Boston and New YorkBoston and NY

Design by Collaboration: Crafting Across Disciplines

A conversation on design, craftsmanship, and collaborative creative work during NYCxDesign.

Join us on May 16 at 6 PM for a dynamic panel co-hosted by Swissnex as part of CHROMA.

Moderated by Tanja Hwang, Curator in the Department of Architecture and Design at The Museum of Modern Art, this conversation explores design as a catalyst for novel modes of working and thinking together.

Moving from—and beyond—the objects of the installation, the session foregrounds process, dialogue, and shared authorship, echoing the playful spirit of this year’s Swiss Design Week. Here, experimentation and joyful discovery fuel new ways of making, inviting surprising connections and collective imagination.

Through the lens of their respective fields, creatives and makers Nadja Stäubli (Sula), Aurel Aebi (atelier oï), Beat Roethlisberger (Röthlisberger), and Martina Salisbury (TWOSEVEN) reflect on interdisciplinarity and the transformation of the design practice today.

Drawing from backgrounds that span design, photography, poetry, art and architecture, they consider how working collaboratively reconfigures authorship, production, and the meaning of craftmanship—giving rise to new, cross-pollinated forms of expression.

Whether you’re a designer, artist, or simply curious, this conversation invites you to explore how design is both responding to—and actively shaping—an interconnected creative landscape.

To register, contact [email protected].

Program

  • 5:30pm – Doors open
  • 6:00pm – Panel
  • 7:00pm – Q&A
  • 7:30pm – Networking
  • 8:00pm – End
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Event start time

  • New York

    6:00PM

Moderator

  •

    Bio

    Tanja Hwang

    Curator
    Department of Architecture and Design, MoMA

    Tanja Hwang (née Cunz) joined the Museum of Modern Art in January 2024 as a Curator in the Department of Architecture and Design. Her research interests focus on transnational connections to promote an understanding of the global history of modern design, as well as issues of diversity and the relationship between industrial design and craft. She is part of the curatorial team focusing on the museum’s Early Modern and Mid-Century Modern collection galleries and the C-MAP East and Southeast Asia initiative. Prior to joining MoMA, she was Associate Curator of Design and Architecture at M+ in Hong Kong from 2021 to 2023, where she co-curated interdisciplinary exhibitions such as ‘Madame Song: Pioneering Art and Fashion in China” (2023). Earlier in her career, Hwang held various curatorial positions at the Vitra Design Museum in Germany, co-curating exhibitions such as ‘Gae Aulenti: A Creative Universe” (2020), “Objects of Desire: Surrealism and Design 1924 – Today” (2019) and “An Eames Celebration” (2017). She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Media Studies from the University of Basel and a Master’s degree in Art History in a Global Context from the Freie Universität Berlin. In 2022, Hwang was shortlisted for the Hyundai Blue Prize Design, an award that recognises innovative design curators who address contemporary issues through creative exhibitions.

Panelists

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    Bio

    Nadja Stäubli

    CEO and Creative Director
    Sula

    Nadja Stäubli is the CEO, Creative Director and Designer of Sula (previously schoenstaub), a studio that specializes in rugs, textiles, furniture, and objects for the home. She studied photography at the University of the Arts in Zurich and SVA in New York City. Nadja has been developing Sula over the last decade, from a one-off art project into a full-fledged design company that now sells home goods worldwide and has a flagship store in Zurich. Her main source of inspiration is analog’s low-fi, real-world aesthetic which she brings into all realms of her life, art, and entrepreneurial endeavors. She has been featured in media outlets such as Vogue, Architectural Digest, The New York Times, and Forbes.

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    Bio

    Aurel Aebi

    Founder
    Atelier oï

    Atelier oï, founded in 1991 in La Neuveville, Switzerland, by Aurel Aebi, Armand Louis, and Patrick Reymond, takes its name from the Russian word “troïka,” symbolizing the dynamic energy of a trio. Rooted in humanity and art, atelier oï is about sharing values and ideals. The founders have been united for 30 years, driven by the desire to grow and explore together while respecting their individual paths. Their work brings together open minds, sharing creative visions.

    The founders’ backgrounds in architecture, design, and naval construction, along with encounters with figures like Alberto Sartoris and Ettore Sottsass, have shaped the studio’s philosophy, which seeks to transcend traditional disciplines. Atelier oï’s work spans architecture, interior design, product design, and scenography, embodying the multidisciplinary spirit of its name.

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    Bio

    Beat Röthlisberger

    CFO
    Röthlisberger Schreinerei AG

    Beat Röthlisberger represents the fourth generation of Röthlisberger Schreinerei AG, a Swiss family company founded in 1928 and renowned for its uncompromising commitment to design, precision, and craftsmanship. As CFO and co-leader of the business, Beat has guided the company’s transformation from a traditional joinery into a full-service interior manufacturer with in-house engineering and a distinctive furniture collection.

    Since establishing a presence in New York in 2000, Röthlisberger has become a well-kept secret among top-tier architects and general contractors, earning the trust of renowned names like Lord Norman Foster, Peter Marino, and John Pawson. The company’s ability to translate complex design visions into refined, highly customized interiors has made it a go-to partner for high-end residential and cultural projects on both sides of the Atlantic.

    Röthlisberger’s furniture line, known for its sculptural clarity and craftsmanship, sets eye-catching accents and lends every space a sense of timeless elegance. Beat champions a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to making—where heritage meets innovation, and craft evolves in dialogue with architecture and design.

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    Bio

    Martina Salisbury

    Creative Director
    TWOSEVEN Inc.

    Martina Salisbury is a designer and creative director based in NYC. She is co-founder of TWOSEVEN, a design/build studio she leads with Franco Götte, specializing in bespoke retail displays and immersive brand experiences for luxury fashion and lifestyle clients. The studio also produces limited-edition artworks and exhibition environments for artists and cultural institutions. Beyond client work, Martina pursues independent projects that blend design, editorial, and curatorial practice—exploring intersections of art, history, photography, poetry, and archives. She is an inaugural graduate of the MFA Design/Designer as Author program at
    the School of Visual Arts.

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