HIGH POINT, NC — After receiving a record number entries, a panel of industry judges reviewed the professional and student designer-maker submissions and carefully selected the best entries to earn the title of finalist for the International Society of Furniture Designers (ISFD) 2024 Innovation+Design (I+D) juried competition.

This year’s exhibit will showcase the finalists’ pieces at the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame, 311 S. Hamilton, High Point, from April 4-17, in conjunction with Spring High Point Market. The winners will be announced at the Meet the Makers reception on Saturday, April 13, 4-6pm. The Meet the Makers reception and awards ceremony is open to all High Point Market attendees and exhibitors.

“Each year the exceptional creativity and skill of the participants rises to new levels,” said David Blair, executive director of ISFD. “As the Innovation+Design event grows in popularity we are attracting higher level designers who are masters in their craft.  Their outstanding designs, innovative ideas, and superior craftsmanship make it an honor to be chosen as a finalist and ultimately a winner for this prestigious award. We hope that everyone will visit the exhibition in April to experience these extraordinary works in person.”

The professional finalists are:
●    Penina Bernstein, Occasional Storage, Wenge and Brass Altar
●    Penina Bernstein, Seating, Walnut & Leather Chair
●    John Brogan, Accessories, Reverie
●    Milan Bhullar, Lighting, Arc Light
●    Erika Cross, Occasional Table, Bolt
●    Jeremy Kamiya, Occasional Storage, August Entry
●    Stephen Rosini, Seating, Low Lounge
●    Nikhil Sharma, Accessories, Seed of Sirsasana
●    Stephen Thrasher, Occasional Tables, Cooper Twist Table
●    Hasan Zaidi/ Stabb Designs, Lighting, CONSTANT Pendant

The student finalists are:
●    Aidan Gough, Lighting, Maude I
●    Spencer Hope, Lighting, Empyrean
●    Kiya-Vega-Hutchens, Occasional Storage, A Midwife’s Chest of Drawers
●    Jon Kannapell, Seating, Ziggurat Bench
●    Sirvats Srinivasan, Seating, Chrono Timeless Chair
●    Ruihan (North) Sun, Occasional Tables, Pu Side Table
●    Jinquan Zhu, Occasional Tables, Brutalism Bench
●    Jinquan Zhu, Occasional Storage, Moonlight Coffee Table

This event was developed to help professionals and the next generation of serious woodworking students receive exposure for their work, make valuable industry contacts, and launch their design careers. It is an excellent opportunity for designers, makers, artisans, and students to gain career-launching industry exposure as they express their creativity and imagination with novel designs of executable home furnishings.

Professional and student finalists receive a certificate of merit and may enter the designer-maker or student category of the 2024 ISFD Pinnacle Awards at no charge. Category winners receive $250, and the Best of Show winner receives $1000. All winners receive five hours of free manufacturing time in the Congdon Yards Generator to work on any project of their choice.