International Society of Furniture Designers Explores Diversity and Opportunity in the Home Furnishings Industry

Furniture World News Desk on 5/17/2023

The International Society of Furniture Designers (ISFD) announces a series of four new Design Between the Lines podcasts.  Centered on the themes of diversity and opportunity in the home furnishings industry, the episodes introduce listeners to the great range of career opportunities available to creative people.

Produced with a grant from The Arts Council of Greater Greensboro and the High Point Arts Council, the episodes will air between May 10 and June 21 on the Design Between the Lines YouTube channel and all of the major podcast platforms. Hosted by John Conrad, previous executive director of ISFD, guests will include: DuVäl Reynolds, Dr. Bryle Henderson Hatch with Raven Jefferson, Caleb Collins with Jeremy Kamiya, and George (Gezzani) Hall.

In Design Between the Lines, Conrad talks with the movers and shakers, innovators, and lifetime legends of the home furnishings industry. Its 42 episodes will take you inside the creative minds of the influencers who are shaping the home furnishings industry today.

“The theme across the next four episodes not only focuses on the diversity of people in the home furnishings industry, but it also reveals the thousands of career opportunities the industry offers. From planting the trees and creating all the other materials that go into the finished products to designing and making those products, selling the finished pieces, designing the spaces they will go into—and everything in between,” said Conrad. “I always enjoy speaking with the guests, learning more about life in their world, how they got their start, and how the industry has changed through their eyes. I hope that their stories will inspire future generations to take a closer look at the home furnishings industry for their careers.”

In the first episode, aired May 10, Conrad interviewed interior designer DuVäl Reynolds, owner and principal designer of full-service interior design firm DuVäl Design. Reynolds shared what led him to a career in design, how he runs his business and works with clients, his design inspirations, and his views about diversity as the co-chair of the High Point Market Diversity Advocacy Alliance.

In the second podcast, scheduled to air May 24, Conrad will interview Bryle Henderson Hatch, Head of the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, along with Raven Jefferson, Community Resource Coordinator for the Guilford Educational Alliance. The third episode will be an interview with furniture artisans Caleb Collins and Jeremy Kamiya on June 14. Wrapping up the series will be Conrad’s conversation with past ISFD INNOVATION+DESIGN™ winner George (Gezzani) Hall on June 21.

“I would like to thank The Arts Council of Greater Greensboro (formerly ArtsGreensboro), a division of the designated county partner with funding from the North Carolina Arts Council, for their generous support. Their Multicultural Grassroots Grant made these podcasts possible,” Conrad concluded. The Design Between the Lines episodes were also supported by the High Point Arts Council and the North Carolina Arts Council.

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.