IFDA 2020 competition calls for future-orientated wooden furniture designs

for its 11th edition, the international furniture design fair asahikawa (IFDA) returns in 2020. exploring the future of furniture design, specifically those crafted from wood, the exhibition has united international expertise and knowledge in the aim of cross-cultural, friendly and professional exchanges every three years since 1990. the fair – held in june 2020 – culminates in an international furniture design competition which is now open for entries, here.

the 2017 gold leaf award: korento by mikko halonen
all images courtesy of IFDA

IFDA 2020 aims to not only showcase the future of wood furniture but, more importantly, the need to make use of limited resources within our modern society. they believe designs need to be made to be loved, used for many decades, and grow more beautiful with use and over time. crafting from wood is an integral element to these ideals, but the use of other materials through innovative ideas and methods is also important.

the 2014 gold leaf award: ST-chair by naoki mukaiyama

the exhibition’s competition seeks forward-thinking yet aesthetically timeless designs that follow these pressing future-orientated principles. focusing on the theme of wooden furniture, works that use timber in combination with other materials is also applicable for the competition. whether submitted individually, as a group or as a business, it is important that the designs are newly created and previously unpublished i.e. having never appeared on the market, in public media, and as a winner in other awards.

the 2011 gold leaf award: half chair by woojin chung

once the submission’s deadline closes on october 31, 2019, the preliminary selection process will narrow the competition down to 25 works in december 2019. in march 2020 at the main selection process, the international jury of experts will examine the 25 full-scale prototypes and select three winners and finalists. the judges unite sou fujimoto (architect, japan), masaaki hiromura (graphic designer, japan), tucker viemeister (industrial designer, USA), anne-louise sommer (design museum denmark director, denmark), and michael young (product designer, UK).

the 2008 gold leaf award: horn chair by toshihiro kawada

held during the same year as the tokyo olympics and paralympics, the winners and finalists will be exhibited at the fair in the asahikawa design center in june 2020. like in sports, the designs should inspire others to achieve similar or even greater heights in the craft of furniture creation. as well as the chance to showcase their designs, winners will also received cash prizes: 3,000,000 ¥ (approx. 27,750 USD) for the gold leaf award, 1,000,000 ¥ (approx. 9,250 USD) for the silver leaf award, and 300,000 ¥ (approx. 2,750 USD) for the bronze leaf award.

the 2008 gold leaf award: barca by jakob joergensen