Getting Personal: David Stark
New York producer and designer finds inspiration everywhere
Published in December 2009 profile | Departments
New York producer and designer finds inspiration everywhere
Where do you turn for inspiration—your backyard, the intersection downtown, a small town strip mall? For David Stark, New York-based event producer and president and creative director of David Stark Design and Production, inspiration is everywhere. Stark has frequently been featured on prime time shows such as CBS’ The Early Show, The Today Show, The View and Martha Stewart and his designs have been published in numerous best-selling magazines across the country. Event Solutions asked him a few important—and not so important—questions about life and design.
When did you know that you wanted to be an event planner?
Event planning found me; I never even knew it was a career. I went to art school with the intention of being a painter and started working with flowers as a means of supporting my art. But the flowers took over little by little and I realized that there was so much art-making that could happen within the world of events.
What is the craziest thing you’ve ever seen happen at an event?
I once did a wedding for a young lady from Texas who was lovely but a little strange. Every time I asked her a question—what is your favorite color, for instance—she would say, “Hmmm…Let me think about that and I’ll get back to you.” Right before she was about to walk down the wedding aisle, I was asked to sign a non-disclosure form. The gal that I thought was the bride turned out to be the personal assistant of a major Hollywood celebrity. Now
it made sense to me why she always needed to “get back to me” on any of her likes and dislikes.
What are you working on right now?
We have a book coming out at the end of April that I am so excited about. David Stark Design is being published by Monacelli Press. What an honor it is to have a monograph of our design work produced by such an esteemed publishing house.
Do you enjoy attending events you’re not working?
Honestly, I don’t. I am not particularly good at a party unless I have a job to do.
What is the one thing you would never go to an event without?
A roll of black duvetyn seems to be the magic answer for getting rid of anything unsightly.
If you only had four songs you could listen to for the rest of your life, what would they be?
“Lovely Day” by Bill Withers, “Sweet Thing” by Chaka Kahn and Rufus, “Back in the Day” by Erykah Badu and “Moondance” by Van Morrison.
What do you do for exercise and how do you fit it into your busy schedule?
I do plenty of weight training and cardio. I learned a long time ago that this is so important both to keep healthy and to control stress. I work with a trainer who inspires me, assures that I reach my goals and sets appointments to assure that I show up at the gym.
What is your favorite food?
I am all about a peanut butter-filled pretzel nugget.
What is the biggest thing you still want to accomplish in your career?
I would love to decorate the White House for the holidays.
What advice has profoundly changed your life?
Life is not the amount of breaths you take, it’s the moments that take your breath away.