Archives

High-end Designs and Innovatations

Index DUBAI
Dubai World Trade Centre
Dubai, UAE
November 14-17, 2009

The feature-packed show saw some 1,000 exhibitors and 26 national pavilions hailing from 47 countries taking part last year, in which the number of visitors was up by around 24 percent from 2008.

Opened by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, the focus on INDEX 2009 was on high-end designs and innovations.

The exclusive consumer evening was also a big hit, with consumers snapping up products that will not be available in the shops yet.

The Design Talks brought high profile international speakers onto the show floor, including Tomita Kazuhiko of Tomita Design, Victoria Redshaw of Scarlet Opus, Marcus Fairs of Dezeen Magazine, Johannes CF Holtzhauzen, CEO of Waitrose MENA, and Michael Kent, founding partner of Kinnersley Kent Design team.

The sessions included talks on future trends, the latest in avant-garde designs, and also the growing need to the adapt an English-language brand to flourish in the Middle East market.

The hotly contested contemporary Majlis competition saw Zain Mustafa’s concept taking the crown. New Yorkers’ Daniel Holguin and Victoria Simes’s Jewellery 4 Architecture Design competition also saw some inventive creations from students using unusual materials such as horse hair, yarn, human hair and chains.

Index 2009 also hosted the Al Habtoor Student Competition, in which six leading universities took part in a series of challenges to create objects such as workbenches and portable office spaces.

The competition with TASMENA, a non-profit organisation recently formed to raise awareness about socially responsible designs. This competition also included a community element, in which students had to design spaces for the Dubai Autism Centre.

The four-day fair and its new focus not only saw INDEX 2009 attracting five percent more visits per day than in 2008, the quality was also significantly better than previous year’s.

Commenting on the success of the show, Lu Buchanan, Index 2009’s Show Director said: “The success of this year’s INDEX confirms Dubai’s role as the region’s premier business hub. With the sixth busiest international airport in the world, a brand new Metro and over 50,000 hotel rooms, Dubai remains the best location in the Gulf for international trade shows.”

Design Trends

IMM Cologne
Cologne Exhibition
Cologne, Germany
January 19 - 24, 2010

Together with the partners Design Post, Spichern Höfe and H.O.M.E. Magazine, the spectacular Cologne Design Night on January 19 will mark the beginning of IMM Cologne 2010.

IMM Cologne 2010 continues to organise a programme related to the current and future fashion trends of living.

For the fifth time, young and creative designers will present fresh ideas and new concepts within the framework of the D³ Design Talents, which is made up of D³ Contest, D³ Professionals and D³ Schools.

The four key developments in interior design for 2010 will also be introduced and put on display during the Interior Design Trends 2010 exhibition. The themes are Trickery, Comfort Zone, Rehab and Discipline. They will also be documented in the Interior Design Trends 2010 book.

As with previous years, the Interior Innovation Award will be given out to honour outstanding innovative achievements, with the award ceremony taking place on January 18.

In addition, a complete overview of all the innovative novelties and winners of the Interior Innovation Award will be on display in the Boulevard of Innovation.

At IMM Cologne 2010, the Fachverband Matratzen Industrie will be starting a series of events concerning the theme Year of a Good Sleep, with the customary ‘meet @ sleep party’ taking place on January 19.

A meeting place for trade representatives and distribution providers to network and discuss potential business opportunities will be set up at the Agents' Lounge. The accompanying Agent Directory, an online business networking service, will also be launched at the IMM Cologne 2010.

For the Designers of Tomorrow

Interiors Birmingham
NEC Birmingham
Birmingham, UK
January 24 - 27, 2010

Visitors to Interior Birmingham 2010 can look forward to Designersblock, which is housed within the exhibition halls of Thinking Space.

The event will feature works from established companies and emerging designers. These products include textiles, lightings, upholstery, furniture, wallpapers and storage solutions.

As with the previous edition, Interiors Birmingham 2010 will see the organiser collaborating with Birmingham City University and Global Colour Research-Mix Publications once again, to unleash ideas of 120 university students based on the trend forecast provided, ‘Whisper, Spirit, Genteel and Risk’.

