ICFA Calls for Design Excellence Entries

The competition is open to all companies exhibiting at the 2016 Casual Market Chicago, as well as outdoor fabric suppliers, who are not required to be exhibitors. The entry fee is $100 per product for members of the International Casual Furnishings Association, which coordinates the competition. Non-members may enter for $500 per product.

The entry deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, June 24, 2016.

Entries are sought in 11 categories: dining or bar table, dining or bar chair, chaise lounge, lounge seating – cushion, lounge seating – non-cushion, shade product, outdoor lighting product, heating/firepit, outdoor carpeting/rugs/flooring, fabric and complementary casual product.

Competition rules and entry guidelines can be accessed here.

The Design Excellence category judging will take place on Thursday, September 1. All category winners will be announced after the judging, with awards to be presented on Tuesday, September 20, in company showrooms at the Merchandise Mart.

Casual Living will print images of the Design Excellence Award entries in its August issue. The 2016 category winners will also be featured in the on-site daily issue of Casual Living, which will be distributed during the 2016 Casual Market, and in the October 2016 issue of Casual Living, also distributed at the October 2016 High Point Market.

In addition, all participants will enjoy added promotion of their Design Excellence product entries on an online “microsite” created by the ICFA. E-blasts will be sent to promote the site to more than 17,000 e-newsletter subscribers of Casual Living. There is no additional fee to be included in the online microsite.

All companies submitting entries are urged to attend the ICFA Awards Gala at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 22, at the Chicago Field Museum. During this event, the Lillian B. Winchester “Best of Show” Award will be presented from among the 11 category winners.