For its biannual Spring Market Keynote Series, High Point Market Authority (HPMA) will host top design industry talents for a special presentation on Saturday, April 26 and host leading fashion and trend experts for its Sunday Keynote discussion on April 27. Both events will take place in the High Point Theatre at 3 p.m.
Saturday Keynote
The Saturday Keynote, a panel discussion presented by HPMA and sponsored by Loloi entitled “Redefining Design Success: Breaking Creative Boundaries and Building Momentum,” will feature top designers Jeremiah Brent, Noz Nozawa, Mikel Welch, Brian Paquette and Ashley Montgomery. Moderated by Dennis Scully, the session will reveal how to forge success in the business of design by embracing roads less traveled.
Saturday Speakers
Brent is an interior designer, television personality, author and founder of Jeremiah Brent Design (JBD), an interior design firm with offices in Los Angeles and New York City. Named to Architectural Digest’s AD100 list and Elle Decor’s A-List as a leading design talent, Brent also shares his expertise and eye for design with households around the world through brand partnerships and as host of multiple hit television series, including Netflix’s Emmy-award winning series “Queer Eye.”
Nozawa, founder and principal designer of Noz Design, leads an eclectic, joy-first approach to interior design that reflects each client’s unique lifestyles. Woman-owned and -operated in San Francisco, Noz Design specializes in residential, hospitality and retail projects in the Bay Area, Lake Tahoe, New York City and beyond. In 2024, Noz Design was named to the Luxe Gold List and the Better Homes & Gardens Stylemakers list, and is a Featured Designer in the AD Pro Directory. Nozawa’s work has also been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor and Vogue magazines, among others.
Welch is an award-winning TV design star, who recently won an Emmy for his work on the Netflix series “Hack My Home.” Based in New York, Welch’s approach to elegant design, accessible luxury and expert home renovation has made him the in-house design consultant on “The Drew Barrymore Show” and a regular on “The Today Show.” A House Beautiful Next Wave designer, Welch and his work have been featured on HGTV, TLC’s “Trading Spaces” and the VIP green room design for Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Halle Berry and more.
Paquette has spearheaded Brian Paquette Interiors since 2009. Founded in Seattle, the design firm embraces bright, open spaces inspired by nature, architecture and world travel. Paquette’s background in painting and conceptual art informs his contemporary interiors with geometric shapes and patterns. Paquette’s work also includes a furniture design collaboration with Lawson-Fenning, with products made in Los Angeles and influenced by New England aesthetics. With clients in Los Angeles, New York City, British Columbia and beyond, Brian Paquette Interiors has been featured in Dwell, Architectural Digest, Luxe and more.
Montgomery specializes in high-end residential and boutique commercial design through her Toronto-based studio, Ashley Montgomery Design. With more than 15 years of multisectoral experience, Montgomery holds dual degrees in interior design and hospitality. Known for balanced, traditional-meets-modern interiors, Montgomery’s work has been in Domino, House and Home, House Beautiful, Dwell and Architectural Digest, among others.
Scully hosts “Business of Home,” the media outlet’s namesake podcast, earning five-star ratings on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Each week, Scully takes listeners on a deep dive into the latest happenings in the interior design world, interviewing designers, industry experts, executives and more. With a background in sales and marketing for Domino, Waterworks and Castel, Scully also hosts “Dialogues on Design,” an interview series at the New York School of Interior Design (NYSID).
“We are thrilled to welcome this rock-star panel of industry experts and design mavericks,” said Tammy Covington, HPMA president and CEO. “With a wealth of experience from their diverse experiences and backgrounds, this season’s Keynote speakers will provide invaluable insight for Market guests seeking innovative ways to supercharge their businesses.”
Sunday Keynote
The panel discussion, entitled “From Fashion to Interiors: Leveraging Brand Identity Across Industries,” is presented by HPMA in partnership with the Diversity Advocacy Alliance (DAA). It will feature businessman and TV personality Daymond John, consumer forecaster Jaye Anna Mize and home product trends forecaster Patti Carpenter. Drawing from their respective insights, the panelists will share strategies for broadening a brand’s identity and ways to explore licensing opportunities in the home furnishings industry. The discussion will also explore the relationship between the fashion and home furnishings industries.
Sunday Panelists
John, co-founder of global sportswear brand FUBU, is a successful businessman and an investor known for transforming start-ups into successful companies through his motivational speaking, New York Times bestselling books and appearances on ABC’s Emmy award-winning “Shark Tank.”
Mize is the vice president of advisory for Fashion Snoops, a trend-forecasting agency that provides strategic guidance for industries such as fashion, beauty, home decor and more. Mize’s experience includes key consumer insights, comprehensive product development and bespoke marketing strategies for The Walt Disney Company, Timberland, Hooker Furnishings and more.
Carpenter is the award-winning principal and Global Trend Ambassador at Carpenter + company, the design consulting firm specializing in color trend forecasting, research and analytics, and international product design and development. Carpenter’s design development and sourcing experience includes global giants Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, Crate & Barrel and more.
“I urge all High Point Market guests not to miss our dynamic and enriching Sunday Keynote event,” said Covington. “With years of leadership expertise in the fashion and interior design industries, our panelists are prepared to reveal the key branding strategies every interior design entrepreneur and home furnishings brand will want to know.”
This program is presented in partnership with HPMA’s Diversity Advocacy Alliance, whose mission is to, “advance, improve and support diversity by cultivating a welcoming environment and expanding the representation of the BIPOC community within the home furnishings industry and its leadership.” As part of this partnership, a select group of local, minority-owned businesses participating in Business High Point’s THRIVE program will be invited to attend.
How to Attend the Events
The Keynote events are open to all registered High Point Market attendees.
The High Point Theatre is located next to the Transportation Terminal. The venue will open its doors at 2:30 pm and the event will conclude at 4 p.m. Additional Keynote event details can be found online at www.highpointmarket.org/keynoteseries.
