Annie Block
“To this day, one of the best aspects of my job is that I learn something—actually, several things—new every day.”
WomenWhoBuild, meet Annie Block.
Annie is a design editor, writer, and strategist. In her current position as executive editor of Interior Design, Annie focuses on the intersection of design and art, wellness, travel, and dining. Prior to her role with Interior Design, Annie worked as an editor for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and as a contributing writer for the Miami Herald, Travel + Leisure, and the New York Times. In addition to her design journalism work, Annie takes on editorial strategy and consulting clients, serves as the vice chair of the James Beard Design Award Committee, and is working on a book about architecture and design in the Midwest.
Annie sat down with ArchNative (virtually of course) to discuss her journey in Interior Design Journalism, what her day to day looks like, her role in the James Beard Design Award Committee, and her advice for females looking to begin their career in the field.
Annie moderating a panel on future residential and office trends.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your initial introduction to Interior Design Journalism? What made you decide to pursue it as a career?
Annie moderating a panel on future residential and office trends.
As long as I can remember, I’ve been captivated by the visual presentation of things and the pursuit of excellence. From childhood through high school, I was a competitive gymnast. I loved working with the choreographer to create my floor-exercise routine—selecting just the right kick, split, leap, or handstand to emphasize a particular note in the music. During that time to present day, discipline has been a mainstay in my life. The clothes in my closets vacillate from being arranged by color or by item (all skirts together, dresses together, etc.), but no matter how, it (and all my surroundings) is always very organized. My sock drawer is a wonder of neat, color-coordinated categories, too. How do these characteristics lead one to a career as a design editor? I have no idea! But they did. And, upon reflection, it makes some sense. An exacting nature, an appreciation of beauty, order, and surprise, a desire to be thorough and systematic—journalism, and particularly design journalism, almost require such qualities. (I also was an English major and an editor on school newspapers and yearbooks, held previous positions at Martha Stewart Living and Sotheby’s, and have long been a keen observer of and intrigued by color, light, artistic creativity, and craftsmanship, which all link more directly to what I do today.)
Annie interviewing Cheryl Durst, the president of IIDA.
Can you tell us a little bit more about your role as Executive editor of Interior Design Magazine . What does your day to day look like?
When I arrived at Interior Design, I came with years of editorial and magazine-publishing experience, but not a deep knowledge of design or architecture (yet). So, the learning curve in that respect was enormously steep. But I thrive in that scenario. To this day, one of the best aspects of my job is that I learn something—actually, several things—new every day. Another enormous plus is the exposure and access to the most creative minds in the world. Designers (interior, furniture, industrial, textile, fashion), architects, and artists think differently than a lot of us, often having the ability to be both abstract and concrete, unstructured and methodical, unconventional and grounded, innovative and practical (especially when it comes to sustainability—thank goodness for all their work in this critical area!). Getting to interview them—and sometimes publishing them for their first time, helping to launch their careers, which is hugely fulfilling—is sometimes daunting but always thrilling. They’re often so generous with their time, walking me through their creative process—a good thing, since I tend to ask a lot of questions! There’s variety in the role of an editor, too. Much of our day is outward-facing—meeting with designers, photographers, and manufacturers, scouting projects near and far, hosting and/or attending events, moderating and/or speaking on panels, collaborating with our own editorial, digital, marketing, and sales colleagues—but there’s also significant time spent on heads-down, individual work when conceptualizing, writing, assigning, and editing content for upcoming issues. That segues into the challenges of the job. Without fail, issue deadlines come every month, and it’s an intense week of fast-paced days and long, late nights, with stories adding, dropping, expanding, or shrinking up until the last minute. It’s not for the faint of heart. But when we receive the tangible fruit of our labor, the hard copy of the issue, and the gratitude of the designers featured in it, it’s so rewarding.
Annie with the other members of the JBF Restaurant Design Award Committee.
You are on the design award committee of the James Beard Design Award Committee. Can you tell us a little bit about that? How did you get this role? What does this role entail?
Being invited to join this committee has been a highlight of my career. Not only because the JBF and my fellow committee members are so esteemed but also because our dining experience is influenced by our surroundings, and this award shines a light on that sometimes-overlooked factor. The best atmospheres result from chefs and designers/architects having a mutual respect for and understanding of what the other does and working hand-in-hand in planning the restaurant. And the honor doesn’t only go to expensive, five-star establishments. Food trucks and halls, pop-ups, bars, diners, fast-casual spots—they’re all in the running. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic halted the 2020 awards but we’re re-grouping for an even better future. The restaurant industry needs our support now more than ever.
Annie pictured at a conference with Boston Architectural College students.
What is one piece of advice you have for females looking to begin their careers in Interior Design Journalism?
Work hard. That’s generic, nebulous, and cliché, I know. More specifically, try setting achievable goals and keeping them. One designer friend told me she makes a point of meeting at least two new industry people a week, whether it’s an editor, writer, artist, craftsperson, manufacturer, or developer (real-estate, web), while an editor friend shared that he is constantly reading about design—in/on mags, digital, and social, of course, but also in historic books and textbooks. A good foundation goes a long way.
To connect and learn more about Annie, find her on Instagram at blockannie.