HIGH POINT, N.C. — The International Society of Furniture Designers (ISFD) is incorporating the Innovation+Design (I+D) competition, held at the spring Markets in 2023 and 2024, into the annual Pinnacle Awards traditionally held during the fall Markets. The Designer-Maker section of the Pinnacle Awards will be expanded to include at least six new subcategories representing the most popular I+D categories. The call for entries for the 2025 Pinnacle Awards will go out on April 1, 2025.

“Our Innovation+Design competition was heartily embraced by the designer-maker and artisan furniture-making community,” stated David Blair, ISFD executive director. “The number and quality of entries from professional and student designers grew each year. Given this success, we felt that it would benefit the professional designer-makers, the students, ISFD members, and other members of the furniture industry in High Point to raise the profile of Innovation+Design and allow more artisans and students to present their work to ̶ and network with ̶ the large High Point Market audience by incorporating this competition into the Pinnacle Awards.”

The expanded Designer-Maker subcategories will include occasional tables and storage, seating, dining, bedroom, lighting, and entertainment. The entries will be judged by industry veterans and awarded the highly coveted Pinnacle Award. The Designer-Maker finalists and winners will be featured in all Pinnacle Awards communications and will not be required to ship their projects to High Point for display.

The Pinnacle Awards Designer-Maker category is for builders/makers creating one-of-a-kind pieces for sale in galleries, stores, and or client-specific products. Professional makers should have an independent business providing design and build services for custom furniture and accessories in their local market. The students must be majoring in Furniture or Industrial Design at an accredited college or university. Graduate students and seniors graduating in May 2025 are eligible. The recipients of the distinguished Pinnacle Awards are the designers or design teams who were directly involved in the "design craft" of the product(s). The award is meant to honor the designer, the person who puts pen to paper to bring the idea to life.

“In the past winners of the Inoovation+Design competition fared well in the Pinnacle Awards,” Blair continued. “One of our I+D Finalists won the Designer-Maker category, and another won the Professional Lighting category at the 2024 Pinnacle Awards. This change will continue to benefit the professional and student designer-makers by increasing their exposure and connections to the High Point Market.”