Each year, the New York School of Interior Design’s annual gala reaches across New York City, bringing together over 300 designers, philanthropists, and friends. Its honorees are recognized for their trailblazing and cutting-edge contributions made to the world of design and include luminaries such as David Kleinberg, Suzanne Rheinstein, Jim Druckman, and Bunny Williams, and 100% of the proceeds directly benefit students through scholarships and academic support. This year carries on the tradition of excellence with recognition of three exceptional designers. The College is proud to announce that Jeffrey Bilhuber, Christopher Spitzmiller, and Alberto Villalobos will be honored at this year’s gala.

About this year’s honorees:

Recipient of the Albert Hadley Lifetime Achievement Award and preeminent American decorator, Jeffrey Bilhuber has a uniquely American perspective on design that breathes new life into traditionalism with a confirmed understanding of modern sensibilities, of comfort, and style. Bilhuber’s high-profile clients have entrusted him to bring practicality and sheer beauty into their lives and residences. His work has been published in every major national and international shelter magazine, and he is consistently named to industry honors lists including The AD 100, Elle Décor’s A-List, and House Beautiful’s Top 100 Interior Designers. Jeffrey has been a featured guest on a wide variety of television shows including Charlie Rose, The View, Conan O’Brien, and ABC Family’s first unscripted reality series JOB OR NO JOB. He is the author of four bestselling books.

Arguably one of the most influential figurative ceramic lamp designers of our time, Christopher Spitzmiller is the recipient of the Larry Kravet Design Industry Innovation Award. He began his career in Georgetown in Washington, D.C. where he worked out of an old schoolhouse near Dumbarton Oaks. Shortly thereafter, his work received critical acclaim and his reputation as a noteworthy ceramicist began to emerge. He has had the honor of making lamps for the Oval Office, the past two White House Administrations, as well as Blair House and other distinguished American homes.

New for 2019, NYSID is proud to announce a new “Rising Star” award to recognize an individual who is quickly breaking boundaries for their innovative work in interior design. The Rising Star Award is sponsored by The Shade Store, a family-run company that provides designers with a single source for access to the world’s finest materials, artisan craftsmanship, and the best workrooms for premium custom window treatments in the U.S.A. The first ever Rising Star Award recipient will be NYSID alumni Alberto Villalobos ’06. Founder of A. Villalobos, a New York based boutique design firm specializing in a seamless ability to meld together the new and the old, the antique and the modern, the anachronistic and the contemporary. Alberto began his pursuit of his passion after moving from his hometown in Colombia to attend the New York School of Interior Design. Soon after graduating, he opened his design firm, quickly cultivating residential clients in New York City and all over the world. Alberto’s sincere love of design and its history, his respect for culture, individuality, and collaboration, his detailed diligence, thoroughness and thoughtfulness are all the traits integral to the firm’s well-conceived and fulfilling processes and results.

We hope that you’ll join us for an evening to support scholarships for our students and celebrating this year’s honorees. For more information on the gala, please visit Annual Gala 2019.