Also taking central stage in this year’s Interiors Birmingham is the New Design Britain competition. Opened to graduates and postgraduates, the event will be taking place within Thinking Space.

The two main categories in the competition are: Made in Britain and Designed in Britain. Each of these has four subsections: Furniture, Fabrics, Accessories and Surface Coverings. The finalists will be displayed at the show, with the winners being judged and announced at Interiors Birmingham 2010 on January 25.

Apart from the popular Media Galley, visitors to the three-day show can also look forward to a series of seminar programmes. Keynote speakers will be discussing and debating on the latest trends and developments in interior design.

Sustainability and Green Initiatives

Las Vegas Market
Las Vegas Design Centre
Las Vegas, US
February 1 - 5, 2010

The Las Vegas Market will be emphasising sustainability and forward green initiatives more than ever at the 2010 Winter Las Vegas Market.

The introduction of One Good World will further equip retailers with the insights, information and strategies needed to respond to the rising consumer demand for sustainable furnishings -- and reduce one’s own carbon footprint in the process.

The effort includes a new sustainable products locator programme showcasing manufacturers throughout the market, an expanded educational offering including prominent celebrity designers speaking on sustainability, consumer research, and a digital newsletter to launch this year.

The show will also be introducing a sustainability leadership congress slated for early 2010, featuring pre-eminent organisations from government, environmental groups, manufacturers, retailers, interior designers and consumer media focused on wood sourcing.

The One Good Guide—designed to help buyers find legitimately sustainable products will be launched at the Las Vegas Market 2010. This will include all participating permanent showrooms as well as the long-running, eco-friendly temporaries on the 2nd Floor of Building B.

One Good Guide was developed in conjunction with Sustainable Furniture Council (SFC), the leading organization in sustainable furnishings. SFC will perform verifications for all applicants.

These participants will also be listed in a special section of the WorldDirectory distributed to buyers at Las Vegas Market, and will receive window decals and showroom signage to call attention to their status, along with additional on-line marketing and public relations support.

In addition to the latest offerings, DESIGNINGreen, a green interior design symposium, will feature several prominent figures such as HGTV’s Angelo Surmelis and brand icon Kathy Ireland.

Las Vegas Market 2010 is also hosting the SFC in staging their GREENleaders Certified Sustainability Training, the industry’s first six-hour exam course for accreditation as a local market expert in green furnishings.

The course was launched at the Las Vegas Market in February 2009, with more than 150 graduates certified up to date.

Strong Regional Growth

The Office Exhibition
Dubai World Trade Centre
Dubai, UAE
February 9 – 11, 2010

According to the organisers of The Office Exhibition DMG World Media, new office projects are set to double between 2009 and 2010 within the GCC (Gulf Corporation Council).

The research findings estimated that the total value of construction projects for the commercial sector in the GCC between 2009 and 2010 is worth US$34 billion, with the estimated expenditure on interior design at over US$4 billion.

With the UAE gaining such stronghold in office furnishings, visitors to The Office Exhibition 2010 – the Middle East’s only office solutions event, can expect to see more than 250 companies exhibiting in an area of approximately 19,000 sq m.

The Office Exhibition 2010 will also be launching a new show feature dedicated to working office surroundings and its future.

Using the ancient Chinese astrology art of Feng Shui, the show will demonstrate how essentials such as lighting, seating and desk setup can affect working levels and performance overall.

Also new in 2010, the Office Café will feature three unique dialogue areas where three concepts namely: Ergonomics, Sustainability and High-end Design, will be discussed. The furniture, branding and concept of each café will be supplied by three different companies.

A New Award Debuts

Malaysia Internatational Furniture Fair
The Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) and the MATRADE Exhibition and Convention Centre (MECC)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
March 2 – 6, 2010

To showcase students’ talents and innovativeness in furniture design, MIFF 2010 will be launching a new young designer award – The Ideation Award 2010. This award is open only to design or architecture students of recognised Malaysian institutions.

The theme for The Ideation Award 2010 is ‘Creativity, Innovation, Technology and Sustainability’.

This year, the competition focuses on technology; participants are required to incorporate technology introduced within the last five years into their entries.

