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Jennifer Roberts: CEO, Design Miami/

Jennifer Roberts:  CEO, Design Miami/

 

 




Introduction to Jen Roberts.  1:02 min.  Interview:  Raymond Elman.  Editing & Production:  Kali-Ray Skinner.  Music:  Carmen Cicero.  Recorded via Zoom: 7/27/2020, Miami Beach.

 

 

JENNIFER ROBERTS  is the Chief Executive Officer of Design Miami/, the global forum for design, whose fairs occur alongside Art Basel in Miami and Basel, Switzerland, each year. In her role as CEO, Roberts is responsible for the business operations of the organization as a whole and is a member of Design Miami/’s executive board. In this capacity, Roberts oversees development of Design Miami/’s exhibition program, satellites, and collaborations. She also supports the expansion of MCH and Dacra with regional art and design fairs and activations.

Roberts earned her BA in Art History at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY, and completed the post graduate program at Christie’s Education London. Born and raised in Manhattan, Roberts currently has a residence in the unspoiled jungles of Ilha Grande, Brazil, and lives in the coastal resort city of Miami Beach.

The videos below were recorded via Zoom, are organized by topic, and run between 30 seconds and 3 minutes. Click on any video. You must be connected to the Internet to view the videos.

 

 

 

EXPOSURE TO BROAD INFLUENCES: 0:38 sec.




Where did you grow up, and what’s your earliest memory of art of any discipline?

 

INSIGHT & INSPIRATION:   2:38 min.




What was your first exposure to high-quality design?

 

EXPOSURE TO BROAD INFLUENCES:  1:10 min.




I didn’t know your mother, but I knew your father and I know that he had a love for music. What is the story of your father’s connection to the Woodstock Music Festival?

 

SEIZES OPPORTUNITIES:  1:28 min.




What have you done to continue to promote the legacy of the Woodstock Music Festival?

 

VALUES FIRST-RATE EDUCATION:  1:08 min.




Where did you go to school and what did you learn that still informs you today?

 

CRITICAL THINKING:  2:47 min.




Describe the evolution of your career.

 

RESILIENCE: 1:48 min.




Talk about the evolution of Design Miami/.

 

CREATES A UNIQUE PERSONAL BRAND:  0:59 sec.




Has Design Miami/ been a big success?

 

BREAKS THE RULES:  1:54 min. 




Tell us about your experience in Brazil.

 

SELF-CONFIDENCE:  1:14 min.




In a 2015 interview with ArtSpeak, a museum director mentioned the “Imposter Syndrome” and how it applied to her. I just heard comedian Sarah Cooper make the same reference. What are your thoughts about the Imposter Syndrome?

 

DEVELOP A VOICE:  1:13 min.




Do you see a difference in the way women and men are taught to be self-confident?

 

EXPOSURE TO BROAD INFLUENCES:  1:42 min.




Who are your role models and influencers?

 

UNDERSTANDS THE BUSINESS OF ART:  2:43 min.




Talk about the relationship between “fine” art and design.

 

UNDERSTANDS THE AUDIENCE’S PERSPECTIVE:  2:00 min.




What were some of the most popular design exhibitions during your tenure at Design Miami/?

 

OVERCOMES CHALLENGES TO SUCCEED:  2:46 min.




Describe a challenging assignment or situation with a successful outcome.

 

CRITICAL THINKING:  1:51 min.




Where does Miami rank nationally and internationally as an arts community?

 

UNDERSTANDS THE AUDIENCE’S PERSPECTIVE:  1:17 min.




How would you describe Miami’s visual art community?

 

 OPEN TO CHANGE, FLEXIBILITY:  1:14 min.




What role should a university play in the development of artists, designers, curators, and art administrators?

 

OVERCOMES CHALLENGES TO SUCCEED:  1:51 min.




We’ve all heard the saying “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” COVID-19 has devastated the world, and it doesn’t seem like it’s going away anytime soon. What are your plans moving forward if the pandemic lingers?

 

UNDERSTANDS THE AUDIENCE’S PERSPECTIVE:  1:39 min.




Describe and compare the Design Miami/ audiences in Basel, Switzerland, and Miami Beach.

 

EMPATHY:  1:28 min.




What has been the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement on Design Miami/?

 

COMMUNITY VALUES:  0:42 sec.




Are there any design projects in the works to better Black lives in Miami?

 

COMMUNITY VALUES:  0:27 sec.




Do you have any collaborations in process with the City of Miami Beach?​