This spring, 24 professional and student designer-maker finalists vied for the honor of being selected as a category or best-of-show winner in the International Society of Furniture Designers’ fourth annual Innovation + Design competition. The winners were recognized at the “Meet the Designers” reception April 20 at The Art Gallery at Congdon Yards in High Point. The finalist and winning projects will be on display at the gallery, 400 W. English Road, Suite 151 in High Point through 5 p.m. April 26.
“After seeing the amazing entries for this year’s competition, I realized that Innovation + Design is the perfect name for this event,” said 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.”
The juried competition and exhibition are 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 said. “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 $1,000 along with five hours of Congdon Yards Generator time.
ISFD wishes to thank the 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.
