Hail to the (Editor in) Chief

Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Ted Williams, Tom Seaver. Everyone knows the names of those in the Baseball Hall of Fame. But can anyone name a member of the Hall of Fame selection committee, now or in the past? Probably not, making it is a thankless task. Same goes for the Interior Design Hall of Fame. Everyone knows Cindy Allen, of course, but not everyone knows how much work she and Marino (no last name, okay Marino?) put into this annual event. This year, the duo has been sequestered for most of the past two months, burning the midnight oil, and without strong espresso there would be no awards ceremony.

Yet, through a process occupying much of the fall, and including travel across much of the country, Cindy has also managed to turn out four monthly issues and a Market Tabloid, as well as shepherd a group of overwrought designers through an installation in the deep South. She has done all of this with her signature combination of good humor, creative and strategic sagacity, lapidary focus, and boundless positive energy. To switch to a football metaphor, Cindy has been head coach, quarterback, and cheerleader, as well as announcer and broadcast technician.

As we gather to celebrate the induction of five new entrants into the Interior Design Hall of Fame, we should also pause to recognize Cindy’s contributions to this event, and to the industry in general. This year, in particular, with magazines falling like dominoes, the design community has benefited from Cindy’s support and nurturing, from her sharing and caring, and from her tremendous passion for design. I hope we all realize how rare these attributes are, and how special the creative environment at Interior Design really is.

So, from all of us: THANKS, CINDY!