International Society of Furniture Designers Announces 2018 Pinnacle Award Recipients

Furniture World News Desk on 10/25/2018

The International Society of Furniture Designers reports that the completely revamped 2018 Pinnacle Awards event, held for the first time ever at High Point University’s Congdon School of Health Sciences, was a resounding success.

A sell-out crowd of 365 industry professionals and students applauded all aspects of the well-orchestrated event, the first Pinnacle Awards gala to take place under the newly re-branded organization’s expanded global presence and attitude. Among the highlights, Executive Director John Conrad welcomed the 2018 Asia-Pacific Pinnacle Award winners in attendance, and introduced architect and designer Campion Platt, who spoke about the strong demand for well-designed, American-branded home furnishings products and their positive future in one of the largest global markets, the Asian Pacific region.

Supporting the theme, Carston Astheimer, who has worked as a designer in nearly every corner of the world, delivered the keynote address, “From Super Cars to Furniture: A Global Perspective to Design,” a talk centered on how designers seeking to be relevant and successful today must key into the social shifts that manifest in the global collective conscious. “To think global, to act global, a designer has to look into peoples’ minds and you can’t do that with Google unfortunately. You have to get off the internet, get out there and speak to people. You need to work with people around the world to get a sense of that collective conscious.”

Astheimer was joined on stage by a slate of celebrated professionals from across the design spectrum to present the climax of the evening, the 2018 Pinnacle Awards Ceremony. Among the presenters were Michelle Jennings Wiebe, interior designer; Genevieve Gorder, television host and interior designer; retailer Lael Thompson; designer Corey Damien Jenkins; Amy Archer, vice president of merchandising at Lee Industries; and Lowery Anderson, chairman of the Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers organization.

The recipients of the 2018 Pinnacle Awards were:

Occasional Tables  
    Springhouse Occasional Collection
    By Wilson Keel for Charleston Forge

Occasional Storage                    
    Swing Bar - Stones
     by Carl Muller for Elite Modern

Youth Furniture
    Modern Spirit
     By Mike Warren, ISFD, Shannon Lookabill, ISFD and Andrea Otto for Universal Furniture

Casual Dining
    Local Harvest Casual Dining
    By Catina Suarez Roscoe, ISFD for Borkholder Furniture

Formal Dining
    Hague Dining Table
    By Thor Taber for Century Furniture

Motion Upholstery
    Luke    
    By David Westendorf of James Russell Design for La-Z-Boy

Stationary Upholstery
    Pop Your Collar
    By Christopher Sandomenico, ISFD for Caracole
 
Leather Upholstery
    Oxford Sectional
    By Stanley J. Friedman, ISFD for Moroni, Inc.

Lighting
    Pebble Table Lamp
    By Mandy Shanahan, ISFD, for Phillips Collection

Accessories
    Maki Screen
    By Mark Phillips, ISFD for Phillips Collection

Home Office
    Iron Frame Chamcha Wood Desk
     By Mandy Shanahan, ISFD for Phillips Collection

Home Entertainment
    Wright Collection
     By Jena Hall, ISFD and Ryan Mimick for Twin Star Home

Summer/Casual
    Archi Lounge
    By Henrik Pedersen for Gloster

Bedroom
    Dominic Metal Canopy Bed
    By Bernhardt Casegoods Design Team for Bernhardt

Student Award
    “The Warden of Wallop Park” Cabinet
    By Ryan Decker, ISFD; Appalachian State University

Maker/Designer Award
    Escape Velocity
    By Owain Harris, ISFD for O.H.Harris Cabinetmaker

Green Leaf Award
    Sunbury Bed
    By Michael Showalter for Gat Creek

Major Collections
    Linea Collection
    By Otto & Moore Design, ISFD and Bernhardt Design Team for Bernhardt

More about ISFD: Founded in 1981, the International Society of Furniture Designers (Previously ASFD) is an international, non-profit, professional organization dedicated to advancing, improving and supporting the practice of furniture design and its positive impact in the marketplace. Membership includes both American and International professional designers, trade affiliates and associates, professors and furniture design students. It serves as the unified voice of the furniture design community, advocating originality, professional practice and integrity at all times. For more information, visit www.asfd.com.