The entries will be judged by a panel of international and local experts, the winners will be announced during the MIFF 2010 Prize Presentation Ceremony on Thursday, March 4.

Exclusively for international buyers, Buyer’s Night is the party where the furniture industry meets and mingles. Tickets can be redeemed at the International Buyers Lounge at PWTC. More information in regard to this event will be released soon.

Renowned international speakers and professionals in the furniture industry will also be providing participants invaluable information and insights on the global furniture markets, designs and trends.

Growth Against All Odds

Vietnam Internatational Furniture & Home Accessories
(VIFA) Fair
Saigon Exhibition & Convention Centre
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
March 11 – 14, 2010

VIFA 2009 closed with 600 fully filled booths, together accounting for a 10 percent increase in show space than the previous year. Some 15,000 visitors, of which 60 percent are from overseas, were received.

This year, organisers expect VIFA 2010 to grow even more rapidly, by 40 percent. It will feature 800 booths over an area of 16,000 sq m.

Organisers say that although VIFA is recognised as a young business platform in a circuit of Southeast Asian furniture trade shows, it has been a rally of all potential manufacturers of age-old wood craftsmanship, industry expertise and generations of experience.

A sum of US$180,000 has been set aside as marketing budget for VIFA 2010. The show will enjoy exposure across 15 countries. Most of the buyers received last year were from Asia (58.5 percent), Europe (15.5 percent) and Africa (13.8 percent).

Gatateway to regional market

Export Furniture Exhibition (EFE)
Malaysia Agro Exposition Park, Serdang (MAEPS)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
March 3 – 7, 2010

EFE 2010 will continue to move in tandem with the local Government’s aspiration to establish Malaysia as one of the leading Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) centres of the world.

The 6th edition of EFE will once again welcome domestic and international exhibitors to gather and showcase their high quality and innovative furniture of creative designs. More than 300 exhibitors will be participating in EFE 2010.

Visitors from more than 160 countries are also expected to visit the five-day show. They can look forward to the six mega exhibition halls of various furniture products, which will occupy more than 80,000 sq m of exhibition space.

EFE 2010 will be a one-stop buying centre for all things furniture related. The furniture products on display include cabinets, sofas, upholsteries and accessories, bedrooms, home, living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, outdoors, rattan, leathers, offices, occasionals and entertainment furniture.

Nextus 2010, an annual furniture design competition organised by Malaysia Furniture Entrepreneur Association (MFEA) and National Design Centre (DNC), will also be taking place during EFE 2010. It was launched last year and is supported by Malaysian Furniture Promotion Council (MFPC).

The competition is opened to all Malaysian students and its theme this year will be Humanising Design. Participants are required to identify problems related to existing furniture or situations related to the usage of furniture.

Free shuttle service from KLIA, city centre and relevant hotels to exhibition venue and vice versa will be provided. Travel agencies counter services at the venue are also available for visitors who are interested to tour within Malaysia.

Additional services visitors to the EFE 2010 can look forward to include an international business lounge – especially catered to foreign buyers, a business centre, free internet services as well as foot reflexology and messages services. A gala dinner for visitors and exhibitors will also be taking place.

EFE 2010 industry seminars, in addition, will shed light on the latest progress and developments concerning the furniture world. The organiser will be inviting renowned speakers from China and Europe to share their expertise on design, trends and materials use.

Shortened Fair Duration

MoOD Brussels
Brussels Expo
Brussels Belgium
September 14 – 17, 2010

Textirama, organiser of the MoOD Brussels, has decided to reduce the show period from four to three days. A press statement said that according to the feedbacks on MoOD 2009 questionnaires, exhibitors work better and more efficiently this way. In addition, they prefer if the show could run from Tuesday to Thursday instead of Wednesday to Friday.

“This is totally in line with a new trend: the professional visitor travels with less people and for a shorter period. Everything goes faster, more concentrated and to the point,” the statement added.

Although 50 percent of the available stand space has been sold and 90 percent of the exhibitors expressed keenness to participate next year, the organiser nonetheless places importance on listening to participants’ needs.

