Design Leadership Network

Today, we’re Art Basel, where DLN partner Chubb () once again invited us to connect a DLN member design team to create its VIP Collector’s Lounge—this year entrusted to Monica Santayana and Ronald Alvarez of Moniomi Design ().

Honoring a tradition that began with DLN member Noz Nozawa two years ago and continued with Sasha Bikoff last year, Moniomi reimagined the lounge through their signature bold aesthetic. Monica and Ronald envisioned a sultry, botanical environment drawn from Florida’s fauna, Everglades sunsets, and the filtered glow of light through tropical canopies. The result is an inviting, immersive space that celebrates Miami on its own terms while framing the art in a world uniquely theirs.

Thank you to Monica, Ronald, and Chubb for continuing this vibrant DLN tradition at Art Basel—and for bringing such imagination and craft to this year’s collector experience.

The design world has lost a singular voice with the passing of Robert A.M. Stern—architect, historian, urbanist, and, for many of us, an essential interpreter of American architecture. His work, distinguished by intellectual rigor and a rare attentiveness to place, reshaped skylines and renewed confidence in the continuing life of classicism and contextually sensitive urbanism.

A recipient of the Design Leadership Award, Stern was a steadfast advocate for beauty, civility, and the long arc of architectural tradition. His influence runs through the DLN, through the generations of practitioners he mentored and inspired, and through the built environments that carry his unmistakable clarity, discipline, and sense of humanity.

We honor his legacy with admiration and gratitude.

Amid the grandeur of Palacio de Liria, architect Carlos Martínez de Albornoz (.arquitecto), whose recently completed Royal Collections Gallery was a standout visit for DLN members this Summit, joined prizewinning critic Paul Goldberger () for a conversation on the power of architecture as both art and language.

Their exchange explored the craft, continuity, and cultural resonance of architecture—ideas that connect the handmade to the monumental, the personal to the urban.

Our community celebrates design every day, so it was only fitting that the Summit’s opening night reception set the tone with an atmosphere of imagination, innovation, and connection. This year, we gathered at La Imprenta—a onetime printing house transformed into a striking contemporary event space that reflects both Madrid’s Moorish history and its forward-looking sustainability goals.

From the moment guests arrived, the evening was defined by connection—old friends greeting one another, new members and partners being welcomed into the fold, and conversations sparking across the room that will carry through the days ahead. It was the perfect reminder of what makes this network so singular: a community built on generosity, curiosity, and a shared passion for design.

It was the perfect beginning to our time together in Spain.

Before the Summit officially began, members and partners had the chance to immerse themselves in Spain’s history, culture, and design through a series of pre-Summit tours across Madrid and beyond.

Some ventured to Pedraza, a medieval walled village in Segovia, for a special visit to the childhood home of designer Mafalda Muñoz (.munoz)—now a living archive of her father, Paco Muñoz—before enjoying lunch at Casa Taberna and continuing on to Abbatte, a weaving workshop housed within a 13th-century monastery.

Others explored the austere grandeur of El Escorial, the Spanish Renaissance masterpiece that gave name to the “Herrerian” style.

Closer to Madrid, attendees delved into Spain’s rich artistic and culinary heritage: savoring expert-led tastings of jamón ibérico and Spanish wines, and stepping inside the city’s famed Golden Triangle of Art through private curator-led tours of the Prado, Thyssen, and Reina Sofía museums. Meanwhile, a walking tour brought the city itself into focus, tracing the layers of Madrid’s past and present through its streets and architecture.

These pre-Summit experiences offered an introduction to the landscapes, traditions, and artistry that continue to shape Spain—and set the stage for the days of community and conversation to follow.

Planning which panel discussions to attend at the San Francisco Fall Show ()? The DLN will be part of many conversations throughout the week.

In Old Souls, New Eyes: Why Antiques Belong to the Next Generation, DLN Executive Director and CEO Michael Diaz-Griffith () will moderate a discussion with Jesse Carrier (), Marshall Watson (), and Kendall Wilkinson () on how timeworn treasures are finding fresh relevance in the hands of today’s tastemakers. From navigating the past to shaping the future, the conversation will explore what it takes to keep classic design alive in a contemporary world.

Discover where the DLN community will be gathering, connecting, and leading conversations this week by swiping through the slides or heading to the link in our bio.

Design’s brightest converge in Madrid.

This year’s speakers—from local innovators to international trailblazers—illuminate the intersections of architecture, interiors, art, and craft, offering unique viewpoints on the pulse of design today.

Get to know the speakers through the link in our bio.

Looking to meet members and partners from across the DLN community? Our pre-Summit Speed Meeting session is the perfect way to make it happen. Through a series of brief, one-on-one introductions, you’ll connect with peers, spark new ideas, and uncover possibilities that could shape your next project—or even your career.

Think of it as networking with intention: quick, meaningful conversations that can lead to long-term collaborations and fresh perspectives. Make connections that go beyond the handshake.

Your next big idea could start here. Add this pre-Summit experience through the link in our bio.

Think you know Madrid? Not like this. The countdown is on to the 2025 Design Leadership Summit, where attendees will enjoy unprecedented access to the city’s most exclusive locales, hear from the creatives shaping the world of design today, and build relationships to take their businesses to the next level.

Not registered yet? Secure one of the last seats today by visiting the link in our bio.

Last night, the DLN and our friends at the New York Design Center convened 150 members of our community at Ci Siamo for our annual kickoff dinner ahead of What’s New What’s Next. It was a lively evening of connection, celebration, and excitement for today’s program at and our upcoming Summit in Madrid.

Head to today for What’s New, What’s Next and visit the link in our bio to register for what promises to be an unforgettable Summit.

We can’t wait to see you there!

📷: Jason Crowley,