in the world. The $3 billion, state-of-the-art campus will showcase furniture, decorative accessories, lighting, area rugs, home textile and related segments, as well as the Las Vegas Design Center (LVDC) open year-round to the trade.