New York City is always on the cutting edge of design, but especially for this one week in May when the International Contemporary Furniture Fair takes over. Throughout the city, showrooms throw parties, popups appear, big name collaborations come to the surface and the Javits Center along the Hudson River transitions into something of a conservatory for contemporary design.
Unlike many other tradeshows, ICFF is about the boutique, the up-and-comers. Small spaces with well-curated products dominate the floor, versus the large booths so many are accustomed to. It’s a chance for new names and new ideas to surface, and this year was chock full of both. Some familiar faces with exciting new designs: Andrew Neyer, Pablo, LZF, Vita Copenhagen, Hubbardton Forge, and Graypants, just to name a few.
Away from the central hub, smaller popups WantedDesign Manhattan and WantedDesign Brooklyn brought both local and global artists and craftsmen to the forefront, serving as something of a gallery space for select works making waves in the art and design world. Cutting edge technology, experimental materials and conceptual lighting dominated the satellite events.
Of course, no ICFF is complete without parties. Soho Design District (SDD) made it their mission to bring the showrooms and design community in NYC’s stylish Soho neighborhood together, to help each other out, ideate, problem solve and build something special in a collective manner. With a booth at ICFF, NYCxDESIGN and countless other events on the infamous Greene Street, SDD can proudly say mission accomplished. Our favorites of the week? Flos, Anglepoise, Artemide, Lee Broom, Foscarini, FontanaArte and Tom Dixon.