Sustainability, Craftsmanship, Cutting Edge Technology are Hottest Trends in Furniture Design

By Reena Jana
May 20, 2011

Since 1988, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, held every spring at the sprawling Jacob K. Javits Center in Manhattan, is a must-see trade show where trendspotters seek out the latest creations by established furniture designers and scout for hip new design talent. This year, some 24,000 attendees traipsed through 500 booths and displays featuring a wide spectrum of contemporary furniture and accessories. Among our favorites: smooth, surfaced, eye-catching modern chairs by George Nakashima Woodworker (winner of this year’s “Best Craftsmanship” ICFF Editors’ Award); reading and writing accessories by notebook maker Moleskine; and a striking, tactile presentation by Material Connexion of high-performance materials such as a flexible, transparent LED signboard and an air-purifying wall covering.

When the four-day International Contemporary Furniture Fair closed this past Tuesday, we were left overwhelmed by the sheer volume of modern designs on view. Enter Michele Caniato, a member of ICFF’s advisory board for the last four years; a Co-Founder and President of Material Connexion, a popular resource for designers and architects; and the President of the company's sister organization, Culture & Commerce, an agency that represents some of the world’s hippest designers, including Philippe Starck and Yves Béhar. He helped us identify the fairest at the furniture Fair, and filled us in on his own eBay research habits.

The Inside Source: What were some of the most striking furniture and accessory trends you spotted at ICFF this year?

Michele Caniato: ICCF is a very important show for the North American market—especially for the creative industries to get a “sense” of what is happening in furnishings and accessories. I have to say that sustainability continues to become a very important element and I noticed it in many lines of products. I do not want to classify that as a trend—it’s not a trend; it’s a reality.

left: Michele Caniato (Photo credit: Ben Hoffmann)

I liked seeing the Moleskine brand, which has really repositioned itself smartly in the last few years, step into other areas such as accessories. New home furnishings from Espacio by Sami Hayek showed that there’s a strong connection between craft and design and the handmade, as well as the drive to help develop communities through the creation of products (he’s working in Mexico with artisans). On the opposite end of the spectrum, cutting edge technologies like fiberglass and a new range of architectural and lighting materials from 3M show what the future holds in terms of design and architecture.

Espacio by Sami Hayek

Espacio by Sami Hayek

The Inside Source: Were there any intriguing exchanges between ICFF visitors and you and your staff at the Material Connexion booth this year?

Michele Caniato: It is always fantastic to see designers reacting to innovative materials in our booth—their eyes always light up. I feel we are like a candy store for the creative. And it’s always fascinating to see what materials different types of designers are drawn to. I spoke with Ty Pennington from "Extreme Home Makeover" and he was completely excited by Ecocradle—a packaging material made from mushrooms that received our Medium award for innovation this past year.

The Inside Source: ICFF has held strong for more than 20 years. To what do you credit its longevity?

Michele Caniato: It is about having the opportunity to engage in what is happening under “one roof”—from ICFF to the exhibitions and events throughout New York City, as the days surrounding the fair are considered “Design Week” in New York. As the U.S. market continues to become more savvy about design overall, I think that consumers and not just industry professionals are becoming more aware about Design Week and are engaging in it. This is definitely thanks in part to Apple, OXO, and Target—the companies that have been so crucial in bringing “Design” with a capital “D” to the mass market.

The Inside Source: Speaking of “Design Week” events, at Material Connexion's NYC showroom, ICFF visitors had the chance to see an exhibition on Lucite handbags (up through June 11). What makes Lucite such a timeless material for furnishings and accessories?

Michele Caniato: A groundbreaking material such as Lucite remains timeless because it can be reinvented time and again with different applications—from see-through 1950s and 60s handbags to three-feet thick walls for aquariums to anti-bacterial sheets that have recently been introduced as architectural elements in hospitals. And Lucite’s been used for jewelry for ages—and yet with new eyes—like those of designer Alexis Bittar. Alexis judged designs for new Lucite handbags by up-and-coming designers, which are on view at Material Connexion, alongside earlier purses made 50-plus years ago.

ICFF

The Material Connexion booth at the ICFF

The Inside Source: Do you ever turn to eBay online auctions to research materials or vintage furniture?

Michele Caniato: I’ve looked many times at eBay to see how some of the products that we (at Culture & Commerce) have brokered between our designers and companies like Target are being sold. It is great to see some of the Target products by Philippe Starck being treated as collectibles. It’s interesting to see how fans are buying and selling them. eBay offers an incredible resource in terms of the consumer market for design—and how consumers are engaging with, and even helping to define, the design market. I like to see how products are being prioritized in terms of the bidding process. It is incredible for getting a sense of how products are being valued.

Philippe Starck for Target

Philippe Starck for Target

Inspired by this year’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York, as well as the personal favorites of ICFF advisory board member Michele Caniato, we’ve put together a shopping list of must-have design objects—and timeless treasures sure to spruce up any home.

The ICFF on eBay

Artek Alvar Aalto Stool

(buy it now price, $260)

This year’s winner in the “Best Furniture” category in ICFF’s Editors Awards was the Finnish design house Artek, which has a rich history of manufacturing classic designs, like this iconic three-legged stool.
George Nelson Sunburst Wall Clock

(buy it now price, $375)

The ICFF editors’ prize for “Best Body of Work “ went to Swiss furniture maker Vitra, known for its sexy modern designs—like this Sunburst Wall Clock by George Nelson.
Moleskin Notebook

(starting bid, $8.99 )

Moleskine, the maker of iconic hard-cover notebooks that keep shut with an elastic strap, got lots of attention at this year's ICFF for the launch of its first set of writing-related accessories—pens, book lights, and bags. They are all perfect accompaniments to classic notebooks like this one, which never go out of style.
Philippe Starck for Target Magazine Rack

(buy it now price, $49.99 )

Michele Caniato's company, Culture & Commerce, brokers partnerships between mass market companies like Target and established designers such as Philippe Starck. Caniato says he searches eBay to see how the value of items produced through these collaborations changes over time.
Sami Hayek Floral Bedding

(current bid, $22.99)

Yes, Sami Hayek is actress Salma Hayek’s brother. And he is also a respected designer. Caniato, who represents Hayek, was excited to see Hayek’s new furniture designs for interior decorating retailer Espacio. While Hayek’s furniture collection is not yet available for purchase, savvy home decorators can still get incorporate Hayek’s aesthetic by adding some of his popular bed linens—designed for Target in 2009—to a bedroom.
Alexis Bittar Lucite Bracelet

(buy it now price, $219.99)

During ICFF, the New York City design world also hosts related exhibitions and events. Material Connexion put up an ongoing exhibit on the history of Lucite, the clear and durable plastic often utilized by jewelry designer Alexis Bittar, who was a judge for the exhibit.
OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge Can Opener

(buy it now price, $13.99)

Caniato credits the growing consumer interest in "Design with a capital 'D'" to the work of mainstream companies like Target, Apple and appliance and gadget maker OXO, who have made elegant design accessible to the masses.