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A Return to Glam and Embracing New Lighting Typologies at ICFF 2016

By Core Jr - May 26, 2016

Anna Karlin Made locally in New York, these chairs by Anna Karlin are made of an ebony stained hard maple and are completely hand carved. Core77 1 of 95

Anna Karlin Stools Karlin got her start a few years ago making these geometric stools, which come in a range of materials from turned wood to cold rolled steel. Core77 2 of 95

Hollis & Morris These stools by Hollis & Morris can be stacked in several wacky ways. Core77 3 of 95

A Chair for the Garden This chair by Opiary is made of steel coated with layers of recycled, resin fortified concrete. Core77 4 of 95

Chandelier by Tight Rope A "bomb" customizable chandelier by Tight Rope, a Brooklyn-based studio specializing in furniture and lighting. Core77 5 of 95

Plywood Furniture by Kino Guérin Extravagant explorations in wood lamination by Canadian designer Kino Guérin.
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Plywood Furniture by Kino Guérin Extravagant explorations in wood lamination by Canadian designer Kino Guérin.
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Wilsonart Chair Competition x College of Creative Studies This year, plastic laminate company Wilsonart teamed up with the College of Creative Studies in Detroit for their annual chair competition tradition. This chair made of concrete and laminate was inspired by geodes. Core77 8 of 95

Wilsonart Chair Competition x College of Creative Studies This piece called the "En Throne" was an expertly made piece laminated in an Yves Klein blue. Core77 9 of 95

Wilsonart Chair Competition x College of Creative Studies The winning chair by student Stephen Marchio was a wonderfully perplexing exploration in planes and geometry laminated using bold spring pastels. Core77 10 of 95

Coil + Drift A beautiful CNCed walnut mirror by Brooklyn studio Coil + Drift. Core77 11 of 95

A Lampshade Embracing the Beauty of Wood Grain by Brendan Ravenhill Studio Brendan Ravenhill's booth was full of several beautiful new collections, including this Grain Drum metal lampshade. Core77 12 of 95

Brendan Ravenhill Studio The lampshade was made using a mold of hollow maple- the wooden pieces were never sanded down, making for a happy accident: the aluminum adopting the same grain as the wood. Core77 13 of 95

Who could resist an inconspicuous hideaway pool table? Core77 14 of 95

Patterns Patterns Everywhere Interior surface pattern designer Dana Finnigan used her skills to employ digitally printed patterns on unconventional surfaces, as shown/demonstrated on these urinals on display at her ICFF booth. Core77 15 of 95

Raw Studio Hive Chair A suspended chair by designer Nick Rawcliffe of Raw Studio, a graduate of the Royal College of Art and the Bauhaus. This chair, called the Hive Chair, was created after challenging himself to make something 3d using 2d shapes. Core77 16 of 95

Tools for Everyday Life This studio of designers in residence at Northumbria University created a series of products and tools for the outdoors for this year's fair. Core77 17 of 95

Tools for Everyday Life One of their tools included a collapsible stool made of a leather seat and a dowel that expands into a supportive wooden base. Core77 18 of 95

Rhode Island School of Design, "The Narrative of Making" These works, created in a furniture design course at RISD, aimed to see how ideas could be pushed further when students with different expertise worked together to create something. Rather than conventionally upholstering hard structures with textiles, the course challenged students to instead investigate and utilize inherent qualities of these soft materials through the use of weaving, knitting, knotting or crocheting. Featured here is the "Big Empty" fabric chair by Reid Hoyt Core77 19 of 95

Rhode Island School of Design, "The Narrative of Making" The Caterpillar Lounge by Griffin Boswell & Ruth Henry and Wall-To-Wall, a chair by Emre Bagdatolu Core77 20 of 95

Rhode Island School of Design, "The Narrative of Making" The Sinuous Chair by Noelle Antignano Core77 21 of 95

Potro-tection by Anthony Madonia, Kean University Identifying the perilous conditions for miners around the world, Madonia developed this woven helmet that could provide minimal protection utilizing the weaving skills of local artisans and scrap plastic. Core77 22 of 95

Potro-tection by Anthony Madonia, Kean University The inside of the Potro-tection helmet. Core77 23 of 95

Nests by Erik Stefans, Drexel University Forms inspired by birds nests, offer unique affordances for placing and displaying items. Core77 24 of 95

My Little Chair by Danielle Chen, Drexel University Designed for children, the chair system comes with a rack for easy storage. Core77 25 of 95

Narl Chair by Carl Durkow, Drexel University A playful chair that encourages informality and becomes a "method of escapsim" for the user. Core77 26 of 95

Featured work from the School of Design at the University of Illinois at Chicago Core77 27 of 95

Featured work from the School of Design at the University of Illinois at Chicago Core77 28 of 95

"How=What", Parsons Product Design Program Parson's "How=What: Process and Experimentation" exhibition presented a collection of experiments done by students within the School of Constructed Environments, a collaborative creative ecosystem where students and faculty of different creative disciplines work together in studios and shop spaces. Core77 29 of 95

"How=What", Parsons Product Design Program The collection of objects in the exhibition included "material experiments, mockups, prototypes, jigs, failures, successes, drafts, and other preliminary manifestations of design" Core77 30 of 95

"How=What", Parsons Product Design Program These experiments exist to show "design thinking and design making as a single effort" Core77 31 of 95

"How=What", Parsons Product Design Program Core77 32 of 95

CB2 and SAIC Students participated in an industry-led design lab producing furniture and interior objects for the sister brand of Crate and Barrel. Core77 33 of 95

RIT Metaproject x Poppin Office supplier Poppin teamed up with RIT's School of Design industry partnership program, the Metaproject, to prototype new ideas for the contemporary office. From Jordan Stemper's Connect Four-inspired desk divider to Evan Cicotta's "High Rise" hanging organizer, the students created a comprehensive offering for modern work life by infusing a bit of fun and play into the daily grind. Core77 34 of 95

Afifi Ishak's Sticky Notes Ball for RIT Metaproject x Poppin Core77 35 of 95

Chaise by Michael Shulman, SCAD Core77 36 of 95

Philadelphia University Textile Works An intricate woven lamp by Drew McKevitt Core77 37 of 95

Philadelphia University Textile Works A woven chair by Industrial Design student Shane Siever and Architecture student Emmanuel Eshun Core77 38 of 95

Philadelphia University Textile Works Core77 39 of 95

BASE at Design Milk Pop-Up Stand A collection of table top organizers including a camera stand and pen holders in a range of fun, primary colors. Core77 40 of 95

Most Modest at Design Milk Pop-Up Stand This collection of desktop accessories adds a bit of warmth by adding natural materials like wood, rope and cork to objects that would typically be rendered in plastics. Core77 41 of 95

Pages by Noriko Hashida Design, Tokyo Design Week Using layers of soft materials, Hashida creates soft surface on rigid frames for an interesting take on furniture. Core77 42 of 95

Open weave Tea Ceremony Room, Tokyo Design Week Core77 43 of 95

Glass Sconce by Grain These graphite cast glass sconces in playful geometries were made in collaboration with Seattle artist John Hogan. Core77 44 of 95

Palo Samko New York-based designer Palo Samko showed new works including this brass-framed chair with red leather sling back. Core77 45 of 95

Gali Kitchen by Ana Arana, ICFF Studio: Bernhardt Design "Gali" kitchen is a response to the compact living spaces of urban nomads. This tiny, self-contained kitchen island packs all the bells and whistles of more traditional kitchens—food storage, prep and disposal—but can transform into an unassuming piece of architectural furniture when not in use. The ICFF Studio showcases emerging designers. Core77 46 of 95

Siesta Seating by Julie Hong, ICFF Studio: Bernhardt Design The ICFF Studio showcases emerging designers. Core77 47 of 95

Platypus Light by Co*Ca, ICFF Studio: Bernhardt Design Bent laminated shade with an organic, recyclabe, long-lasting OLED panel. The shades are adjustable and can be placed anywhere on the pole via magnets. The ICFF Studio showcases emerging designers. Core77 48 of 95

Ravel Chair by Funi Ding, ICFF Studio: Bernhardt Design The ICFF Studio showcases emerging designers. Core77 49 of 95

Bow Chair by Taylor McKenzie-Veal, ICFF Studio: Bernhardt Design The ICFF Studio showcases emerging designers. Core77 50 of 95

Luke Lamp Co LED lights are embedded in double braided nylon rope to create flexible lighting sculptures. The brass-plated rope caps give this collection a more finished feel. Core77 51 of 95

Excavation Series, IN.SEK Cast concrete shades have an industrial aesthetic. Light leaks from the shade created by a adding quartz crystal to the concrete. Core77 52 of 95

Matunuck Chair and Ottoman by O+G Studio Core77 53 of 95

Anemone and Peel Wallpaper by Jill Malek The New York-based designer specializes in prints and patterns. Core77 54 of 95

Concentric Pendants by Studio PGRB Brass pendants are inspired by geometric principles. Each module can pivot 320 degrees independently around its central axis. Core77 55 of 95

Nunki Coffee Table by Iacoli & McAllister The Nunki Collection is Babylonian in origin and refers to Sigma Sagitarii, the second brightest star constellation Sagittarius. This collection is a collaboration with John Hogan. Core77 56 of 95

Apparatus Studio Best booth design went to Apparatus Studio who created a standalone structure to house and encase their collection of lighting and furniture. Core77 57 of 95

YIELD, New American Standards A collection of spun metal planters and furniture from San Francisco-based Yield. Core77 58 of 95

Outdoor Furniture by Zachary A Lightweight fiberglass furniture with the look of cast concrete. Core77 59 of 95

Lure Sconce by Pelle A cast paper flower is illuminated by an LED light by Brooklyn-based Pelle design. Core77 60 of 95

Tableware by Fabrica for Atipico Made in Italy with eclectic and warm ceramic forms, this collection from Fabrica was a nice contemporary take on tableware. Core77 61 of 95

Delightfull Booth Core77 62 of 95

Momentos Collection by Nomon at Barcelona Design Week The peg-legged dressing station and valet by Barcelona-based clock brand Nomon. Core77 63 of 95

Stella Hexagon Sconce by Rosie Li Studio The Brooklyn-based designer showed at ICFF for the first time in a standout booth showcasing new additions to her lighting collection. Core77 64 of 95

Bubbly Chandelier by Studio Rosie Li The newest derivation of her popular Bubbly series, inspired by clusters of soap bubbles. Core77 65 of 95

Wardrobe by Egg Collective The beauty of this wood wardrobe is the seamless hinged door. Core77 66 of 95

Floor Lamp by Egg Collective We love the 70's vibes of this U-shaped brass floor lamp. Core77 67 of 95

Rockport Bench by Studio Dunn The flexible design of the Rockport collection allows for easy customization of lengths. Constructed with sustainable American hardwoods. Core77 68 of 95

Petite Pendants by Secto Design Designed by Finnish architect Seppo Koho, the Secto brand is built on innovative use of birch wood. Core77 69 of 95

RISD x Kikkerland x Container Store In collaboration with the Container Store, Kikkerland hosted a design challenge for RISD students to design a new product to address one of three trends identified by the Container Store: Connected Home, Healthy Food or the "Celebrity Effect." Core77 70 of 95

Cable Loft by Jieying Ni for RISD x Kikkerland x Container Store The winning design from Jieying Ni addressed a huge organizational issue—cable management–with an innovative design that not only cradles a power strip, but allows users to wrap multiple cables for the most efficient (and tangle-proof) solution. Cable Loft is now being sold nationwide at Container Stores. Core77 71 of 95

Cord Monkey by Sehee Ahn, RISD x Kikkerland x Container Store Core77 72 of 95

Multilight Pendant by Gubi The shades of this pendant light can be rearranged for different lighting effects. Core77 73 of 95

OTÉRO by Larose Guyon Montreal-based designer Larose Guyon creates dramatic copper-plated chain chandeliers. Core77 74 of 95

Cala by Doshi Levien for Kettal Group Outdoor furniture never looked this good. Core77 75 of 95

Pavilion by Kettal Group Core77 76 of 95

iSi Outdoor Seating Core77 77 of 95

Champ Stool by Visibility for Matter-Made This clever, stackable design won the ICFF Editor's Pick Award for Best Portable Design. Core77 78 of 95

Palette Desk by Jaime Hayon This desk "is an homage to the supremely simple concept of poetry in motion. As I see it, a desk is where we're supposed to sit still and make decisions. And yet, it's also where we find distractions. For the Palette Desk, I merged two different sized shapes in contrasting materials to hopefully bring a cohesive sense of order out of chaos," explains the designer. Core77 79 of 95

Curve Pendant Lights by Tom Dixon These ethereal lights are made using a thin sheet etched metal fabrication process. The resulting microscopically precision-pierced surface and soft nickel silver coating internally reflects and emits a filtered light.
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Escapade Pendant for Zarate Manila Made by 22-year-old designer Jim Torres, these hanging lights are made of shaved steel ribbons woven together to create illuminated cloud-like forms. Core77 81 of 95

