ICFF
It was only a little more than six months ago that ICFF + WantedDesign held a November 2021 event at the Javits Center in NYC. But for 2022, they are back to the usual mid-May dates anchoring NYCxDesign. This is the first time the fairs were the main event at Javits without any other halls occupied. That resulted in the exhibition space feeling less crowded overall, being that there was another covid spike around NYC at the time, also for the better.
Overall the show was smaller than the pre-2019 days. It felt like it’s regressing back to a hardcore trade show and less of the diverse design show it was trying to become. WantedDesign greatly helped add some jazz to the event as you’ll see below.
As for highlights, Bernhardt Design presented new seating on expansive white floor pads. There’s some really elegant pieces in this collection reinforced by a palette of subdued hues.
ICFF Studio returned featuring a new group of prototypes by young designers. The majority of pieces were seating ranging from some very minimalist pieces to a few finely crafted wood chairs. ICFF Studio typically slants towards commercial viability so it’s typically not a platform that includes collector-oriented work.
Ferm Living had the most of the moment booth, exhibiting a mix of functional and cleanly designed pieces paired with pieces with a melted or hand-formed aesthetic.
Bernhardt Design
Bernhardt Design
Bernhardt Design
Bernhardt Design
Bernhardt Design
Bernhardt Design
Bernhardt Design
Bernhardt Design
Bernhardt Design
Bernhardt Design
Bernhardt Design
Bernhardt Design
Bernhardt Design
David Hwang - NEUT Stool, ICFF Studio
Ge Song - Fortune Fold, ICFF Studio
Tongqi Lu - Trace Chair, ICFF Studio
Tongqi Lu - Trace Chair, ICFF Studio
Calvin Lien - Hover Lounge Chair, ICFF Studio
Calvin Lien - Hover Lounge Chair, ICFF Studio
Our Neighbor - Dipped Shelf, ICFF Studio
Amanda Sutanto - FLUX Modular Seating, ICFF Studio
Daniela Duarte - CURVA Lounge Chair, ICFF Studio
Conor Coghlan - Bow Spring Chair, ICFF Studio
Conor Coghlan - Bow Spring Chair, ICFF Studio
Ford Bostwick - Flo Chair, ICFF Studio
Ford Bostwick - Flo Chair, ICFF Studio
Ford Bostwick - Flo Chair, ICFF Studio
Enrico Tognoni - Messier Sconces, ICFF Studio
Tomoki NNomura - On Bin, ICFF Studio
Tomoki NNomura - On Bin, ICFF Studio
Johannes Lu - Be Still Coffee/Side Table, ICFF Studio
Johannes Lu - Be Still Coffee/Side Table, ICFF Studio
Johannes Lu - Be Still Coffee/Side Table, ICFF Studio
Lara Villa - Aether Chair, ICFF Studio
Lara Villa - Aether Chair, ICFF Studio
Oasis by Float Studio
Oasis by Float Studio
Oasis by Float Studio
Oasis by Float Studio
ferm living
ferm living
ferm living
ferm living
ferm living
ferm living
ferm living
ferm living
ferm living
koncept lighting
koncept lighting
Zachary A. Design
Zachary A. Design
Zachary A. Design
Zachary A. Design
WOUD A/S
WOUD A/S
WOUD A/S
WOUD A/S
WOUD A/S
WOUD A/S
WantedDesign Manhattan
This was the second edition of WantedDesign held at Javits following the fair’s departure from the Terminal Stores space (aka the Tunnel) in 2018. I miss the layout and vibe of the old space, maybe there was still some lingering atmosphere of when it functioned as one of NYC’s best nightclubs for many years. It was more friendly and relaxed mood versus the business and tense climate Javits breeds. There was a lot of work to take in packed into a pretty small area so I captured what stood out.
The ECO Solidarity booth was a highlight and part of what makes WantedDesign unique. The project was initiated in 2020 by the Polish Cultural Institute New York in partnership with WantedDesign and eight European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC organizations as an international, multidisciplinary initiative and to address the need for human-centered design in response to global humanitarian and public health crises. The exhibition was packed with forward looking material and design explorations that are worth learning more detail about on Wanted’s spotlight page.
Finally, School of Visual Arts (SVA) Products of Design students made a return to WantedDesign. Their annual design interventions over the years have brought a special social element to the fair. Re-Actors was a project created to explore ways to safety stimulate emotional experiences through semi-distanced physical interactions. A collection of five pieces were designed to attempt to stimulate dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin in participants through a distanced hug, shared gaze, group lounge and auditory/olfactory stimulation. Here’s a great post by SVA’s PoD with more detail on this award winning project.
Photos and Text: Dave Pinter
Launch Pad
Launch Pad
Launch Pad
Launchpad
Hasan Zaidi Design
Hasan Zaidi Design
Ian C. Adler
Launch Pad
Launch Pad
Studio Jason Robinson
Taskshade
Sara Schoenberger - Louis Collection
Sara Schoenberger - Louis Collection
Anna Dawson
AIMMP
AIMMP
AIMMP
AIMMP
Cofield
Cofield
Cofield
A Capsule Of “Utopia” Presented & Sponsored By: Winston Cuevas Curated By: Ann + Kirby Kenny
A Capsule Of “Utopia” Presented & Sponsored By: Winston Cuevas Curated By: Ann + Kirby Kenny
A Capsule Of “Utopia” Presented & Sponsored By: Winston Cuevas Curated By: Ann + Kirby Kenny
A Capsule Of “Utopia” Presented & Sponsored By: Winston Cuevas Curated By: Ann + Kirby Kenny
NJ Roseti
NJ Roseti
NJ Roseti
NJ Roseti
NJ Roseti
Forma Rosa Studio
Forma Rosa Studio
Forma Rosa Studio
ECO Solidarity
ECO Solidarity
ECO Solidarity
ECO Solidarity
ECO Solidarity
ECO Solidarity
ECO Solidarity
ECO Solidarity
SVA Products of Design
SVA Products of Design
SVA Products of Design
SVA Products of Design
SVA Products of Design
SVA Products of Design