IDCNY Third Thursdays: The Business of Design

Poster for IDCNY (International Design Center New York) promoting "a series of monthly seminars to beef up your business skills."

IDCNY opened in 1985 in renovated factory buildings in Long Island City with space for showrooms and other services for the interior design and wholesale furnishings industry. Vignelli Associates designed all the graphics and signage for IDCNY.

Text: How do you design a successful business?

For brand-new businesses and going concerns that want to go further. The International Design Center, New York presents Third Thursdays, a series of monthly seminars to beef up your business skills. A one hour program will be followed by lunch and a free wheeling question-and-answer session. You Can’t afford to miss a single Thursday! Mark your calendar now.

Richard B. Kenarney, president of Design Communications Incorporated, with 20 years of sales management experience in the interior design and publishing fields, will lead the seminars.

Space for third Thursday programs is limited. Call Linda Adams at IDCNY 718/937-7474 to reserve your seat. Special box lunch from IDCNY’s Rapido Café available for $10.00. Order lunch when you call.

Lectures begin at 12:00, question-and-answer session and lunch at 1:00. Plan to come early or stay late. There are 50 terrific new showrooms to visit. Make sure you see what’s happening at IDCNY. Express bus service to and from the Departure Lounge, 919 Third Avenue at 56th Street available every half hour throughout the day.

The International Design Center, New York
29-10 Thompson Avenue
Long Island City, New York 11101

Thursday February 19
Planning Means Business
Does your business have a plan? Growth and success are the results of careful planning. How do I make realistic projections and plans? How do I keep my firm on track?

Thursday, March 19
Advertising/Promotion and Marketing Strategies
Information on the benefits of and differences between these two critical areas. How do I find new clients? (That’s marketing.) How do clients find me? (That’s advertising/promotion.)

Thursday, April 16
Money: Making It and Keeping It
If you’ve ever felt “I’m making a lot of money, but I don’t see any of it,” this is the session for you. A lecture on budgeting, financial structures and cash flow management.

Thursday, May 21
“Ruling the Roost”: Office Management
You don’t do it alone. How to find and keep a loyal and productive staff. Learn how to write job descriptions, how to hire (and, when necessary, fire), how to manage and motivate your employees.

Thursday, June 18
Legal Ease
The fine print in all-important papers–reading and writing purchase orders, invoices and contracts. Everything you need to know about insurance. How do I protect myself? Do I need an attorney?

Thursday, July 16
Selling
The sales process, from contact to contract. Getting your foot in the door is just the beginning. How to sell yourself and your business. How to close the deal?

Text from design:Vignelli exhibition label:
IDCNY, Graphic Identity Program, 1983-1989.
IDCNY is the International Design Center of New York, an international furniture merchandise mart in Long Island City, New York. The logo portrays elegance and strength through the choice of two contrasting typefaces. The program includes, graphics, invitations, publications, advertising, and signage. Based on three very basic elements - Bodoni type with black and red colors - the program is nevertheless extremely articulated and vibrant, and has achieved a very strong identity quite often imitated by similar organizations. Most of the pieces are designed by Michael Bierut and coordinated by Fern Mallis.