With the 2024 edition, ICFF in program from 19 to 21 May 2024 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center di NYC, celebrates its first 35 years. For the occasion, other than the numerous new ones in the program, there is also a new visual identity and a very incisive brand strategy.
The fair, in fact, which remains a point of reference for the sector in North America and the rest of the world, increasingly aims to establish itself as a hub for accelerating foreign business in the United States, and, at the same time, to confirm its position as a priority channel for young designers and consumers who rely on ICFF as a place of culture and exchange.
From this perspective, ICFF implements the program already established, with a series of activities that go beyond the temporal boundaries of the exhibition dates at the fair, populating the entire year. An objective that aims to consolidate the platform as a truly leading community in the design and furniture sector, promoting networking opportunities between design professionals, architects, interior designers and enthusiasts.
ICFF 2024: the new vision
ICFF therefore arrives this year with a series of innovations that include the new strategy and a refreshed visual identity, recently unveiled, under the guidance of the directors Odile Hainaut and Claire Pijoulat.
“Our goal is to inspire, engage and support design businesses and enable their success. This direction instills a creative energy that also communicates well with the emerging public" say Hainaut and Pijoulat.
To design the new visual identity, ICFF turned to the creative agency forceMAJEURE, which worked on the proposal for a rebranding aimed at reflecting the spirit and vitality of New York City.
At the base of the entire system, a grid (which is equivalent to the map in the Big Apple) incorporates different figures, allowing you to add and modify new elements and color palettes from time to time as needed.
The logo, which basically remains in the black and white version as per tradition, is now composed of a more solid black square (representative of the densest and most populated New York) and four graceful letters, to which a color is added for each area trade fair identification.
Specifically: yellow for Wanted, green for Oasis (which focuses on sustainability) and blue for the new Bespoke area (dedicated to high-end craftsmanship), with plans to add more in the future.
Color therefore brings a sense of welcome and reassurance towards a brand that is repositioning itself, acquiring a new-found energy.
“New York City is substantial, to say the least. The density, scale and scope of the buildings manage to make you feel small and powerful at the same time. The famous New York City grid was created to combine beauty, order and convenience.
Today the grid is so famous that it has inspired the branding of the city itself, making it recognizable on a global scale. Our design work within this rectangular structure offers a million possibilities for unique expression that speaks to spatial design and is a true tribute to the spirit of New York,” says the forceMAJEURE design team.
ICFF 2024: news and programme
In addition to the news relating to the new brand identity, ICFF returns with a program full of events and opportunities for discussion.
Starting from the organizational front: the exhibition space of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center has in fact been optimized for the upcoming edition and includes areas in which you can relax, network and converse.
Furthermore, new areas dedicated to complementary products such as Materials, Outdoor Living and Kitchen & Bath have been created. The latter also features The Water Studio x Grohe Lounge for dedicated programming. The newly designed spaces will offer activation and communication opportunities for participants.
ICFF 2024, events not to be missed
• Bespoke: The Art of Making. Presented with AD PRO, the space will showcase the skill and expertise of high-end artisans. The focus will be on the techniques used to create handmade furnishings, fabrics and architectural finishes. The Bespoke Salon is designed in collaboration with MA Architects.
• Design Schools Workshop, presented with Honda Design: Part of WantedDesign since 2012, the Design Schools Workshop is a 4-day collaborative course where a selection of 35-40 international design students work together on a creative solution to a brief. This year the "Dream Driven Design" workshop will invite students to imagine the future of mobility, with storytelling and a holistic approach and will take place in a dedicated area adjacent to the Wanted area. Presented with media partner Core77 and conducted with Honda R&D Co., Ltd. Honda Design and in collaboration with Pratt Institute. The workshop space is sponsored by Teak NY, Molo and Montana.
• The role of education for the future of design, the talk that develops in two stages: the first at the Superdesign Show in Milan (which from this year collaborates with the New York fair) and the second in May, on the occasion of the international event of New York design. Objective: investigate the role of university education in training the new generation of designers in the world.
