News: the American design scene is enjoying a resurgence, according to Design Miami executive director Rodman Primack, who has used this year's fair to showcase talent from the USA.
"There is a a very active design community in America," Primack said at the Design Miami opening press conference earlier this week.
"We've seen a very strong showing of American design from a number of the galleries [at Design Miami]," he said. "A lot of really successful young American designers are producing work that you can see at the fair."
The annual event is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, with 35 design galleries exhibiting inside a tent next to Miami Beach Convention Center.
Primack, who hails from Los Angeles, joined Design Miami earlier this year and has introduced more home-grown talent to the fair, which in past years has tended to focus on European designers. Primack is the first American to direct the fair.
Work by US designers on show at the fair includes pieces by the Haas Brothers and David Wiseman, while Jonathan Muecke was commissioned to create this year's pavilion in front of the venue. Architects Olson Kundig created the collectors' lounge while Jeanne Gang designed this year's installation for Swarovski.
"We also have an incredible architectural voice at the fair this year," said Primack. "We have Peter Marino, we have Olsen Kundig from Seattle, we have Studio Gang from Chicago. It's probably the first time we've had so much architecture – American architectural talent – at the fair."
Primack also highlighted the trend for bronze in collectible design pieces, demonstrated in the installation by American architect Peter Marino – who was given the inaugural Design Visionary award by the event this year.
"Peter is probably one of the world's most effective endorsers of bronze in general," said Primack. "It's interesting to see that as a trend throughout the fair, there's so many designers working with bronze today. There's also a lot of vintage bronze."
Bronze is used prominently in the series of furniture pieces based on architectural landmarks by Studio Job, exhibited by Carpenters Workshop Gallery.
Primack was appointed in February to replace Marianne Goebl, the German-born former director. Goebl joined in 2010 when Design Miami's co-founder and first director, the Austrian-Italian Ambra Medda, resigned.
In an exclusive interview with Dezeen earlier this year, Primack spoke about collectible design and how the financial crash "was very healthy" for the market.
Design Miami takes place each December to coincide with the Art Basel fair in Miami Beach. It continues until Sunday.