Roger Thomas Honored as ‘Design Icon’

Furniture World Magazine

World Market Center announced that Roger Thomas became the first Las Vegan to receive the Design Icon honor from World Market Center Las Vegas. The executive vice president of Wynn Design and Development has become a household name, synonymous with the elegant and whimsical settings for which the Wynn properties are known. “It is a special pleasure for us on a national stage to honor a local talent,” World Market Center Las Vegas President and CEO Robert Maricich said during the presentation on February 12 of the Winter 2009 Las Vegas Market. “Roger Thomas speaks to the incredible creativity that there is here in Las Vegas that we can draw upon.” Randy Wells, Vice President of Las Vegas Design Center, added that Thomas’ combination of talent and creativity, as well as his generosity in the community, are unparalleled in the design industry. Thomas’ vita includes a Who’s Who of design landmarks, including Wynn Las Vegas, Wynn Macau and Encore along with Wynn Diamond Macau, which will open January 2010. His characteristic imprint can also be seen in the interiors of the Golden Nugget hotels in Las Vegas and Laughlin and the Mirage, Treasure Island and Bellagio resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. Thomas, who grew up in Las Vegas, was humbled by the award. “I am really lucky to get to do what I love to do,” he said, thanking World Market Center Las Vegas for the honor, and also expressing his appreciation for his clients and staff. Thomas attributed his success to being in the right place at the right time and developing strong client relationships. Following his acceptance, Thomas shared career highlights, including his most recent masterpiece, Encore Las Vegas. Here, he and Steve Wynn were challenged to actually reinvent luxury. “Something is only luxurious if you have never seen it before,” explained Thomas. “It creates an emotional experience.” Emotional experiences take time: Thomas and his team have worked on bedding and upholstery, alone, for two and a half years. Other aspects he discussed include his focus on museum-quality art, his consistent execution of motifs, such as the butterfly (“Butterflies are the harbingers of good luck and beauty and no two species look alike, featuring great diversity in design and color.”), and what it means to develop “moments” through design. Thomas is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy and The School of the Museum of Fine Art in Boston. He received a BFA in Art History from Tufts University. During his four-decade career, his work has been published in leading journals, including Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Interiors Magazine and Hospitality Design. Elected to the Hospitality Design Platinum Circle in 2005, Thomas received a Lifetime Achievement award from the Network of Executive Women in Hospitality. In 2007, Thomas was listed in Architectural Digest's AD 100. In addition to hospitality design, Thomas launched his Roger Thomas Collection in 2006. The line began with signature designs for APF Munn Master Framemakers and expanded to include furniture for Edward Ferrell + Lewis Mittman and designs for The Natural Carpet Company, along with sustainable lighting for Niedermaier and outdoor furnishings for Veneman. Thomas is passionate about art and culture within his community. He’s the founder of the Bank of America Nevada Fine Art Collection, which is the largest art collection in a financial institution in Nevada. and has served on a variety of boards across the city. Thomas is also a trustee of the Las Vegas Art Museum and the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA). In accepting the exclusive Las Vegas Market Design Icon honor, Thomas joins the ranks of past recipients, including Vladmir Kagan and Larry Laslo. The award and lecture series was designed by World Market Center Las Vegas so that modern-day design legends can share their experiences and inspire future designers. Following the Design Icon award presentation and question and answer session, a cocktail party was held in Thomas’ honor. The February 2009 Las Vegas Market continues through February 13 at World Market Center Las Vegas. Complimentary M-Line Shuttles will run continuously all day from host hotels to World Market Center Las Vegas. In addition, attendees also will be able to register for the 2009 September Las Vegas Market and book discounted hotel rates during the February Las Vegas Market. For more information, please visit www.LasVegasMarket.com.