Presented by Brizo
If you’ve ever browsed AD’s illustrious AD100 list, and viewed the honorees’ spectacular work in the magazine, online, or in person, you’ve likely felt a little bit of the magic that comes from experiencing great design. The top talents that make up the annual list do an incredible job of creating—and spreading—such awe, but what makes these individuals tick, and how did they get to where they are? A new documentary film from Architectural Digest, Condé Nast Entertainment, and Abstract Productions highlights the exceptional work of several AD100 designers, whose projects reflect—and shape—the current moment.
From the creators of The First Monday in May, Seven Days Out, and The Gospel According to Andre, and directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Kate Novack, AD100: The New Taste follows AD100 designers Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Leyden Lewis, Pamela Shamshiri, and others. The film explores the personal and professional stories of these creative talents, and visits some of their most beloved projects.
“The AD100 is a real showcase of the best of the best designers today, and being named to the list is an enormous distinction,” Amy Astley, AD’s global editorial director and US editor in chief, says. “It is truly a game-changer. This year we wanted to celebrate the honorees in an exciting new way beyond the list, and so we developed the AD100 documentary, a compelling look at the transformative power of design and the heart of the creative process.”
Viewers will travel from a Hollywood actor’s personal home in Malibu, California, to a richly decorated Brooklyn brownstone, to a historic house in Los Angeles, while learning about the visionaries behind these designs and the impact each of them have had on the lives of their clients. Underpinning the film is a dynamic exploration into the meaning of “good taste” and its significance for each of these individuals, as well as the editors of AD.
The documentary, which is available to view today on ArchDigest.com, debuted last night in an intimate screening hosted by AD and Brizo. At the event, Astley welcomed AD100 designers and industry friends to the newly opened Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York for a chance to view the film for the first time and toast the AD100, leading up to the debut of the 2024 AD100 list in AD’s upcoming January issue.
