The Design Community That Defines New York City

A biennial at New York's MAD Museum, open through October 12, 2014, explores the rich design community of New York City—a group whose creations set the tone of the ever-shifting city. "It’s expensive to have space to produce and make one’s work in New York City," says curator Jake Yuzna. "Those who choose to come to NYC, and/or stay in NYC, fight against that tide—they strive to change the cultural landscape of the city, and through their adaptive practices, are doing it." Click through the slideshow for a look at some of the pieces on view. Slideshow

Stepin One 2 by Rafael de Cárdenas/Architecture at Large

The exhibition includes an immersive space designed by architect Rafael de Cárdenas. "The project paid homage to the unique design of nightclubs in NYC from the 1970s to the early 90s, as well as to the important role these spaces have in fostering creative collaborations and communities," exhibition curator Jake Yuzna says.

"Equally as interesting is that each person who worked on the project, from designer to fabricator, was credited in a large wall graphic. I think many people understand that it takes a huge team to make an ambitious project like a feature film, but often similar teams behind other ambitious projects, like architecture or large scale artworks, remain relatively unknown."