Bravo’s ‘Top Design’ comes to Atlanta

January 14th, 2008

I attended the “Top Design” Season 2 casting call Friday at ADAC—and wow, after seeing some of the applicants in action, you’d be hard-pressed to convince me they won’t be making their television debuts on Bravo this fall. Keep watch in support of Atlanta’s own!

The “Top Design” casting in Atlanta was the first of six on a hunt for top designers; other castings will be held in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Dallas, New York, and Los Angeles. Friday’s casting began around 1:00, but dozens of colorful characters were waiting in the Atrium lounge by 11:00.

After having their photos snapped, designers were ushered by groups of four into a sea of sleek white chairs, made still colorful by some of the most fashionable local talents waiting for their turn in the all-glass interview room. By the end of the day, nearly 100 designers had been interviewed for a chance to become the next “It” designer.

Photos were tricky to get inside the casting call, but when ADAC—which is usually to the trade only—opened its doors on Friday, the parking lot overflowed with designers and hopefuls alike.

Atlanta-area designer Jay Gladney, who works for Renaissance Tile & Bath, decided to attend the casting call after seeing a flier advertisement at work. Gladney said he watched the show last year and loved it, adding, “I just don’t want to hear the words, ‘See you later, decorator’!” He describes his style as pared down and elegant. “Everyone is getting tired of fussy,” he added. “I think my style is a style for today.”

I ran into a couple of ambitious aspirants outside, too. Jona Olivia Payne, ASID Student Member, is a soon-to-be commercial designer who found out about the “Top Design” casting call just a day before by a former professor. She carried her portfolio and materials to ADAC not for the chance to win $100,000 and a spread in Elle Decor magazine, but for the name recognition such an opportunity can afford a young designer. “Now is the time to be an interior designer in Atlanta,” she explained. “It’s a big city and everybody is applying for the same jobs, so you get a lot of ‘no’s. By getting my name out there, I hope to get a ‘yes’.”

Hopefuls can still apply for “Top Design” Season 2 by getting in an application and 5-minute video by February 15; all information is available at www.BravoTV.com/casting or by emailing casting@magicalelves.com. Production begins early to mid spring. If all goes according to plan, viewers can look forward to the second season debut this fall!

Entry Filed under: Designing, Events