ICFF + WantedDesign Manhattan: Almost Ready for Debut in May

11/04/2022 - ICFF + WantedDesign Manhattan return in person to New York's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on May 15-17, 2022.

The International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) and WantedDesign Manhattan will debut the best in new and innovative design-driven products for the residential, contract, and hospitality markets. These fairs bring over 300 established and emerging design brands from more than 16 countries worldwide.

For the first time since 2019, ICFF is hosting a special ticketed Opening Night event on May 15 at the Javits Overlook. ICFF + WantedDesign Manhattan's 2022 show continues to shine a spotlight on the global design community and introduces new programming to include and inspire design students. “It’s great to have the fair staging during traditional Spring dates in 2022. For many international brands, it will be their first North American market since 2019. We expect to see a flood of new collections and products launched this May, and a wealth of new design talent discovered,” said Phil Robinson, Show Director, ICFF.

WantedDesign Manhattan will again tap into the expertise of designer Rodolfo Agrella to create the look and feel for 'the show within the show,' including Wanted Interiors and the Lounge, as well as the ICFF + WantedDesign Manhattan Talks stage. Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the NYCxDESIGN Festival returns to coincide with ICFF + WantedDesign Manhattan from May 10 through 20, 2022.

“We are excited to go back to a full-scale, 3-day event with a very diverse selection of studios and companies,” said WantedDesign co-founders Odile Hainaut and Claire Pijoulat. “From design students, to Launch Pad, and Look Book to Wanted Interiors, WantedDesign Manhattan is the destination for anyone curious to discover new talent, new ideas, and new solutions for designing and producing in a more responsible way.”

Features + Events: ICFF 2022

ICFF Studio will continue its 16-year partnership with Bernhardt Design to bring the next generation of emerging talent to the forefront through the juried ICFF Studio competition. The 15 Studio exhibitors include nine winners originally selected in 2020 and six chosen from 2022 entrants.

 

ICFF Editors Awards will be back to celebrate the best products across both ICFF and WantedDesign Manhattan. The awards recognize the top designs in 12 categories: Body of Work, New Designer, Furniture, Seating, Carpet and Flooring, Lighting, Outdoor Furniture, Materials, Wallcovering, Accessories, Kitchen and Bath, and Best Overall Booth. All category winners will be considered finalists for Best in Show and recognized during the awards ceremony held on May 16 at 5:30 pm on the Talks stage. The ICFF Editors Awards is open to all ICFF + WantedDesign Manhattan exhibitors. Judges from trade and consumer design media to be announced.

Oasis, by Float Studio, returns in 2022. A quiet place to catch your breath, Oasis, by Float Studio is where visitors can relax and listen to intimate panel discussions, focusing on sustainable design, wellbeing, and projects with social impact. The design itself is inspired by nature and feels separate but welcoming, with plenty of seating for attendees to recharge their phones and minds.

ICFF + WantedDesign Manhattan Talks, sponsored by Mercato Place, will continue in 2022 with a lineup of panel sessions, keynote presentations, and intimate conversations to provide a critical context for staying ahead in the residential and commercial design spheres. Speaker highlights include Paola Antonelli, Senior Curator, Department of Architecture and Design, and Director, Research and Development, MoMA; Gabriele Chiave, Creative Director, Marcel Wanders Studio; and Stefano Giussani, CEO, Lissoni US. The Emerging Designers Showcase presented by Lixil and Clever will take place again in May. Held for the first time during the fair, the ICFF Interior Awards Breakfast will take place on May 17th. Stage sponsors include Turf and Be Original Americas members.

Features + Special Exhibits: Wanteddesign Manhattan 2022

Schools Exhibit: In support of the next generation of designers, WantedDesign Manhattan launches a new area to present young design students from design schools worldwide. In addition to presenting their projects, the students will have the opportunity to receive feedback, mentorship, and networking from established design professionals. This feature also creates a dialogue for academic recruiting, exchange programs, and partnership opportunities. As presenting sponsors, Design Milk and Alessi will review the projects to select the “students to watch” and choose the winners.

 

Launch Pad: An ideal platform for emerging designers to showcase new concepts and prototypes of furniture, home accessories, and lighting, Launch Pad is presented with media partner Design Milk and sponsored by American Standard. A jury of renowned designers, editors, and manufacturers will select one winner from the 48 participants representing Furniture/Accessories and Lighting categories.

Look Book: As the dedicated program for high-end North American designers, makers, and studios that serves as an in-person portfolio for the A&D community, Look Book returns for 2022 with more than 30 participants. Mary Ratcliffe, Brave Matter, Ian Love Design, Sten Studio, and Anony are returning, and new exciting exhibitors include Malcolm Majer, Vulpe Works, Studio Ocho Cuartos, Cofield, and Hamilton Holmes Woodworking and Design.

Wanted Interiors: Participants including Turf, Mohawk Group, 3M, Ressource+Rezina, and Visual Magnetics will integrate their unique materials and surfaces within interactive and immersive installations to demonstrate how innovative solutions can create healthy spaces. ECO Solidarity, a multidisciplinary design movement with a focus on making a better world, will present nine European studios at Wanted Interiors. With what began two years ago, ECO Solidarity continues to strive for unity through design thinking focused on ecology, climate change, equitability, sustainability, and more. The Lounge at Wanted Interiors returns enthusiastically with an indoor-outdoor concept. Sponsors including Ligne Roset, Bend Goods, Havwood, and wakaNINE will bring the 800-square foot lounge to life. As Wanted Interiors’ presenting sponsor, Ultrafabrics will bring their UF Color Lab to WantedDesign Manhattan for the first time as the place to explore the inspiration, purpose and experience of color.

Sunday, May 15: 10AM-6PM Monday, May 16: 10AM-6PM Tuesday, May 17: 10AM-4PM