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ICFF 2012 Report: 10 Designers to Watch
Inventive and striking uses of geometry, color and shape by these design students and companies caught our attention at this year's show
From ombré bookshelves with moving parts to geometric outdoor shading and lighting fixtures made of Velcro, designers at this year's International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) showcased plenty of eye-catching and innovative designs. While their creations might not make it to your local retailer in the near future, these designers are worth keeping an eye on.
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1. Walltech
Can you tell what this is at first glance? Turns out that these colorful and ombré wooden pieces are the Korean company Walltech's take on the modern bookshelf.
Can you tell what this is at first glance? Turns out that these colorful and ombré wooden pieces are the Korean company Walltech's take on the modern bookshelf.
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The bookshelves are made of basic wire grids, supported by a steel frame. Colorful painted wooden pegs are placed in each square and can be removed or adjusted as needed to create the desired amount of shelving.
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2. California College of the Arts and Wilsonart
California College of the Arts (CCA) students worked with Wilsonart to create unique chairs out of Wilsonart laminate, inspired by California. Student Kaii Tu's Torrey chair was inspired by the shapes of the windswept pines on the California coast. And Tu created this shape using computer-aided design — a tribute to Silicon Valley.
California College of the Arts (CCA) students worked with Wilsonart to create unique chairs out of Wilsonart laminate, inspired by California. Student Kaii Tu's Torrey chair was inspired by the shapes of the windswept pines on the California coast. And Tu created this shape using computer-aided design — a tribute to Silicon Valley.
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CCA student Jeni Tu's Linea chair takes its bold shape and color from the Los Angeles landscape. The curving shape echoes the endless overpasses and iconic architecture of that city, while the red is a clever nod to the always-present red taillights on the freeway.
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3. Weplight
Argentina company Weplight revealed a new collection of stunning wooden lights. Its designers have worked with the company's own flexible wood veneer since 2001, allowing them to create these elegantly curved fixtures.
Argentina company Weplight revealed a new collection of stunning wooden lights. Its designers have worked with the company's own flexible wood veneer since 2001, allowing them to create these elegantly curved fixtures.
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4. Christopher Roy, Why Not Bespoke
Christopher Roy's Why Not Bespoke line has roots in traditional Amish furniture. Inspired by the utilitarian designs of those pieces, Roy works with Amish craftspeople to get the shapes, pieces and forms for his more modern pieces.
Christopher Roy's Why Not Bespoke line has roots in traditional Amish furniture. Inspired by the utilitarian designs of those pieces, Roy works with Amish craftspeople to get the shapes, pieces and forms for his more modern pieces.
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5. Eastvold Furniture
Custom options for handmade pieces were plentiful at the ICFF this year. Eastvold Furniture in Minnesota offered the opportunity to choose the interior and leg colors of this new credenza.
Custom options for handmade pieces were plentiful at the ICFF this year. Eastvold Furniture in Minnesota offered the opportunity to choose the interior and leg colors of this new credenza.
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Eastvold's Elko Credenza is made of walnut, white oak or bamboo and comes with six base color options.
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6. Pratt Institute and Carnegie Fabrics
Students from the Pratt Institute worked with Carnegie's new Xorel woven textiles to design an intricate, hand-folded structure. The piece is made entirely out of squares of Xorel, folded in the same pattern to create a three-dimensional geometric shape. Each piece is shaded blue in the center, just barely visible from the inside.
Students from the Pratt Institute worked with Carnegie's new Xorel woven textiles to design an intricate, hand-folded structure. The piece is made entirely out of squares of Xorel, folded in the same pattern to create a three-dimensional geometric shape. Each piece is shaded blue in the center, just barely visible from the inside.
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7. Symbol Audio
Symbol Audio made its debut at the ICFF this year. Its gorgeous pieces have a timeless but modern look that's captured the hearts of audiophiles and design lovers alike. The Modern Record Console has all the classic style of a midcentury hi-fi console with the amenities of the 21st century. A built-in turntable; a converter for iPod, iPhone, or iPad; and an incredible sound system are all housed in this hand-crafted walnut and steel piece.
Symbol Audio made its debut at the ICFF this year. Its gorgeous pieces have a timeless but modern look that's captured the hearts of audiophiles and design lovers alike. The Modern Record Console has all the classic style of a midcentury hi-fi console with the amenities of the 21st century. A built-in turntable; a converter for iPod, iPhone, or iPad; and an incredible sound system are all housed in this hand-crafted walnut and steel piece.
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The Tabletop Hifi is a more accessible piece from Symbol Audio that offers the same high-quality design, and it's available in a variety of colors and finishes. A traditional speaker design allows it to deliver an incredible level of audio for such a small piece. Cables in the back make it easy to hook up to your favorite electronic or analog device.
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8. Rachel O'Neill
These wild light fixtures look like they're made of piles of folded ribbon, but Northern Irish designer Rachel O'Neill accomplishes this look with yards and yards of Velcro. The Velcro is hand dyed, carefully folded and placed around an aluminum frame to create these bold bursts of light.
These wild light fixtures look like they're made of piles of folded ribbon, but Northern Irish designer Rachel O'Neill accomplishes this look with yards and yards of Velcro. The Velcro is hand dyed, carefully folded and placed around an aluminum frame to create these bold bursts of light.
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9. Humanscale
Humanscale is known primarily for its innovative office furniture but wanted to present a more playful side of the company at its ICFF booth this year. Emphasizing the technology side of its products, it created a new wireless lighting system. The elegant rings light up when they're hanging from the brass wall hooks but turn off as soon as they're removed.
Humanscale is known primarily for its innovative office furniture but wanted to present a more playful side of the company at its ICFF booth this year. Emphasizing the technology side of its products, it created a new wireless lighting system. The elegant rings light up when they're hanging from the brass wall hooks but turn off as soon as they're removed.
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10. Iacoli & McAllister
Well known for its simple but bold lighting, Iacoli & McAllister brought several new fixtures to the ICFF this year, including the Cinque. Shown here in brass, this pendant plays with light and shadow in an eye-catching geometric form.
Well known for its simple but bold lighting, Iacoli & McAllister brought several new fixtures to the ICFF this year, including the Cinque. Shown here in brass, this pendant plays with light and shadow in an eye-catching geometric form.
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Several new objects debuted at the ICFF as well. This table displays just a few, including hexagon-shape paperweights, a brass sage-burning pyramid and hexagonal bottle openers.
See more reports from the ICFF 2012
See more reports from the ICFF 2012
