The International Society of Furniture Designers (ISFD) has announced the finalists for the Pinnacle Awards’ 25th-anniversary event, which will be held on Monday, Oct. 18 at the COHAB, Space, 1547 W. English Rd in High Point from 6-9 p.m. Globally acclaimed interior designer, HGTV television host and author Breegan Jane will be the keynote speaker, and tickets are available at isfd.org.
“It is amazing how much over the past 25 years the Pinnacle Awards, or the Design Achievements Awards as they were known back then, have evolved,” says John Conrad, executive director. “Each year the designers have become more innovative with their designs raising the bar on the competition and making the judge’s jobs more challenging to select just one winner in each category. The number of Pinnacle Awards entries has also grown to record numbers in recent years along with over 15,300 gala views on YouTube in 2020 as our event was watched on a global scale.”
The judging panel represents an influential mix of high-profile industry leaders and innovators including Christi Barbour, Founder & Partner, Barbour Spangle Design; Diane Falvey, Editor in Chief, Furniture Lighting & Décor; John Gill, Haverty’s, EVP Merchandising; Susan Inglis, Executive Director, Sustainable Furnishings Council; Gary Inman, Principal Designer Owner and President, Gary Inman Interior Design; Char Miller King, Woodshop teacher and content creator; Kaitlin Petersen, Editor in Chief, Business of Home; Jay Reardon, Principal, Reardon Advisors; Dorian Stacy Sims, President, Stacy Furniture; Katherine Shoaf, Director of Merchandising and Sales, Radiate Textile; Julie Talbert, Merchandiser Stylist, P/Kaufmann; Marcia Weiss, Director, Fashion & Textiles Futures Center, Director, Textile Design programs and the Harold Neuman Textile Design Chair at Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University).
The 2021 finalists, all professional product and furniture designers along with a few design students, envision and create the designs that ultimately become some of the most sought-after home furnishings items around the world. Their works are produced and marketed by companies large and small, but with a common denominator—to proudly illustrate that artistry, craft, and innovation are important and quite saleable to the consumer marketplace.
In some cases, winning a Pinnacle Award has helped launch design careers and elevated manufacturers to new levels of recognition. A list of all the finalists along with images of their products can be found here: 2021 Pinnacle Awards finalists.
The 2021 Pinnacle Awards are sponsored by the High Point Market Authority, International Market Centers, Continental Hardware, Furniture Today, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Furniture Design Studios, Sherwin-Williams, and Elements Studios.
