“The secret of joy in work is contained in one word - excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.”
Pearl Buck

IN ARCHITECTURE, a suite is a specific set of rooms used for a particular purpose. In interior design, it is a corresponding set of furniture. And in music, it is a set of precise pieces arranged as one instrumental work.

In our publication, the term suite also represents a set— but there is nothing definitive about it. Its elements are the innovative design pros in the metropolitan area who are pushing old boundaries, exploring new concepts and making a difference in design with the work they do. And rather than being a precise or final entourage, they change yearly.

Some are established; others are emerging and on the rise; all are tremendously talented. Just as we celebrate coming-of-age benchmarks in America, we are celebrating these designers for their oeuvres right now. We started the rite three years ago with our first Suite 16, and are hoping, like any good parent who is trying to nurture talent in our brood, for many many more. On the following pages, we are celebrating this year’s Suite 16; may you find them as engaging as we do.

In keeping with our now-annual tradition, we also invited Richard Casiss, owner of the award-winning design firm sparc, inc. and recipient of GRAPHIC DESIGN USA’s revered “People To Watch in 2009” award , to be our guest graphic artist and create a special pull-out section featuring his pictorial view on today’s design world. The message in his work is inspiring as he urges designers to do what they do best—namely to find the silver lining in every cloud.

Our ‘celebrity’ photographer, Randy Korwin shot our cover and Suite Sixteen feature this year, and we are thrilled with the results. We finally got the ‘Vanity Fair ’ cover we always wanted, which was no small feat since juggling the schedules of sixteen busy design pros, and getting them to smile all at the same time, is no easy task. But he pulled it off, with remarkable results.

With all these pluses, we believe our anniversary is really something to be proud of--- especially in these trying times. Three years ago, we started out with a vision---to be the voice of the professional design community---and we are privileged and honored to be held in such high esteem by you all today. For that, we thank you. And, we are eternally appreciative to our loyal readers and devoted advertisers for all their support. i4