Design, Food and Charity all rolled up at DIFFA Picnic by Design 2017

Hygge Basket- Michele Alfano Design and Tiago Fonseca

Last Wednesday DIFFA -DesignIndustries Foundation Fighting AIDS hosted a fun filled Picnic By Design event celebrating creative expression while raising funds and engaging designers in DIFFA’s mission to further the fight against HIV/AIDS. This year $50,000 was raised to support DIFFA’s grants to HIV/AIDS direct service organizations and programs in New York City and across the country. Nearly 250 people filled the Stage 48 rooftop, to come see 22 leading designers who created and donated vibrant, themed picnic baskets filled with picnic treats and essentials for attendees to bid on and win in the Picnic By Design auction.

Hygge Basket- Michele Alfano Design and Tiago Fonseca

Credit Images: Erik Bardin

This year I entered the HYGGE Modern Basket, inspired by the Danish philosophy of Hygge, translating the elements of my DXV space into my Picnic by Design basket. Tiago Fonseca of course was my partner in crime again building with beautiful craftsmanship. 

Hygge Basket- Michele Alfano Design

Hygge is a feeling of happiness and well-being. To achieve a sense of Nordic coziness, I balanced light colored materials with geometric pattern,  a pop of color and nature.  To depict the landscape of Copenhagen, the angled lines of the basket works in concert with a customized wood coastline Pangea map of Copenhagen - which was customized specifically for the basket. Thank you Pangea maps!

All the senses are touched with elements representing earth, water, and fire. So, whether you are sipping wine, eating good food or enjoying yourself with good friends, the key to this sensorial picnic design is to elevate your picnic experience and heighten the simple pleasures of life. That is Hygge!

Thankyou to HORNE for the gorgeous flatware, and Robert Allen for the beautiful fabrics Artworld Indigo, Tessa Techtonic and Tessa Stitch blue.

Thankyou to Cindy Allen, Editor in Chief Interior Design Magazine who purchased my basket design!

Michele Alfano, Tiago Fonseca and Cindy Allen

Thanks to my friends and supporters of DIFFA Picnic by Design:

Having a blast with Lori Dolnick, Deborah Von Donop, Michele Alfano, 
Kristen Sawyer , Cory Berwanger, Tiago Fonseca, Tyler Wisler, Leanne Wood Newman

Michele Alfano and Michelle Radley of JM Lifestyles

Michele Alfano, Tiago Fonseca, Deborah Von Donop, Guy Tunnicliffe

Here are some of my fave baskets from the 2017 designers:

jesGORDON/properFUN x Dirt Cobain

NPZ Style & Décor

Tito’s Handmade Vodka

“DragCon Basket” styled by Tyler Wisler 

Vanessa Deleon Associates

Stillwell Events NYC with Elegant Affairs NYC

Scott Brogan Group

Antoinette Loupé, Canard Inc

Stacy Garcia Inc.

Ted Moudis Associates

Credit Images: Erik Bardin

Thank you to the sponsors: Blanco, Bolon, Design Lab @ Bell Works, DXV, DRS Associates, EGE, Flaneur, Innomark, Maya Romanoff, NTT Industries, New York Design Center, StudioTK, Robert Allen Duralee Group and The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show.

Five Years of Customized Creations for DIFFA's Picnic by Design: Michele Alfano Design

Credit: Erik Bardin of Picnic By Design Rooftop

Design, Food and Charity is a great combination for a fall event. It will be my sixth year participating in DIFFA's Picnic By Design! This event rocks .... amazing sponsors, designers and creativity! Picnic By Design redefines the concept of a traditional picnic where 20 designers come together to create innovative picnic basket experiences that are on auction at the event with all the proceeds benefiting DIFFA's grants for organizations fightng HIV/AIDS across the country. The twenty original basket designs will be on display alongside the New York City skyline. Lots of creative candy for the eyes.  Guests who purchase a basket will bring home one-of-a-kind baskets created with love...

Wednesday, September 6, 2017 6:00-9:00pm

ROOFTOP @ STAGE 48
605 W 48TH ST NEW YORK, NY

Purchase your TICKET 


Designers will be sharing their designs on DIFFA's SOCIAL:

Hashtag: #PicnicByDesign #PicnicWithDIFFA 

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Pinterest

I will be posting on my social too ( Instagram and Facebook):

 Michele Alfano Design @michelealfanodesign and Twitter @moddesignguru

Join me 

down memory lane 

for what I thunked up 

the past five years:

PICNIC BY DESIGN 2012: 

In 2012, the designers were given existing bags that we had to reconstruct. The sculptures of Richard Serra inspired the design of my 2012 basket with plumbing wrap and electrical wire from the Home Depot. I felt like I was on one of those TV shows shopping in the Depot.

Dwanye Clark and Bob Gaynor purchased my bag!!

PICNIC BY DESIGN 2013: 

With all the amazing work DIFFA does in promoting life and caring for those living with AIDS, Michele Alfano's picnic design is based on the pure elements of LIFE: air, fire, earth and water. Each essential LIFE element is embedded into the picnic experience:

PICNIC BY DESIGN 2014: 

Farm-chic represents the wheelbarrow to table/picnic experience.  The mood will be set with reclaimed oak, sponsor Robert Allen fabrics and firefly LED lighting. 

PICNIC BY DESIGN 2015: 

 The basket transformed into a boom-box...aka The Basket of Beats

Tiago Fonseca of Five Star Millwork and Michele Alfano

Tiago Fonseca of Five Star Millwork , Cindy Allen, Editor of Interior Design Magazine and Michele Alfano

PICNIC BY DESIGN 2016:

 The basket was the shape of a molecule and its contents had a cosmos feel. Astronomers and researchers are looking for answers from the universe beyond and for the cure of AIDS. The molecule stands as a beacon of hope!

Michele Alfano and Tiago Fonseca of Five Star Millwork . Thank you Tiago, you make all my ideas come to life. You are the best partner in crime! xo

THANKYOU to all the sponsors for this years Picnic by Design 2017 coming up soon!! Without your support, this event is not possible!! 

Stay tuned for my 2017 creation this year!

Sneek peeks will be on my instagram @michelealfanodesign 

and

 DIFFA instagram @DIFFANational