Ilene Shaw

Ilene Shaw has devoted her career to the advocacy and promotion of great design. She began as a product designer and evolved as an innovator of international trade and public design shows, conferences, curated exhibitions, awards, and educational programs. She currently serves as Executive Director of NYCxDESIGN, New York City’s official design festival.

Shaw is the founding producer of Design Pavilion, the largest public design activation in the world, she also produced the Design Talks, offering thought-leadership by insightful design minds.  She conceived of and co-developed the ICFF, International Contemporary Furniture Fair through its formative first decade.  As a lifelong champion of public art and design, Shaw serves as a senior advisor to CODAworx, the resource hub of the commissioned art economy, and co-spearheaded its internationally renowned CODAawards.  Shaw can be seen as a frequent presenter and judge on the CBS TV series America ByDesign: Architecture.

Shaw serves as an advisor and critic of multi-disciplinary student projects at Parsons School of Design and Pratt Institute, and she is a long-term member of the Board of Trustees for DIFFA, Design Industries Foundation.