Finalists Announced for 2020 Pinnacle Awards

September 29, 2020  by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry   

The finalists will be feted during the Pinnacle Awards Online TV Presentation, and the winners announced, on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. ET, via the organization’s YouTube channel.  Acclaimed interior designer Corey Damen Jenkins will keynote the awards ceremony. 

“Each year when the submissions arrive, I am more and more impressed with the extraordinary quality of entries and glad that I do not have the judges’ difficult task of selecting the finalists and ultimately the winners,” says John Conrad, executive director. “ISFD really appreciates the time and dedication that the judges devote to the detailed review and evaluation process and I want to extend my gratitude to them for their help and to our sponsors who make this all possible.”

The judging panel represents an influential mix of high-profile industry leaders and innovators including: Christi Barbour, co-founder and partner, Barbour Spangle Design; Everick Brown, founder and principal, Everick Brown Design; Kelly DiFoggio, International Textiles Alliance president and director of sales and marketing for Yarn and Loom; Diane Falvey, Furniture Lighting & Décor editor in chief;  John Gill, Haverty’s EVP merchandising; Susan Inglis, executive director, Sustainable Furnishings Council; Stephanie James, Allen and James Interior Design co-founder & co-owner; Kris Kolar, buyer, Clive Daniel Home; Ida McCausland, IFDA international president; Kaitlin Petersen, Business of Home editor in chief; Rick Schroeder, professional furniture designer and past president & chairman of the ISFD board; Jomo Tariku, Ethiopian American artist and industrial designer; Maria West, Maria West Photography founder/designer.

The 2020 finalists, all professional product and furniture designers along with a few design students, envision and create the designs that ultimately become some of the most sought-after home furnishings items around the world. Their works are produced and marketed by companies large and small, but with a common denominator—to proudly illustrate that artistry, craft, and innovation are important and quite saleable to the consumer marketplace.  A list of all the finalists along with images of their products can be found here: 2020 Pinnacle Awards finalists.

The theme for this year’s Pinnacle Awards Online TV Presentation is “Great Designs Unmasked,” a recognition of the need to change the Pinnacle’s normal gala format for 2020 as well as a chance to reveal to the world the positive impact good design has on mental and physical well-being. Presenters, stationed at design-centric locations around the country, including several High Point locales, will honor nearly 70 finalists in 20 categories.  Musical guests, Turpentine Shine, will perform original tunes throughout the one-hour program.