New Companies & Exhibit Floor Changes Among Highlights of Winter 2012 Accent on Design
From nearly 150 applicants, 13 companies - each exemplifying a superlative contemporary design aesthetic - have been selected to join some 200 exhibitors in the juried Accent on Design® at the winter 2012 New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®). In addition to these newcomers to the division and related changes to the exhibit floor, highlights of the winter market include the debut of an Accent on Designretrospective exhibit and the launch of a new design-focused blog as an extension ofNYIGF’s “Driven by Design” campaign.
“Accent on Design is internationally recognized as a showcase for emerging, exceptional design,” said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president. “We are delighted to welcome new participants from United States, Canada, South Korea andSweden to the winter market.”
The 13 companies accepted by the Accent on Design Selection Committee will present a variety of design-driven home, gift and lifestyle products. Winter 2012 newcomers are: AMAC (modular storage and organization); BAGGU (eco-friendly bags); Cameo by RUX (customized silhouette jewelry and rattles); Cavern Home (wallpaper, textiles, and framed art); hada.mi (home décor and stationery from South Korea); LEFF Amsterdam (clocks); Modern Elements (bio-ethanol fireplaces from Canada); Motatoe Design (clocks); MOLESKINE AMERICA INC. (notebooks, bags, writing instruments and accessories); Peg and Awl (eco-friendly home and personal accessories); Sandqvist (bags made in Sweden); Taschen (book publisher); and Uno Magnetic (magnetic jewelry).
Winter 2012 Accent on Design Selection Committee members are: David Alhadeff of The Future Perfect; Ilene Shaw of Shaw + Co! Productions; Kathy Thornton-Bias of MoMA; Laura Young of Areaware; Miguel Calvo of Calvo.co; and Wilma Wabnitz of Wabnitz Editions. In addition to jurying applicants for Accent on Design, this group also selects participants in A+™: The Young Designers’ Platform at Accent on Design. Participants approved for this “design incubator” showcase will be announced in early January.
In connection with the continuing renovation of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, nearly 50% of the division’s exhibitors will move to new locations on the exhibit floor for the winter 2012 market. Companies with new booth positions include: Areaware (home and personal accessories); Bob’s Your Uncle (stationery, paper); Chilewich (table accessories, mats); Creative Danes / Menu ; Design Ideas (home and tableware accessories, gifts); Dwell (textiles, home furnishings and accessories); Eastern Accent (home, tableware and objects); John Derian (home goods, decoupage); Lomography (cameras, photography);Martha Sturdy (home accessories and art); neo-utility (home and desk accessories); Projects (watches); Seletti (home goods); Sklo (glass home and personal accessories); Suck UK (home and desk accessories); Umbra (home accessories); and Wabnitz Editions (tableware and home accessories).
The “Accent on Japan” collective, showcasing design-led products from Japan, also is moving, with new locations for gallery 91 (home and glass accessories); Morihata (table and kitchen accessories); msy (personal and phone accessories); and Sakai (tableware and glassware).
In addition to these changes, a number of returning Accent on Design exhibitors also will expand their exhibit space at the winter 2012 market. Companies increasing the size of their exhibit space include Areaware; Creative Danes / Menu (tableware and home); Dwell;Jonathan Adler (home furnishings and accessories); Luckies (home, desk accessories, and paper); Native Union (cell phone handset); Pam&Co (biodegradable umbrellas); Seletti; and Sklo.
As the NYIGF’s premier design-focused division, Accent on Design is a primary focus of the Fair’s “Driven by Design” campaign launched in October. In connection with this, and in advance of the Fair, NYIGF’s “100 Days of Design” blog features weekday guest posts authored by design-driven individuals from around the world. Contributors have included acclaimed designers Karim Rashid and Alan Heller; Accent on Design Awardwinning companies such as Ameico, Creative Danes/Menu, DFC Mexico, MIO, Pablo, Stelton, Umbra and Zelco; and design bloggers and participants in Accent on Design’s Bloggers’ Choice Awards including Stephanie Murg of UnBeige and Dickson Wong ofStylelist Home.
Additionally, a new Accent on Design Retrospective exhibit will trace the history of the people and products connected with Accent on Design through the years. Thisphotographic installation will chronicle the division from its inception in 1984 through the present, featuring photos of both Accent on Design exhibitors and Accent on DesignAward-winning products. The exhibit will be on view on the Accent on Design exhibit floor throughout market week.
For more than 25 years, Accent on Design has been the industry’s leading source of design-driven gift, home and lifestyle merchandise. Its dynamic, juried collection of contemporary and innovative products is presented semi-annually as a division of the New York International Gift Fair®.
NYIGF is the nation’s premier gift, home and lifestyle marketplace, with 2,800+ exhibiting companies featuring an extraordinary breadth and depth of design-driven home fashion products and complementary giftware. The winter market takes place Saturday, January 28, through Thursday, February 2, 2012, at New York City’s Jacob K. JavitsConvention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94. Some 35,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 80 countries worldwide are expected. Information and registration is available online at www.nyigf.com.
