WantedDesign Manhattan
Javits Center, Manhattan, NY
November 14 – November 15, 2021

WantedDesign is a platform dedicated to fostering the international creative community at large throughout the year and is a constant and staunch supporter of emerging design in the U.S. Launched in New York City in 2011 by Odile Hainaut and Claire Pijoulat, WantedDesign Manhattan has quickly become the destination for discovering new talent around the world and the place to engage with a diverse professional network and initiate new collaborations. WantedDesign Manhattan began its partnership with ICFF in 2019.

About ICFF: The International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) is North America’s leading global platform for contemporary furnishing design. With its emphasis on original and sustainable design, the ICFF presents exhibitors of furniture, lighting, seating, carpet and flooring, wall coverings, outdoor furniture, materials, kitchen and bath and accessories to an audience of architects, interior designers, retailers, distributors, developers and press. ICFF is owned by Emerald.

Design Fairs Celebrate Their First In-Person and Co-Located Event New York, NY (September 29, 2021) – ICFF, North America’s leading platform for contemporary furnishing design, and WantedDesign Manhattan, a trade event for high-end North American studios and international emerging designers, return to the Javits Center on November 14-15, 2021. Together these two trade fairs will bring over 300 established and emerging design brands from more than 25 countries, all featuring product for residential, contract and hospitality spaces.

The exhibitors will showcase the finest and most creative design-driven furniture, lighting, kitchen and bath, textiles, seating, wallcoverings, carpet and flooring, accessories and materials. This edition is the first in-person and co-located show that ICFF+WantedDesign Manhattan have produced since the partnership was announced in 2019, providing an important moment for the design industry to reconnect and source products and ideas. “While November is a different time of year for ICFF and WantedDesign Manhattan, it’s exciting to finally come together again to see each other and to experience the products our industry has been creating behind the curtain over the last two plus years. The November special edition is the kickoff to an even bigger industry celebration in May 2022,” said Phil Robinson, Show Director, ICFF.

“We’re excited to co-locate our show with ICFF, embark on the next chapter for WantedDesign Manhattan and bring the fair experience to a new level,” said WantedDesign co-founders Odile Hainaut and Claire Pijoulat. “We were happy to partner with ICFF for the CLOSEUP events which started in 2020 and thrilled to transition to in-person events this fall. We continue to be committed to supporting North American high-end design studios and to be instrumental in the growth of emerging designers. We look forward to reuniting with the exhibitors and attendees in November.” ICFF+WantedDesign Manhattan will showcase what’s new in design from both established and emerging global brands in a safe atmosphere.

Their fresh takes on design and their respected voices continue to be the go-to for the A&D community. Part of the new approach includes a refreshed look for icff.com offering a year-round resource for design news, projects, products and inspiration, and the ICFF Podcast featuring leaders in the design industry. WantedDesign Manhattan tapped into designer Rodolfo Agrella to create the look and feel for the show within the show, as well as the ICFF+WantedDesign Manhattan Talks stage. This experience provides a much-needed and not-to-be missed opportunity to have in-person conversations, discover new products, and make new connections.

ICFF continues its 15-year partnership with Bernhardt Design to bring the next generation of emerging talent to the forefront through the juried ICFF Studio competition. This November, ICFF Studio will present the work of three winning designers from 2020, who were unable to exhibit when the fair was cancelled: Jose Bared; Conor Coghlan; and Joel Rojas. Oasis, by Float Studio For the first time at ICFF, Float Studio will reveal Oasis where visitors can connect to nature and recharge: a quiet place to catch your breath or to have a more intimate, unbranded conversation.

The design itself is simple, with a heavy emphasis on greenery, dotting a topography that mimics natural landscapes. It’s an environment that feels separate but welcoming with plenty of seating, including curtained pods that allow visitors to recharge both their phones with accessible ports and their minds via guided-meditation headphones. Sponsors include: Gabriel North America; Gestalt New York with Friends & Founders, Ornäs, and Mazō; Lambert & Fils; Talk Carpet/Ege.

Features and special exhibits: Look Book is a dedicated program for high-end North American designers, makers, and studios that serves as an in-person portfolio, allowing members of the A&D community to connect directly with designers and makers to source custom pieces for their next project. A selection of 2021 participants include: Nina Cho (the 2020 winner of American Design Honors), Simon Johns, Bowen Liu, Ian Love Design, Indo-, and Lorekform.

Launch Pad: Presented with media partner Design Milk and sponsor American Standard, Launch Pad is an outstanding international platform for emerging designers that introduces new concepts and showcases prototypes of furniture, home accessories, and lighting. A renowned jury will select one winner from each of the Furniture/Accessories and Lighting categories.

more. www.wanteddesignnyc.com