(ALEXANDRIA, VA. – MARCH 2013)–Coverings 2013, the tile and stone industry’s largest international exposition, offers an extraordinarily wide-ranging conference program comprising more than 70 free sessions, many aimed specifically at architects and interior designers, with the added benefit of CEU credit.
When The Ultimate Tile + Stone Experience comes to Atlanta for the first time, April 29-May 2, 2013, there will be more than 900 exhibitors showing an unrivalled range of innovative products and technologies. But architects and designers often cite the free CEU credits and conference sessions, which are categorized by professional-experience level ranging from novice to corporate leader, as a primary reason for attending the tile and stone super show. Coverings is an AIA/CES Approved Provider, a NKBA CEU Provider Partner and is IDCEC approved. For a list of IDCEC and AIA approved sessions, please visit www.coverings.com/education.
In addition to the Featured Speakers previously announced, other conference topics of particular interest to the architecture and design community include best sustainability practices for tile and stone; guidance about getting your projects published in the new digital age; and how advancement in technology and production is resulting in never-before available tile, stone and glass.
Here are details of some of these not-to-be-missed sessions:
Artistry Meets Innovation: Designing with the Newest Tile, Stone and Glass. Artistic Tile’s Joshua Levinson reveals how advancement in technology and production is resulting in tile, stone and glass formats never before available to designers and architects. This session will review some of the newest available products, showcase how they differ, talk about specifying them, feature the looks that can be achieved with them, and provide guidance on their installation and care. Wednesday, May 1, 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM.
Color Theory and Its Applications. Feras Irikat, design director for Oceanside Glasstile and Mandala, examines the impact of light, vision, and texture on color in the design environment. The basics of color theory and psychology will be outlined, followed by a discussion of how wood, textiles, glass and ceramics can be fully integrated to create and define cohesive, beautiful spaces. Tuesday, April 30, 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM.
Concepts: Where Do I Find My Inspiration? Liset Robinson, professor at Savannah College of Art and Design and winner of the 2012 Interior Design Educator of the Year Inaugural Award from the International Interior Design Association, shows how concept generation and creative thinking are processes that can be learned. The design process begins with analysis, which leads to elaboration, and then moves towards discovery. The process of concept derivation will be discussed, including the exploration of graphic images such as diagrams, which allow designers to look at things differently in order to expand their thinking. Tuesday, April 30, 9:30 AM -10:30 AM.
Trends in Tile: Boundary-Breaking New Looks, New Innovations and New Materials for Indoors & Out. Jen Renzi, author of The Art of Tile and a freelance writer for Interior Design, House Beautiful and other publications, will discuss how cutting-edge digital technology and the revival of artisanal processes are transforming the look and application of tile. From super thin to super thick, the formats tile comes in have been pushed to extremes, expanding how and where it can be installed. The industry is a hotbed of innovation, with the brightest design luminaries and new talents teaming with top manufacturers. Renzi will also show how the latest tile trends dovetail with broader cultural shifts, and address how manufacturers are making their products greener than ever before. Tuesday, April 30, 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM.
Tips, Tricks and Landmines in the Field of Green. Holley Henderson, founder of H2 Ecodesign, provides the latest on LEED V4, sustainability at low or no cost, and future trends in the industry. This session includes tips on best practices in sustainability for tile and stone; tricks to understand the new LEED V4 prerequisites; and advice on marketing and positioning products for teams and clients. Tuesday, April 30, 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM.
Designers, Build the Buzz: Editors, Bloggers and Social Media Pros Offer Insider Advice on Getting Published. A panel of influential editors and bloggers spells out what catches their eye and why, offers guidance on how best to present your work to them, and discuses new ways of showcasing projects on sites like Houzz and Pinterest. Monday, April 29, 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM.
Demystifying the Design Professional and the Tile Manufacturer Relationship. For an innovative product to meet expectations on a project, the designer needs to find the right manufacturer to work with. Michael Johnson of Michael P Johnson Design Studio, and Lira Luis of Atelier Lira Luis (ALLL) examine the best practices related to the designer-manufacturer relationship and how both sides can benefit from the process. Several case-study projects will be presented demonstrating aesthetically pleasing projects resulting from successful designer-manufacturer collaborations. Thursday, May 2, 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM.
Specification 2.0: Understanding Ceramics to Use Their Full Potential. Ryan Fasan of Professional Attention to Tile Installations explains how, as the industry changes and new production and glazing techniques give rise to new materials, it’s up to sales people and specifiers to take full advantage of every improvement and leap forward. Modern technology like large formats, slim porcelains, ventilated facades, and ceramic screens provide nearly limitless potential to grow our specifications outside kitchens and baths or even floors and walls. Wednesday, May 1, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM.
Be Our Guest: Tile and Stone in Hospitality. From restaurants to hotels, architects and designers throughout Atlanta are being recognized for inspiring designs both at home and abroad. Panelists Pierre Josselin of Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA), Patricia Richey ASID of tvsdesign, and Karen Teske Blue of The Johnson Studio share their motivation, the role tile and stone has played in their work, and future hospitality trends. Tuesday, April 30, 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM.
Installation Design Showcase Deconstructed. Meet with the Atlanta-area designers and NTCA Five Star Contractors of the Installation Design Showcase and learn what it takes to pull together these annual vignettes in just five days. You will tour the four unique spaces of the showcase–a bar/lounge, hotel lobby, inpatient room in a birthing center, and a master bedroom–and learn from the participants every detail from the types of tiles chosen and why, to the thought-process behind the designs, to the exceptional installation technique. Wednesday, May 1, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM.
Other programs of particular interest to architects and designers include:
Thin Tile Project: From Design to Completion. Tuesday, April 30, 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM.
Ceramic Tile: An Eco-Logical Choice. Tuesday, April 30, 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM.
A US Case Study in Ventilated Facade: First Bank and Trust of Skokie. Wednesday, May 1, 9:30 AM -10:30 AM.
Promoting with Pinterest. Wednesday, May 1, 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM.
Advanced SketchUp. Thursday, May 2, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
For the full conference program go to www.coverings.com.
About Coverings
Coverings is the largest and most important ceramic tile and natural stone trade fair and expo in the United States. It features exhibitors from more than 50 countries and is the stage for introducing some of the most innovative tile and stone products in the world.
The exposition also serves as a valuable resource for continuing education for all segments of the industry, with more than 70 informative, accredited seminars and live demonstration sessions throughout the show, all free of charge.
Coverings attracts thousands of distributors, retailers, fabricators, contractors, specifiers, architectural and design professionals, builders and real estate developers, as well as journalists and bloggers who cover this vital and dynamic industry.
Sponsors of the show are The Ceramic Tile Distributors Association (CTDA), Tile of Spain/Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturer’s Association (ASCER), Ceramics of Italy/Confindustria Ceramica, National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) and The Tile Council of North America (TCNA). The show is managed by National Trade Productions. Coverings 2013 will be held April 29-May 2, at Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia.
For more information visit www.coverings.com or contact National Trade Productions, Coverings Show Management, 703-706-8257.
