The Best of ICFF 2018

Every May, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, better known as ICFF, infuses New York City with a special energy, drawing design professionals from near and far to the sprawling Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on the West Side. Composed of a diverse mix of exhibitors—small and large manufacturers, independent designers, and design schools—ICFF introduces the latest in furniture, lighting, wall coverings, floorings, and more to industry aficionados. After browsing the vast offerings from this year’s nearly 900 exhibitors, here are some of our top picks …

Pablo Designs: A regular at ICFF, this light manufacturer seems to expand its presentation each year. Pablo’s Bola disc LED pendant combines an opaline glass globe under a larger stainless steel disc, giving the fixture a gravity-defying feel. The disc is available in a variety of finishes (chrome, brass, rose gold, and lacquered) and also made of felt.

Photo courtesy of Pablo Designs.

Photo courtesy of Pablo Designs.

iSiMAR: Just in time for summer, the Spanish outdoor furniture manufacturer brought a cool assortment of pieces designed to be enjoyed al fresco. Made of galvanized steel and coated with polyester powder, the minimalist-looking pieces can be used either inside or outdoors. The Bolonia lounge chair has an extended back that makes it is particularly comfortable to sit in.

Photo courtesy of iSiMAR.

Speke Klein: Robin Speke and Thomas Klein met while studying at England’s Parnham College and then went on to establish a successful design studio and manufacturing in Canada. Their designs, built with solid craftsmanship, have an understated, timeless elegance. New at ICFF, they showed the Flow credenza, featuring wood carved doors inspired by the pattern of rain droplets on glass.

Photo by Paul Clemence.

M2L/ HARVEY PROBBER: At the M2L booth, the re-editions by the late modernist Harvey Probber stole the show, demonstrating the ingenuity of the self-taught, Brooklyn-born designer. The versatile arrangements of his Deep Tuft collection illustrate why he was at the forefront of modular seating design.

Photo courtesy of M2L.

MOLO: The company’s founders, designers Stephanie Forsythe and Todd MacAllen, transformed their booth into a sleek environment to show the poetic, space-shaping potential of their softwall and softblock products. The highly flexible partition elements were used to define rooms within rooms, creating a cocoon like ambience within the vastness of the Jacob Javits halls. Further enhancing the installation were such pieces as their urchin softlight and cloud softlight mobile.

Photo courtesy of Molo.

GUAXS: Family owned, this Germany­–based glass manufacturer explores the sculptural possibilities of glass, rooted in nature and inspired by the handiwork of different cultures. Gauxs’s artisans are an important part of the fabrication process, beginning with the concept to the high standard of production. The company works exclusively with factories experienced in limited-editions and small batch runs, providing the extra care and attention required for its collections.

Photo courtesy of GUAXS.