ISFD Announces Winners of the 4th Annual INNOVATION+DESIGN
Furniture World News Desk on
4/20/2023
• Best of show winners: Professional: Michael Jury’s Asa-no-ha Sideboard; Student: Ben Wilkins’ Louver Lamp
This spring, twenty-four professional and student designer-maker finalists vied for the honor of being selected as a category or best of show winner in the highly competitive International Society of Furniture Designers (ISFD) 4th annual INNOVATION+DESIGN™ 2023 (I+D) competition. The winners were recognized at the “Meet the Designers” Market reception held at The Art Gallery at Congdon Yards on April 20th. The finalist and winning projects will be on display at the gallery, 400 W. English Rd., Suite 151 in High Point, April 22- 26, 9am-5pm.
“After seeing the amazing entries for this year’s competition, I realized that INNOVATION+DESIGN is the perfect name for this event,” commented David Blair, executive director of ISFD. “The professional and student designer entries showed a high-level of imagination and superior craftsmanship, making the judges’ challenging job of selecting the winners even more difficult. I invite all to stop by the exhibit to experience these exquisite works in person. You will also see some gorgeous photographic images, created to capture the spirit of each piece, by Bert and Becky VanderVeen of VanderVeen Photographers.”
INNOVATION+DESIGN is a highly competitive juried competition and exhibition, sponsored by ISFD’s furniture industry partners and supported by a grant from The Earl and Kathryn Congdon Family Foundation. It is open to professional artisans who design and make their own products, as well as to serious woodworking students who are anticipating a career in the custom wood and related home furnishings industries.
“I want to thank the brilliant designer-makers and students who shared their work with us, as well as the expert industry judges who reviewed and commented on the projects,” Blair continued. “We look forward to continuing to make this annual competition a prestigious Spring Market event that celebrates the very best artisan furniture makers designers and recognizes High Point as the design capital of the world.”
Best of Show winners:
- Professional – Michael Jury, Asa-no-ha Sideboard
- Student – Ben Wilkins, Louver Lamp
Category winners:
- Professional Accessories – Bruce Schuettinger, Quieten Audiophile Cabinet
- Professional Occasional Tables – Brian Boggs, Tango Console Table
- Professional Seating – Jeremy Kamiya, Untitled
- Professional Lighting – TiAnna DeGarmo, DeGarmo Floor Lamp
- Professional Occasional Storage – Erika Cross, Capsule
- Student Accessories - Victoria Stocker, Cuboid Planters
- Student Seating – Dylan Timoney, AL127
- Student Occasional Storage – Boyd, Chest of Drawers
- Student Occasional Tables – Santiago Diaz-Giral, Marulk
- Student Dining Room – Amanda Yoder, Welcome Home Chair
Professional and student finalists received a certificate of merit and will be entered into the Designer-Maker category of ISFD’s 2023 Pinnacle Awards this fall. INNOVATION+DESIGN category winners received $250. The best of show winners received $1000 along with 5 hours of Congdon Yards Generator time.
ISFD wishes to thank the INNOVATION+DESIGN 2023 sponsors: gold level: High Point Market Authority, bronze level: International Market Centers, and grant level partner: The Earl and Kathryn Congdon Family Foundation, along with supporting partners: Furniture Today, IFDA, Source4, The Art Gallery at Congdon Yards and VanderVeen Photographers.
About ISFD
The International Society of Furniture Designers (ISFD) is an association of professional and student furniture designers in residential and contract furnishings and accessories. Its mission is to promote and advance outstanding design and to elevate and support the furniture designer through networking, mentorship, and professional development opportunities. Its Pinnacle Awards® recognize the very best in furniture design each year, and its INNOVATION + DESIGN awards promote the outstanding work of designer–makers. Visit ISFD.org for more information about the organization and its programs, or follow its activities on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter.