NOVEMBER 2024 NEWSLETTER

ASSOCIATION

HIGHLIGHTS & NEWS

CAROLINAS CHAPTER

The Carolinas Chapter’s 12th annual Night of Luminaries and Rising Stars brought together the industry, leading educators and students from North and South Carolina and Georgia in celebration of design and industry contributions. The 2024 Luminary Award Winner was The Bienenstock Furniture Library, a true gem for our industry. Founded in 1970 by Sandy and Bernice Bienenstock. Mr. Bienenstock was the owner of Furniture World magazine, a trade publication that has been in continuous publication since 1870, making it the oldest published trade magazine in the United States, not just in furniture but in all industries. It is now owned by Sandy’s grandson, Russell, who was in attendance to accept the Luminary Award along with the Library’s executive director, Karla Jones. Sandy Bienenstock began acquiring design publications and furniture books in 1922. That was the foundation of the Library’s initial collection, now numbering more than 5000 pieces. The Library is open daily for design professionals, students, educators, and the general public to access and study from their unrivaled collection of materials. The Library has been likened to the Smithsonian for home furnishings and decor. If you want to see how furniture companies advertised in the 1920’s, they have it. If you want to review an original Thomas Sheraton’s The Gentleman and Cabinetmaker’s Director, it’s right there. If you want to see what modern designers believe are the wave of the future, you can find articles, books and more on the subject. The Bienenstock Future Designers Summit, held each September is quickly becoming a premier opportunity for emerging design talent to be immersed in the industry and to be celebrated by it. The IFDA Educational Foundation has been a supporter of the Summit for several years.

Our Rising Stars are the best and brightest students from home furnishings, furniture, interior and industrial design and visual merchandising programs at colleges and universities across North and South Carolina and Georgia. Each student is hand picked by their college faculty as their program’s preeminent student. The Carolinas Chapter then honors them with an evening dedicated to introducing them to our industry, showcasing some of their projects, and shining a spotlight on their futures. This year, 17 students were awarded the Rising Star designation. Each was individually highlighted, and all received a certificate to add to their portfolio as well as a gift bag of items from industry supporters.

This year’s Night of Luminaries and Rising Stars was held at the beautiful Hooker Furnishings showroom in the Showplace building in downtown High Point. Prior to the evening’s festivities, the Rising Stars were treated to a private tour of the showroom and a visit to the Bienenstock Furniture Library. The evening’s sponsors were: Century Furniture, Davis Furniture Industries, Thayer Coggin, Gefen Productions/TheHome.Com, Hooker Furnishings, Libby Langdon Interiors, Nancy High, Andmore, and the IFDA Educational Foundation.

NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER

NEW YORK CHAPTER

IFDA NY Rising Stars Award Event

at the Scalamandré Showroom Celebrated the Future of the Industry

The Rising Stars Award Event on September 18 at the Scalamandre Showroom at 979 Third Avenue in New York City was a night to remember. Lorraine Lang, Executive Vice President of Design for the textile powerhouse served as master of ceremonies. In addition to Stephanie Oge of SOGE DECOR for product design there were three interior design honorees: Avery Johnson of Avery Johnson Interior Design, Judith Heimowitz of 7BDesign and Antonio DeLoatch of Antonio DeLoatch.

IFDA NY Rising Stars against a sumptuous Scalamandre backdrop. from left to right, Avery Johnson, Judith Heimowitz, Stephanie Oge, and Antonio DeLoatch

The IFDA New York Chapter presented a collaborative initiative with a fantastic turnout this November.

The Symphony of Architectural Lighting was an inspiring exploration of the transformative power of architectural lighting. We dived into the harmonious relationship between light and architecture, showcasing how expertly tailored lighting can elevate spaces, enhance ambiance, and promote energy efficiency. Engaged with industry experts Ryan Davison and Anna Romani hosted us at the Moroso Showroom with presenter Song Zhang of Purri, followed by a tour and immersive lighting experience at the iGuzzini Showroom with Senior Development Manager Daniele Caputa.

The event ended on high notes with brights lights illuminating our talented design industry.

PHILADELPHIA CHAPTER

The Philadelphia Chapter hosted around 50 people at Marvin's home, a non-profit organization that helps kids that grow out of the foster system furnish their homes. They had HGTV and DIY network host, Jeff Devlin attend and speak about his time on TV and how we can all help Mel from Marvin;s home with installations. It was a great turnout!

L to R: Rene Schleicher, Heather Hill, IFDA Philadelphia's President Elect, Katy Retzbach, IFDA Philadelphia President and IFDA International President Elect.

RICHMOND CHAPTER

EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

IFDA Educational Foundation Video Debuted

at the IFDA New England Gala in September

The IFDA Educational Foundation created a must-see-video on its mission that debuted at the IFDA New England Chapter's IFDA x MET Awards Gala at Boston's Hilton Park Plaza Hotel on September 27. Proceeds from the event very kindly benefited the EF. (Thank you New England Chapter)

With an eye towards the future, IFDA EF has nine different scholarships for design students as well as grants that allow design professionals to undertake new challenges and enhance their expertise. There are also grants to support IFDA Chapter initiatives. Typically, EF donates more thn $30,000 per year to deserving individuals and IFDA Chapters.

You can watch the video here (scroll to the bottom of the page) and we welcome your sharing it and getting involved.

INDUSTRY PARTNERS

HXPD Presents Design Forward

IFDA Educational Foundation a Funder

In November, HXPD launched the inaugural Design Forward event series dedicated to exploring impactful design strategies and services for neurodiverse populations. This initiative was fueled by the collective passion of an exceptional group of designers, industry experts, and supportive sponsors who champion education and inclusivity.

The event attracted a vibrant audience, including interior designers, lighting designers, manufacturers, suppliers, hospitality providers, marketers, entrepreneurs, and real estate professionals, sparking engaging discussions and valuable insights.

Greg Barrett from Savant shared his heartfelt perspective as a parent of neurodivergent children, saying, "This event was incredibly rewarding and impactful. I am grateful to Jane Dagmi for leading such an important initiative and for providing opportunities to learn from neurodivergent design professionals. Design impacts every experience we have, and focusing on neurodiversity enhances the quality of life for everyone."

Design Forward was partially funded by grants from Visit High Point and the IFDA Educational Foundation.⁠

Panelists at High Point’s Design Forward conference this month discussing inclusive design are pictured from left to right: lighting consultants Jason Davis of High-Tech Network and Greg Barrett of Savant; interior designer Shelly Rosenberg of Acorn & Oak; autism home specialist Natalie Castro; and conference organizer Jane Dagmi, IFDA, managing director of High Point by Design