James Devlin Studio An exquisitely crafted array of tables made of marble and bronze. Core77 82 of 95

Collage Tiles by Peter Glassford These eye-catching, multi-dimensional tiles are made from scrap wood and finished with lacquer and wax. Core77 83 of 95

Tablescape at the Good Thing booth Good Thing added several new products to their lineup, including the Folded Vessels designed by Chen Chan & Kai Williams—a geometric, standing container to store books and magazines—and the Platform Bowl designed by Jamie Wolfond—a super simple modular system that can be stacked to create tiered displays. Core77 84 of 95

Triplet Shelf by Ferréol Babin for Umbra Shift Thick douglas fir ply shelves suspended between slender powder coated steel. Core77 85 of 95

Crux Mortar and Pestle by Castor for Umbra Shift Made of marble and beechwood, this set can be used in different ways to allow hard crushing and softer milling of ingredients like spices, herbs and tea. Core77 86 of 95

X Diamond 3/60 Chandelier by Stickbulb A 9-foot, modular structure constructed from 60 3-foot-long maple bulbs embedded in reclaimed wood and connected by polished cast brass joints. The impressive object can stand on the floor as a sculpture or be suspended as a chandelier. Core77 87 of 95

LED Lighting System by Jason Krugman Studio These impressive light sculptures are composed of thousands of tiny LEDs, sculpted in various warped forms. Core77 88 of 95

Profile Chair by Knauf and Brown for Souda This sleek folding chair design is still just a prototype but should hit the market later this year. Core77 89 of 95

Von Iron Coffee Table by Morten & Jonas and Kawa Vases by Luft Tanaka, both for Souda The form of these intriguing vessels comes from the leather mold they are cast in, which imparts a unique, delicate texture to the porcelain. Here, they sit on top of the Von Coffee Table, whose twisted metal legs are inspired by traditional blacksmith processes. Core77 90 of 95

Collaboration between ArtCenter College of Art design students and Bernhardt Design Tasked with designing furniture for adaptable work environments, the students came up with result is a clever system of modular soft pieces that can be zippered together to double as seats or tables, as well as a set of acoustic dividers that are sleek and abstract enough to look like minimal art pieces. Core77 91 of 95

Mellow Sofa by Océane Delain for Bernhardt Design Made of layered memory foam, the ingenious design features a network of cords that can be activated (see detail below the seat) to customize the firmness of the seating surface. We're not surprised that this super comfortable couch won the ICFF 2016 Editor's Pick Award for Best Seating. Core77 92 of 95

RUN by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin for Emeco A highly adaptable furniture collection for use both indoors and out, which took home the ICFF 2016 Editor's Pick Award for Best Furniture System. Core77 93 of 95

Nerd Bar Stools and Chair by David Geckeler for Muuto A modern Nordic take on the traditional all-wood chair—transformed through thoughtful detailing, like the seamless joint between seat and back. Core77 94 of 95

Witt by David Rockwell for Rich Brilliant Willing A modular, geometric take on the traditional chandelier. The frames can be stacked like building blocks in any form. Core77 95 of 95

At the 28th annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) over 35,000 attendees walked the show over the course of four days. This year the show expanded to a second floor that housed ICFF Schools, the Design Milk Pop-Up stand, Tokyo Design Week, Ho.MI Italian brands and Luxe Interiors to provide an interesting mix of custom and luxury interior objects with the experimental prototypes of students and emerging designers.

Our editors appreciated the return of the gilded age—ornate statement pieces for plush interiors glittered and gleamed on the tradeshow floor including Pelle's flowery sconces, Larose Guyon's chain-link chandeliers and Apparatus Studio's dramatic and masculine pendants. Lighting designers are starting to hit their stride, embracing the technological freedom of LEDs and OLEDs—we loved CoCa's Platypus OLED adjustable lamps, Luke Lamp Co's rope pendants and Jason Krugman Studio's sculptural LED chandeliers. Outdoor furniture finally gets its due attention—we look forward to a summer season on well-designed, functional furniture designed specifically for outdoor use.

This year's student work was outstanding as well—beyond the exploratory works of schools like Parsons and Philadelphia University, the industry collaborations from RISD x Kikkerland x Container Store, RIT x Poppin and SAIC x CB2 all resulted in student-designed products entering into the retail market.