The 28th annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) kicked off its festivities over the weekend at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. And as part of one of North America's biggest design showcases, ICFF, in partnership with Bernhardt Design, has chosen 11 up-and-coming designers for its 2016 Studio Class this year. Winners were selected by a jury of established industry professionals based on a design prototype that is not yet in commercial production.
As part of the Studio program, the designers work on a representative piece that is then showcased at the fair. Here's a look at the winners and their work.
Bios and images were provided by the ICFF press office. ICFF runs through Tuesday, May 17.
Ana Arana, Madrid, Spain, Gali Kitchen System
Ana Arana is a Madrid-based multidisciplinary designer. She explores new ways of inhabiting space through product design and architecture, making important emphasis in illustration and drawing as graphic expression to communicate her ideas.
Axel Bergholm, Stockholm, Sweden, Peek Lounge Chair
Axel Bergholm was born and raised on an island outside Stockholm, Sweden and is studying interior architecture and furniture design at Konstfack University College of Arts Design and Crafts.
Caroline Smedsvig, Bergen, Norway, ASK Bench
Caroline Smedsvig is a Norway-based interior designer. She received her BFA from Bergen Academy of Art and Design in Bergen, Norway.
Colin Westeinde, Providence, RI, Platypus Light Series
Colin Westeinde is a Dutch & Canadian industrial designer from Vancouver. A few of his favourite things are motorcycles, muskoxen, and things fitting perfectly. He’s worked with Joris Laarman Lab in Amsterdam and Fort Standard in Brooklyn and studied at RISD and Design Academy Eindhoven.
Colin was also selected for Curbed Young Guns Class of 2016. Learn more about Colin and the Young Guns program here.
Dee Ding, Pasadena, CA, Ravel Chair
Funi Ding was born in Hong Kong and spent her later childhood and adolescent years at Shanghai. Her early exposure to urban and international influences was juxtaposed with the summers she spent with her grandparents in the rural city of Wuxi, known for its natural land-scapes and industries in pottery-making, silk reeling and weaving. This collection of influences throughout the years has translated into Funi's design approach as she currently pursues her profession in spatial and furniture design at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. Her interests in architecture, products, and fashion lead her to explore cutting edge materials, play with experimental forms, and allow the details to become larger ideas.
Florestan Schuberth, Hamburg, Germany, Lunar Table
Born in Berlin, Germany in 1987, Florestan started to work as a freelance 3D Artist while preparing his application for the University of fine arts in Hamburg. In 2010 he began studying design. The following years Florestan supported his studies by working as a professional 3D Artist for several brands across Germany. He graduated in design in 2015 and exhibited his products at the DMY Berlin design festival.
India Hillis, Los Angeles, CA, Hyperion Table
Raised in Los Angeles, India Hillis moved at the age of 16 and spent four years living in Bordeaux, London, New York, Berlin, and Singapore. She received her Foundation Diploma at Central Saint Martins and studied four months of Business through an MBA exchange at INSEAD. Eventually India found her way back to Los Angeles, where she is now finishing her Degree in Product Design at Art Center College of Design.
Isaac Southard, Philadelphia, PA, 19 Lines Chair
Isaac Southard is an architectural designer and educator specializing in the areas of design, critical theory, and digital fabrication. He is currently a Master of Architecture II degree candidate at the Yale School of Architecture. He received his Bachelor of Architecture from Drexel University where he was awarded the Michael Pearson Architecture Thesis Prize.
Julie Hong, Glendale, CA, Siesta Seating System
Julie Hong was born and raised in South Korea. She is currently studying product design at Art Center College of Design.
Taylor McKenzie-Veal, Chicago, IL, Bow Chair
Taylor McKenzie-Veal, 27, is a Chicago based product designer. After receiving his MFA in Furniture Design from the Rhode IslandSchool of Design, Taylor started his studio practice where he takes on commissions, licenses products for manufacture, and creates speculative projects.
Jonathan Hills, Pawtucket, RI, Catenary Stool
Jon studied furniture design at the Rhode Island School of Design and mechanical engineering at Brown University. Since graduating from both colleges in 2013, he has worked at Ximedica, a medical device development firm in Providence, RI, where he is designing instruments for a surgical robot.