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.

IFDA 2020 competition calls for future-orientated wooden furniture designs
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.

IFDA 2020 competition calls for future-orientated wooden furniture designs
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submitted individually, as a group or as a business, it is important that the designs are newly created and previously unpublished i.e. having never appeared on the market, in public media, and as a winner in other awards.

IFDA 2020 competition calls for future-orientated wooden furniture designs
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).

IFDA 2020 competition calls for future-orientated wooden furniture designs
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.

IFDA 2020 competition calls for future-orientated wooden furniture designs
the 2008 gold leaf award: barca by jakob joergensen

 

 

with the deadline closing on october 31, 2019, enter the international furniture design competition now, here.

IFDA 2020 competition calls for future-orientated wooden furniture designs
the 2005 gold leaf award: sorahe by takashi kirimoto

 

IFDA 2020 competition calls for future-orientated wooden furniture designs
the 2002 gold leaf award: pin coat by jens-oliver bahr

 

IFDA 2020 competition calls for future-orientated wooden furniture designs
the 1999 grand prix award: sinus by daniel lakos

 

IFDA 2020 competition calls for future-orientated wooden furniture designs
the 1996 grand prix award: children stool by steen duelholm sehested

 

IFDA 2020 competition calls for future-orientated wooden furniture designs
the 1993 grand prix award: 4-legged stackable chair ‘lizard’ by torben skov

 

IFDA 2020 competition calls for future-orientated wooden furniture designs
the 1990 grand prix award: chair by matti ratalahti & kaarle holmberc

 

 

exhibition info:

 

name: asahikawa design week 2020

date: june 2020

location: asahikawa design center, japan

 

 

competition info:

 

name: international furniture design competition asahikawa

submissions deadline: october 31, 2020