As previously announcedby the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF), considering the continued concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, including travel restrictions both domestically and internationally, as well as government restrictions and limitations, their annual event has been postponed to November of 2021. The design event that would originally take place May 15 – 18, 2021, was pushed to Sunday, November 14 and Monday, November 15, 2021, at the Javits Convention Center in New York.
In order to respond to this unusual and worrying public health situation, ICFF and WantedDesign Manhattan, a platform dedicated to promoting design and supporting the local and international creative community through the course of the year, launched a unique design event by the name of CLOSEUP, in October 2020, which provides the design industry a valuable experience to develop projects and businesses.
The design industry’s needs continue on existing in these times, an industry that, like many others, has been negatively impacted by the cancellation of major in-person trade shows. Taking this into account, the ICFF and WantedDesign Manhattan developed this new platform of design showcase, CLOSEUP: a live trade design event inspired by a TV show format, for product launches, trend forecast, and virtual networking experiences.
By joining forces and multiplying audiences, network of manufacturers and media partners, CLOSEUP elevates the virtual trade show format, connecting the A&D community with brands and North American studios, providing at the same time an opportunity for design professionals to source products from notable local design studios and international manufacturers, in an interactive format which brings life to a currently more monotonous life. The first edition of CLOSEUP took place in October 2020, this second edition will happen between May 16-18, 2021.
Regarding the first edition, if you’re a design enthusiast or if you want to have a sneak peak on how the design event enrolls, you now can access every session on CLOSEUP 2020 on their Youtube channel. The program included panel discussions, brand presentations and North American studios sessions, as well as a Highlights Recap session.
Interested in Interior Design? See also: Juliet Gold Design – New York and Miami Luxury
CLOSEUP 2020 brought the audience exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences with established and emerging brands. It comprised talks and lectures with variety of speakers such as David Rockwell, Melba Wilson, Marc Viardot, Marcel Wanders, Gabriele Chiave, and Jaime. It was also a very special way of celebrating Ligne Roset 160th anniversary. The design event harbored a wide range of topics, including innovation, for example on the last edition, MIT researchers of Lios introduced innovations in 3D-printed glass lighting.
CLOSEUP 2021 brings once again New York to the world, the event is hosted from an especially designed Main Stage in Industry City, Brooklyn. The design event includes brand presentations, Q&As, live interviews from showrooms and studios as well as conversations broadcast to a registered audience of design professionals.
If you would like to attend the design event, you may contact the CLOSEUP organization and pre-register, you’ll be able to view the sessions either via live stream or on-demand post-event. There is to be expected an audience of up to 1,000 viewers: architects, interior designers, and retailers, both via live stream and on-demand. The design event could be a great opportunity to network and discover what is being done during these chaotic times in the design industry.
CLOSEUP by WantedDesign and ICFF is a unique design event that you cannot miss! Mark the date: May 16-18, 2021!
Interested in Interior Design? See also: Juliet Gold Design – New York and Miami Luxury
