ICFF and WantedDesign Manhattan spotlight the global design community

The coveted platform for the design community worldwide, laying bare the best in new and innovative design, The International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF), North America's illustrious contemporary furnishing design fair, and DesignWanted Manhattan, a trade event fostering exceptional work by both big names and rising talents in the realm of design, returned to New York's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on May 15 to 17, 2022. ICFF + WantedDesign Manhattan beckoned and unveiled exemplary product developments for the residential, contract, and hospitality markets by over 300 established and up-and-coming design brands from more than 20 countries around the world. “It’s great to have the fair staging during traditional Spring dates in 2022. For many international brands, it will be their first North American market since 2019,” says Phil Robinson, Show Director, ICFF. “We expect to see a flood of new collections and products launched this May, and a wealth of new design talent discovered,” he added.

Continuing its 16th year in collaboration, ICFF studio with Bernhardt Design, aimed to bring the next generation of talent to the public eye through the juried ICFF Studio competition. ICFF Editors Awards celebrated the top products across both ICFF and WantedDesign Manhattan, acknowledging the best designs under different categories like furniture, flooring, lighting, materials, and best overall booth among others. Amidst the bustle, Oasis, by Float Studio was a spot for visitors to unwind and take a breath while listening to enlightening panel discussions revolving around sustainable design, wellbeing, and social impact. Adding more education and expertise to the lineup were the ICFF + WantedDesign Manhattan Talks, with an extended roster of panel sessions, keynote presentations, and intimate conversations providing an insightful glimpse of how to stay ahead in the design spheres. Paola Antonelli on Design Emergency: Building a Better Future, Power Couples: Yabu Pushelberg, Höweler + Yoon, and Friends and Founders; Inside Norway: Meet the Makers were amongst the speaker highlights.

Lending a hand to the future of design, WantedDesign Manhattan introduced the new Schools Exhibit, an invaluable opportunity for young design students worldwide to receive feedback, mentorship, and networking from design professionals they look up to. Launch Pad was another platform for designers to exhibit new concepts and prototypes in multiple disciplines to a jury of revered designers, editors, and manufacturers. The exclusive program for high-end North American designers, makers, and studios, the Look Book, featured more than 30 participants including Malcolm Majer, Vulpe Works and Studio Ocho Cuartos. Integrating unique materials and surfaces within immersive installations, participants displayed how innovative solutions can create healthy spaces via events like ECO Solidarity and the Lounge at Wanted Interiors.

“From design students, to Launch Pad, and Look Book to Wanted Interiors, WantedDesign Manhattan is the destination for anyone curious to discover new talent, new ideas, and new solutions for designing and producing in a more responsible way,” explain Odile Hainaut and Claire Pijoulat, co-founders of WantedDesign. Deemed as the hub for NYC Design Week and the place for international conversation, ICFF + WantedDesign Manhattan enthralled the world with a diverse lineup of laudable exhibitors hailing from countries such as Australia, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Sweden and the US to name a few. Driven by innovation and fuelled by talent, ICFF + WantedDesign Manhattan has reinforced the legacy of being a true representation of global design.