High Point, NC —The International Society of Furniture Designers (ISFD) 2024 Innovation+Design (I+D) furniture industry sponsored event, now in its 5th year, was developed to help professional makers/designers and the next generation of serious woodworking students receive exposure for their work, make valuable industry contacts, and launch their design careers. 

ISFD asked a few Innovation+Design 2023 winners for their thoughts about the competition and exhibition.

2023 Best of Show winner, Michael Jury, says the competition “was a huge boost to my young business. It was an honor to be recognized by ISFD among the very highest levels of designers/makers. The media focus also gave me good exposure in the industry. I enjoyed meeting and networking with other makers at the awards reception.” 

Two-time Innovation+Design winner, Jeremy Kamiya, said that “the I+D competition/exhibition is hands down the most valuable design competition I know of. For your work to be known, it must be seen and entering this competition guarantees that your work will be seen by at least the influential furniture and design industry professionals. That alone is worth it.”

“The reason that we entered the competition was to get more involved in ISFD and to meet people in High Point and the larger home furnishings industry,” Brian Boggs stated. “Our goal is to work with OEM manufacturers. We met people who shared their experiences working with OEM companies and offered us tips about what to watch for. We also met experts from various parts of the industry who have been helpful with knowledge and contacts. ISFD and the I+D competition opened doors for us and put us in touch with many extremely talented designers.”

Student winner, Victoria Stocker, said that “this was my first time ever entering my work into a competition. It was an honor to just be a finalist let alone to win a category. I felt really validated that I am on the right path. It was good to hear the different perspectives about how professionals run their shops. I want to be a maker/designer one day with my own shop. Hearing about their experiences has been inspiring and helpful.”  

Kamiya concluded that “ISFD’s commitment to connecting designers/makers to the furniture/design world is outstanding and the value of the I+D competition is unparalleled. It is the best dollar-for-dollar investment a designer/maker can make. Enter and be seen!”

The deadline for submissions is December 20, 2023. To find out more about the ISFD and the competition, visit https://isfd.org/