Image via Complex Original
The International Contemporary Furniture Fair is one of the largest exhibitions of industrial design in the world. The fair just came to a close yesterday in New York, but before the booths were dissembled, we checked out all of the incredible pieces on view.
In the past we've looked at the next trends in design, as well as the coolest companies at ICFF. Throughout, we've seen strong themes in geometric lighting design and modernist styling. This year, we focused on companies that are bringing fresh ideas to the table, from those who are on the rise to companies that are new to the game entirely. Check out our list of 10 Design Companies to Watch Out for at ICFF.
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MOD
San Francisco and Omaha-based architecture and design firm MinDay was founded by E.B. Min and Jeffery L. Day. Recently, MinDay opened MOD, a furniture design company specializing in modular, geometric furniture. MOD's pieces can be endlessly arranged, combined, and stacked to create customizable spaces.
Tronk
Tronk, a Cincinnati-based furniture company, focuses on true craftsman designs. Founded by two friends, the company prides itself on their unique pieces and high quality materials. Showing for the first time at ICFF, Tronk's beautiful wood inlays and bright colors bring a combination of fun and sophistication to accent furniture.
RBW
Rich Brilliant Willing has presented their furniture and lighting design at ICFF many times. Founded in 2007 by Rhode Island School of Design graduates Theo Richardson, Charles Brill, and Alexander Williams, the company specializes in "the power of light to create atmosphere." This year, the company chose to focus on their atmospheric lighting design. One of the stand-out pieces in RBW's newest connection is the Palindrome series, an endlessly customizable lighting system made of metal rods and circular bulbs.
Volk
Brooklyn-based furniture design company Volk was founded by Brian Volk-Zimmerman in 2006. Although Volk has presented at ICFF before, this year Volk collaborated with the textile company Coral and Tusk (also based in Brooklyn). The collaboration resulted in beautifully handcrafted wood pieces with intricately embroidered fabric accents in various areas, like drawers, facades, and cushions.
Blu Dot
Minneapolis-based modern furniture design firm Blu Dot is definitely no stranger to ICFF. The company is one of the major players in the furniture game. Their pieces are sleek, modern and simplistic. This year one of the company's stand out pieces was the Toro chair, a beech wood and leather lounge chair with midcentury styling.
Atelier de Troupe
Founded in 2010, Los Angeles-based design studio Atelier de Troupe exhibited their collection for the first time at this year's ICFF. The studio specializes in lighting design with a geometric and industrial flair.
Universo Positivo
This Belgium-based design studio started just last year. The company focuses on creating furniture, lighting, and accessories in only two materials: solid oak and lacquered metal. The fun aesthetics and bright colors infuse a playful flair into contemporary furniture, and the simplistic use of materials ensures all their pieces fit seamlessly together.
KWH
Founded by Rhode Island School of Design graduate Kai-Wei Hsu, KWH is based on the philosophy of finding beauty in simplicity. By utilizing traditional joinery methods and finishes, KWH creates simplistic yet beautiful, well-made pieces that enhance and illuminate any space.
J.Liston
John Liston is a true craftsman. Having studied metal work and jewelry at Rochester Institute of Technology, Liston developed new techniques, mediums, and processes to create his pieces. Liston's work is a combination of technical skill and artistic styling. This year was Liston's first year at ICFF, and his studio's most outstanding work in the current collection is the Halo lamp, made of a 24-inch cast glass ring embedded with LED lights.
44 Steel
44 Steel was founded in 2005 by Jason Radcliffe. With strong industrial influences, 44 Steel's distressed metal work emits a sense of strength, durability, and quality. The current collection's industrial styling is very on trend. By marrying classical metal work with clean lines and traditional styling, 44 Steel's designs are rugged yet classic.