ISFD Names Judges for Innovation + Design Competition

September 7, 2022  by HFBusiness Staff in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry   

The third annual furniture industry sponsored, juried competition is designed to acknowledge professional designers who make their own product and the next generation of serious woodworking students who are anticipating a career in the custom wood and related home furnishings industries.

“We would like to thank and recognize this year’s esteemed panel of judges for using their industry expertise to review the Innovation + Design 2022 entries to select our finalists and winners,” stated John Conrad, executive director of ISFD. “Our knowledgeable judges offer a combined 210+ years of home furnishings experience covering upholstery and case good furniture design, interior design, engineering, product development, and product manufacturing.

“With that said, after being selected as a finalist and winner the designers and students will know that their outstanding work has been evaluated and deemed as the best in that category.”

Named to the panel were Dale Green, owner of Illusion Unlimited; Bryle Henderson Hatch, executive director of the Minority Entrepreneurship Initiative; Karla Jones, executive director of the Bienenstock Furniture Library; Lewis Mabon, independent furniture designer; Laura Niece, senior furniture designer at Otto & Moore; Walt Ruffier, executive director of The Generator at Congdon Yards; and Taylor West, a partner at West Design Group.

The competition will culminate with the announcement of the winners at the “Meet the Designers” awards celebration held at 401 W. English on the campus of Congdon Yards in High Point, on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m.

Following the awards celebration, the winners’ and finalists’ projects will be on display Thursdays and Fridays from 3-7 pm and Saturdays noon-7 pm at 401 W. English until Oct. 26. Here, the designs will be viewed by thousands of citizens living in the Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem, North Carolina area as well as industry veterans and High Point Market attendees.

On Oct. 22 from 3-6 pm, ISFD will host a reception where industry executives, designers and merchants will be on hand to review the finalists’ projects for potential production opportunities. All are welcome to attend.

As an added benefit, this year’s finalists will be interviewed for the international podcast, Design Between the Lines, and the winners will be featured in industry publications. Category winners will also receive cash prizes ranging from $250-$1000. Best of show winners will receive Congdon Yards Generator gift cards to work on any project of their choice.