Daily News

From Home Furnishing Business

ISFD Plans 29th Annual Pinnacle Awards During HPMKT

September 23, 2025  by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry   

As a bonus, TV personality Natalie Papier, interior designer, art curator, author, and host of Magnolia Network’s Artfully Designed home renovation show, will serve as the keynote speaker, and John Conrad, retired from ISFD, will return as the master of ceremonies. The winners will be announced at the Gala held during the Fall High Point Market on Monday, Oct. 27th, in the IHFC 11th Floor Ballroom.

Student meet & greet begins at 5:30 pm, cocktail reception at 6 pm, and awards presentation at 7 pm. A portion of the ticket sales will benefit the ISFD Foundation Scholarship Fund, which supports gifted student designers from schools across the country. Tickets are available for this exclusive, limited-seating event by visiting the Pinnacle Awards Gala website.

“Every year, I am amazed at the level of creativity and expertise that is shown in the entries, but I think that this year surpasses them all,” stated David Blair, executive director of ISFD. “The professional designers, designer-makers, and students really outdid themselves in offering the judges an outstanding array of exceptional designs to review. Even the new Biophilic Design in Wood category excelled in bringing nature to interior spaces. A magnanimous thanks goes out to the judges who tackled the challenging task of reviewing and selecting the finalists and ultimately the winners.”

The 2025 finalists, all professional product, furniture, and textile designers, designer-makers, and talented graduate and undergraduate design students, envision and create the products that become some of the most sought-after home furnishings items around the world. Their inspirational designs are produced and marketed by companies, large and small, but with a common denominator—to proudly illustrate that artistry, craft, and innovation are essential and saleable to the consumer marketplace. In some cases, being nominated and/or winning a Pinnacle Award has helped launch design careers and elevated manufacturers to new levels of industry recognition.

Additionally, ISFD would also like to thank our Bronze level sponsors: Furniture Design Studios, High Point Market Authority, and Lockdowel; Designer-Maker category sponsor: Appalachian Hardwood; Biophilic Design in Wood sponsor: Real American Hardwood; Student Competition sponsor: Richard Frinier Design Studio; Corporate Partner: Canadian Wood; and Industry partners: Designers Today, Elements Studios, Furniture Today, International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) and The Media Matters. We would also like to thank the International Textile Alliance (ITA) and the Sustainable Furnishings Council for their continued support.

“As part of our mission to inspire, educate, and connect our future professional furniture designers, ISFD charges no entry fee for the Student Pinnacle Awards, and we give every Student ISFD Member one free ticket to the Gala,” Blair continued. “We are looking for additional sponsors for this year’s student competition and gala so we can continue to introduce these future designers to our industry. Thank you in advance for your consideration.”

Student donations can be made to Support the Students.

A master list of the finalists, along with images of their designs, can be found on the ISFD website.