Chris Held on reimagining design shows, galleries (and the whole dang system)

In this episode of Design Discord, Alyssa and Fernando sit down with designer and organizer Chris Held to talk about his journey—from founding the annual exhibition Jonald Dudd to launching the experimental showroom DUDD HAUS in Philadelphia. Chris shares what it’s taken to build alternative spaces for design, and how collaboration, community, and experimentation have shaped his approach. The conversation dives into the unique business model behind DUDD Haus that fosters generative opportunities for artists, the challenges of maintaining an artist’s spirit in their work with the demands of today’s market, and what it takes to support a new generation of collectors. We also touch on shifts in the design scene over the last few years and the realities emerging designers face when trying to build both their audience and income.

Chris Held (b.1978 Atlanta, GA) is a multidisciplinary designer, curator, and co-founder of JONALDDUDD, an NYC Design Week exhibition (2015-present). He also co-owns and operates the design studio Nice Condo (2019-present), which offers a catalog of residential furniture, brand identity services, as well as commercial fixtures, custom build-outs and creative partnerships. Held relocated to Philadelphia in 2023 and subsequently co-founded the radical design collective, DUDD HAUS (2024-present). Working in furniture design and fabrication for over two decades, Held’s work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Dwell, Surface, Sight Unseen, Core77, and Nylon. Held currently lives and works in Philadelphia, PA.

Jonald Dudd

https://jonalddudd.com/

https://www.instagram.com/jonald.dudd/

DUDD HAUS

https://www.duddhaus.com/https://www.instagram.com/duddhaus/

Nice Condo

https://nicecondo.co/https://www.instagram.com/nicecondo/

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Mentioned Designers:

Nacho Carbonell: https://www.nachocarbonell.com/

Peter Marigold: https://petermarigold.com/

Steven Bukowski: https://www.stevenbukowski.com/

Eny Lee Parker: https://www.enyleeparker.com/

Tara Donovanhttps: www.pacegallery.com/artists/tara-donovan/