• OFS x ROOM: Coming soon is a podcast featuring leading voices in global design discussing ideas reshaping the way we live and work. Talents such as OFS and Doug Shapiro will participate, leading recorded discussions live from the show floor.
• The Library in collaboration with Phaidon: Global publisher Phaidon will join as a partner in 2024, with activations for the new release Designed for Life: The World's Best Product Designers and a curated Phaidon library adjacent to the Talks Mainstage. Sponsored by Ligne Roset, Kasthall, String Furniture and Midgard.
• Wanted: Dedicated to emerging design, Wanted returns as a centerpiece of ICFF with Look Book, Launch Pad, Schools Showcase and Design Schools Workshop. The Wanted Lounge and Look Book Workspace will be the central meeting areas during the show.
• Look Book: A personal portfolio for members of the A&D community to connect with high-end North American designers/makers/entrepreneurs and find original designs and beautifully crafted products for their next projects. Presented with media partner Dezeen Look Book will present over 65 exhibitors, up from 48 in 2023, and will include the Look Book Lounge x Canoa, a communal area for meeting and working.
• Launch Pad: An international platform for emerging designers that introduces new concepts and showcases prototypes of furniture, home accessories and lighting. This year ICFF will feature 69 exhibitors including the two 2023 Best of Launch Pad winners: Gus from Good Growing/Tori Deetz and Studio Waah/Shaunak Patel. Sponsored by American Standard and Lumens and presented with media partners Design Milk and Clever. This year Lumens will feature a public voting feature for Launch Pad.
• Schools Showcase: For the third year, international design schools will showcase the exceptional work of their students to the industry. The Best of Schools Award and the Student Award are presented with media partner Design Milk and sponsored by Alessi.
At the Crossroads of American Design: Sustainability in Practice and Spirit: Returning in 2024 to the heart of the fair, The Crossroads will be a collaboration between ICFF brand directors; Creative Director David Rockwell, Rockwell Group; and co-curator and editor Pei-Ru Keh. The team created a colorful and welcoming environment that celebrates the imagination and dreams of American design, always considering a simple approach to sustainability practices.
The approach to the exhibition is framed by a long diagonal wall that serves as both a billboard for the exhibition and a mural on the other side of a superb desert bloom that serves as a backdrop to the objects and pieces.
The space is divided into different zones including a front demo area; sessions for dialogues and planning panels; a central circulation area to connect with designers in person; a gallery of objects highlighting the diversity of design in practice; and an informal seating configuration for visitors to discover and reflect on the breadth of current design.
The variety of spaces creates different pockets that showcase the sustainability possibilities of different design studios across America. The Crossroads is sponsored by Lead Partners Designtex and Skram; Partner Loose Parts; and Supporting Partners Alexis & Ginger, Colony, Liora Manné, Office of Tangible Space, and Okaterra. There are also contributions from Elodie Blanchard, MushLume Lighting, Lichen, Like Minded Objects, Kamilla Csegzi, Madeline Isakson, and thehighkey.
• The Crossroads will feature daily programming curated by Tiffany Jow, editor-in-chief of design magazine Untapped, including insights into how each designer approaches sustainability and why it matters. This understanding will provide a solid basis for talking about the ideas behind the works on display, which address topics including craftsmanship, circularity, materials, reuse and more, and some of the changes and solutions needed for the future.
There will also be international pavilions from numerous countries from around the world including Norway, Italy, Brazil, Portugal and Romania, to name a few.
Finally, The Oasis area, sponsored by EQ3 and Greenmood, will host, as usual, conversations dedicated to sustainability and conscious design.
ICFF 2024: useful information
Sunday 19 May: 10am-6pm
Monday 20 May: from 10:00 to 18:00
Tuesday 21 May: from 10:00 to 17:00
Registration is now open and further information is available on the official website icff.com.