One of the recommendations we made in our 2011 Growth by Design report was that city and state officials should bring back Brooklyn Designs, the annual exhibition for Brooklyn-based designers that was discontinued in 2011 after nearly a decade in operation. Our report, which highlighted the economic impact of New York City’s design and architecture industries and documented an explosion of Brooklyn-based design firms, included a recommendation titled “Resurrect Brooklyn Designs.” In it, we argued: “City officials, philanthropic foundations and industry groups should make it a priority to ensure that Brooklyn Designs has the resources to make a comeback next year.”

We are pleased to report that Brooklyn Designs is returning to DUMBO this May. It was cancelled in 2011 when the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce lost state funding to produce and sponsor the show. But the Chamber made Brooklyn Designs a priority and raised enough funds to restart the exhibition in 2013.