Furniture Design Winners Set to Tour as Traveling Photographic Exhibit to Promote ‘Essential Vitality’ of Design

Furniture World Magazine

The American Society of Furniture Designers has created a photographic exhibit of its 2002 Pinnacle Design Achievement Award winners for public viewing this summer, as part of an effort to promote the “essential vitality” of furniture design. “Behind every piece of furniture, from the simple cart to the magnificent dining room collection, a designer is involved in the inspiration and execution in what amounts to the essential vitality of the design process,” says Karl D. Felperin, chairman of ASFD’s Pinnacle Design Achievement Award. “This exhibit presents the best of furniture design in an up-close, educational format. It will be presented in leading American furniture stores and other important venues where consumers will learn to appreciate the important role designers take in the furniture development process.” The exhibit of 2002 winners debuted at the Showplace exhibition center during the Spring International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, N.C. Designed by Jim DiPersia, ASFD, the glass paneled exhibit presents photographs of the 2002 Pinnacle Award winning designs and the name of the designer and manufacturer “We plan to make the exhibit available on a selective basis to qualified retail stores this year,” said Felperin. In preparing the exhibit for travel ASFD will develop criteria for retail presentation as well as attendance logistics to assure the Pinnacle Award winners can be seen by the most people. “It’s logical to involve retailers in the presentation. They are the primary channel for furniture distribution. Those retailers who present the Pinnacle Awards exhibit will benefit from heightened levels of attention from the buying public.” For a list of 2002 Pinnacle Award Winners, contact Christine Evans at ASFD. On Friday October 17, during the Fall Market in High Point, ASFD will present the 2003 Pinnacle Design Achievement Awards in a gala banquet at the International Home Furnishings Club. “The Pinnacle Awards banquet continues at a high level of industry participation,” says Christine Evans, ASFD executive director. “The 2003 Pinnacle Awards “Call-For-Entries” poster-announcement will be distributed to furniture showrooms at regional home furnishings markets this summer, in addition to direct mail request for entries, with a deadline of August 29, 2003.” In September, a panel of judges will review hundreds of nominated designs and select finalists and winners in 15 furniture categories: Accessories, Bedroom, Casual Dining, Formal Dining, Home Entertainment, Home Lighting, Home Office, Juvenile, Leather Upholstery, Major Collections, Motion Upholstery, Occasional Storage, Occasional Tables, Stationary Upholstery and Summer/Casual. Pinnacle Award judges include Richard Bennington, professor of business and director of the Home Furnishings Program at High Point University; Larry Chilton, general merchandise manager, Wood Armfield Company; High Point, North Carolina; Jaclyn C. Hirschhaut, vice president of Public Relations, American Furniture Manufacturers Association; Max S. Shangle, professor of furniture design at Kendall College of Design; Julie M. Smith, editor, FurnitureStyle; Mary Frye, president, Home Furnishings International Association; Lee Buchanan, editor, InFurniture, Rhonda Wolf, assistant vice president, merchandising, Haverty Furniture Companies; Gary Evans, senior editor, Furniture/Today; Mary Turschmann, director of Business Development, Robb & Stucky; Dwight Ball, e-business Manager, Rose Furniture; and Brenda Eskridge, owner, Creative Interiors, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Pinnacle Awards receive are sponsored by 12 industry suppliers: Appalachian Hardwood, Casual Living Magazine, Elmo Leather, FurnitureStyle magazine, Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company, Laminating Materials Association, Leggett & Platt Inc., Hafele America, Inc., Home Lighting & Accessories, The October Company, Valspar Industries and Weyerhaeuser. Free posters and entry kits are available from ASFD: 910/576-1273; Fax, 910/576-1573 or by e-mail at asfd@ac.net. The entry kit also can be downloaded from the ASFD website at www.asfd.com.