ISFD Announces New INNOVATION + DESIGN Competition & Exhibition

Furniture World News Desk on 11/8/2019

The International Society of Furniture Designers (ISFD) recently announced INNOVATION + DESIGN, a new juried and curated furniture design competition and exhibition open to ISFD members as well as members of the professional Maker/Designer community. The finalists’ pieces will be on display during the April High Point Market, April 17-22, 2020.

“We are looking for cutting-edge, highly innovative furnishings with superior craftsmanship that look past the norms of the current furniture industry,” stated John Conrad, executive director of ISFD.  “This is an opportunity to designers, makers and artisans to express broader creativity, thoughtfulness, and inventiveness with executable designs in functional furniture for use in the home including but not limited to bedroom, upholstery, seating, occasional tables, occasional storage, accessory and dining room furniture,” Conrad added.  The submission fee is $25 per piece, and applicants can submit multiple pieces within or across categories for consideration.

Applicants will upload their submission information and images via ArtCall where a panel of judges will review all entries, selecting  finalists’ pieces for a secondary, in-person round of judging. Finalists will be announced and notified by February 18, 2020 and ship their creations to High Point, North Carolina for final judging. The chosen pieces will be exhibited in the INNOVATION + DESIGN space in IMC’s Suites At Market Square building alongside professional photography of each piece created by Alderman Studios.  The exhibit will show throughout the April 2020 High Point Market.

The winners of the INNOVATION + DESIGN competition will receive $1500 for best of show, $1000 for second place and $500 for third place.

Following the April 2020 Market, area photographers will have the opportunity to shoot the pieces for a fine art exhibit which will be on display at the Theater Arts Gallery (TAG) from May 15 - July 15, 2020 in High Point.  The exhibit will be open to the public, allowing visitors to vote on their favorites for the Peoples’ Choice Awards, where winners will be awarded $750 for best of show, $500 for second place and $250 for third place.

“This is another way ISFD can highlight the vision and mastery of furniture designers, makers and craftsmen – those people whose concepts turn into coveted items for homes around the world,” enthused Conrad. 

For complete entry information please visit 2019 INNOVATION + DESIGN .

INNOVATION + DESIGN is supported by ISFD, International Market Centers, the High Point Market Authority and Furniture Today.

About The International Society of Furniture Designers: ISFD is an association advocating for outstanding design and the furniture designers whose creativity drives the industry’s engine. They seek to elevate the role of design and designer through networking, mentorship and professional development opportunities, and continuously promote, advance and support the profession of furniture design and its positive impact.