iF design opens first US office in NYC to further support US-based excellent design

iF DESIGN USA inc opens in NYC

iF Design embarks on its next adventure by opening its first iF Design office in the USA, located in New York City. The inaugural office aims to provide further support as well as partnerships to designers, their design-driven businesses, and also the next generation of creatives in North America.

‘I was intrigued by the confluence of culture, newness, possibility, globality, and of course – excellent design that iF Design could represent in the North American market. The fact that iF Design has been presenting one of the most prestigious design awards in the world since its establishment in 1953, is an added bonus – as few organizations in America can claim such a rich and relevant history,’ begins Lisa Gralnek, Managing Director of iF Design USA Inc., in an interview with designboom.

iF Design celebrates it’s 70th anniversary in 2023

all images courtesy of iF Design

if design supports ‘excellent design’ in the US

Since its inception in 1953, iF Design has been a leader in promoting the global creative culture, both recognizing and rewarding good design and encouraging the growth of the established as well as up-and-coming designers – see 2023 winners here. The Awards distributes annual prizes to the best, most exceptional ideas in product, packaging, communication and service designs, architecture, user experience and interface, and interior design. 10,000 submissions are proposed from 60 countries, with further thousands received for its additional competitions too. By opening iF Design USA Inc., the Platform aims to actively increase American participation.

‘Each year, iF Design receives over 10,000 submissions from nearly 60 countries as part of its rigorous juried selection process for the iF DESIGN AWARD, plus another 10,000 or so entries for our iF DESIGN STUDENT AWARD and iF SOCIAL IMPACT PRIZE. Yet only a very small portion of the applications come from the U.S., despite it being the world’s largest economy, a primary driver of global innovation, and home to some of the best design agencies, in-house creative shops, and schools in the world! By opening our first North American office, we present an opportunity to bring even more talent to iF’s global stage and into our independent jury selection, while amplifying the quality and excellence of our winners around the world,’ continues Lisa.

iF Design USA Inc. aims to further support designers, their design-driven businesses, and also the next generation of creatives in north america

‘Our first job is building brand awareness. Despite being an influential force within the global design community for over 70 years, many in North America are not familiar with iF Design. Simultaneously, we are excited to be able to provide even better support to our current and future participants on the ground, as well as begin to develop meaningful relationships with like-minded organizations, associations, media outlets, and jurors here; perhaps even to partner with other awards as we have done in a few other industry-focused markets,’ adds the Managing Director of iF Design USA Inc.

With over 20 years of experience in strategically growing brands, Lisa Gralnek leads iF Design on this new challenge; the goal is to not only increase participation in the North American market but still uphold iF Design’s core values of independence, objectivity and excellence. To balance this, the new office will continue to support its U.S.-based entrants as well as winners. New partnerships will be set up to bring further support, exposure, and recognition to the Platform and then, in turn, its recipients as well as their award-winning projects.

new partnerships aim to bring further support, exposure, and recognition to the Awards (Uwe Cremering, iF Design CEO, together with the Karaca team in Berlin)

Each year, the 10,000 submissions to the Platform’s main awards is almost matched by the number of applicants for the iF DESIGN STUDENT AWARD and the iF SOCIAL IMPACT PRIZE. These two additional competitions also aim to increase in participants in the USA. Student as well as the next-generation of designers challenge the norm. They lead innovation in terms of inventing solutions, changing behaviors, and promoting a better future. Both prizes emphasize the global responsibility and sustainability of iF Design. The award for social impact includes, for example, a grant of 100,000 euros each year to help develop projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

‘I am excited to take a significant role in helping shape the sustainability journey at iF Design over the next 3-5 years. In addition, I believe that bringing more participation into our free-to-enter iF SOCIAL IMPACT PRIZE and iF DESIGN STUDENT AWARD, which recognize projects that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) is a great way to showcase how the next generation of designers and thinkers put design at the forefront in solving the compounding challenges of climate crisis and social inequity our world faces,’ concludes Lisa Gralnek, Managing Director of iF Design USA Inc., in an interview with designboom.

designboom speaks with Lisa Gralnek, managing director of iF Design USA Inc, as she leads iF Design into the land of opportunity