Focused On Residential Furnishings

iSaloni
Milan Fairgrounds, Rho
Milan, Italy
April 14 – 19, 2010

Fired by the success of 2009's record edition, despite the extremely challenging global economic climate, the Saloni will be back in April as always, hand in hand with their customary optimism. Last year, iSaloni hosted 1,370 exhibitors on a net exhibition area of 149,871 sq m. More than 78 percent of them were Italian companies. Visitor numbers approximated 278,000, of which 153,456 came from outside Italy.

‘The Event is Back’ is the new publicity campaign slogan shared between concurrent events, namely:
• Salone Internazionale del Mobile (now in its 49th edition);
• Eurocucina / International Kitchen Furniture Exhibition (in its 18th) with its collateral event, FTK, devoted to the technology of built-in electric domestic appliances and cooker hoods;
• International Bathroom Furniture Exhibition (in its 3rd)
• International Furnishing Accessories Exhibition (in its 23rd edition); and
• SaloneSatellite, the youngest of the lot, now in its 13th year.

A decision has been made not to include the biennial SaloneUfficio, the International Biennial Workspace Exhibition this year, in an endeavour to further underpin the synergy between the kitchen and bathroom worlds and to establish a direct link between the office and lighting worlds. SaloneUfficio will therefore return in 2011. Organiser Cosmit’s Board of Directors reached this decision in the wake of a survey carried out among its exhibitors at the request of the companies themselves.

“As a company, Cosmit operates under the aegis of the trade association FederlegnoArredo, and its mission first and foremost is to do its best for the companies under its umbrella,” explains Carlo Guglielmi, Cosmit’s President. “We thought it expedient to keep our ear to the ground vis à vis our exhibitors’ requirements and to put together a specific project bringing SaloneUfficio in line with Euroluce. Given the great affinity between the world of the workplace and the world of lighting, our decision to hold the International Biennial Workspace Exhibition and the International Lighting Exhibition in tandem means that the overall range will be even broader, especially as regards the planning and contract worlds.”

This rescheduling means that all the exhibition space can be exploited fully, having previously proved too confined to be able to accommodate all of Cosmit’s participants.

Alongside the trade fair proper, the collateral event that has long been the icing on the Saloni cake will be particularly important: a journey into the world of “gathering round the table”, dismantled and celebrated in its various incarnations through its settings and its utensils.

To Market, Before It Opens!

High Point Pre-Market
High Point Pre-Market
North Carolina, US
March 15 – 16, 2010

As they work to expand on an already successful model, the sponsoring manufacturers of Pre-Market met at High Point in late November to set both their agenda for the coming year and the dates of the 2010 Pre-Market events: March 15 – 16, 2010 and September 13 – 14, 2010.

Upcoming market dates proper are: April 17 – 22, 2010 and October 16 – 21, 2010.

Guided by a group of leading furniture manufacturers, with the support of major multi-tenant buildings and the High Point Market Authority, Pre-Market has steadily gained traction throughout the past two years as an invaluable event that enables leading retailers to preview major product collections, secure distribution and strengthen relationships with key vendors and company principles.

“In times like these, everybody has to work smarter and more efficiently, and Pre-Market affords manufacturers and retailers quality time to really connect. It’s a relaxed environment that encourages interaction between top-level executives that is quite unlike the frenetic, time-pressed interchanges of Market,” says Kevin O’Connor, chief executive of Samson Marketing, parent company of Legacy Classic and Universal Furniture. “Again and again, the retailers tell us that participating translates into a true competitive advantage.”

“The emphasis on the ability to review ‘Market-ready’ product in advance of Market one month later is one of the critical elements making the Pre-Markets events so successful,” says Brian D Casey, president and chief executive officer of the High Point Market Authority, and spokesperson for the Pre-Market manufacturers. “The breadth and depth of new products available here has always been a strength of the High Point Market, and the Pre-Market sponsors have demonstrated a major commitment to that end, which is why High Point performs so well in meeting the needs of the industry. And, the commitment is there for the long run.”

The High Point Market features 188 buildings of furniture and furnishings, totalling 12 million sq ft of showspace. About 85,000 attendees visit the Market annually to source from 2,000 exhibitors from 110 countries.