June 21 is Deadline for Design Excellence Entries
This annual awards competition is coordinated by the International Casual Furnishings Association and is the only design recognition for home furnishings and accessories produced for outdoor living.
This year, for the first time, the competition is open to companies that are not ICFA members. However, entries in all categories except for fabric must still come from companies that are exhibitors at the September 17-20 International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market in Chicago.
Entries are now being accepted 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, fabric, complementary casual product and outdoor carpeting/rugs/ flooring.
Competition rules and entry guidelines can be found here. The entry fee is $100 for each product entered by an ICFA member and $500 for each product entered by a non-member company.
The Design Excellence judging will take place on Thursday, September 5. The 11 category winners will be announced prior to the market, and the awards will be presented on Tuesday, September 17, in company showrooms.
All companies submitting entries are urged to attend the ICFA Awards Gala on Thursday, September 19, at 6:30 p.m. in the Chicago Field Museum, where the Lillian B. Winchester “Best of Show” Award will be presented from among the 11 category winners. Additional awards to be presented at the gala include the ICFA Manufacturer of the Year, Sales Representative of the Year and the Apollo Awards for retail excellence. In addition, the annual tribute to the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient will be included in the evening’s program.
Ticket information for the ICFA Awards Gala will be available soon.