Every year, some of the most innovative products and emerging names in design at IFFS can be found at D’Space, the overarching umbrella for the fair’s design initiatives – and Platform (within D’Space), where the young, independent studios, prototypes, and winners of the Furniture Design Award congregate.

This year was no different. We trawled the length and breadth of the hall to bring you these finds.

Home Sofa from A Balcony

A Balcony

Last year, Jerry Low not only launched his new studio “A Balcony” at IFFS, but also took home the Furniture Design Award “Grand Prize”. Ever curious to see what has been happening since, we spent some time at his stand. His updated series of furniture exudes the same comfort and warmth that we remember, but the details have been carefully tweaked. 

Jotter Desk from A Balcony received the Furniture Design Award 2012 “Honourable Mention” (Designers’ Category).

The Jotter Desk, for example, is now produced entirely in solid wood. Jerry also showed a selection of tartan and cashmere throws and cushions (not displayed last year), which make great complements to the sofas.

Amara table lamps from Karsa

Karsa

Karsa is an Indonesian company that makes furniture, lighting and accessories from sustainable materials. We were drawn to their Amara table lamps, which merge the traditional marble making process with new lighting technology (LED), and their Suguh jar, where the wooden lid is able to hold the contents of the jar.

Koji Sekita’s Watching You chair

Koji Sekita

Cubes recently identified the Japanese designer as a promising name to watch, so we were excited to see his Watching You chair prototype up-close. Made of paper, Koji Sekita’s delicate but extraordinarily strong honeycomb-like seat is formed by zig-zag parts that can be added on to increase its size.

Pepe Heykoop’s Leather Lampshade

Pepe Heykoop

The young Amsterdam-based designer Pepe Heykoop displayed an eye-catching series of lampshades, vases and colourful stools made from leftover scrap leather. We couldn’t help but admire the fine execution and innovative use of material.

Heykoop’s Leather Loops stools

Air Division’s booth

Air Division

We always make it a point to pay Air Division a visit at their booth during IFFS. This year, we were particularly drawn to their latest Perry Console. Following on from their Perry range (Plank Living collection), first introduced in 2010, the console tugs on our memory with its distinct ‘70s detailing. Yet, the choice of clear glass panels framed in wood gives a sense of lightness and modernity to the piece.

Ori Ben Zvi’s Wake Chair – recipient of the Furniture Design Award 2012 Grand Prize.

Wake Chair

Ori Ben Zvi from Israel is this year’s Furniture Design Award “Grand Prize” winner. In designing the Wake chair from scraps of wood, Ori sought a correlation between recycling and cultural rituals regarding death and resurrection. Check out his Studio Ubico.

Gaun Coffee Table by Evelyn Lioe from NAFA

Gaun Coffee Table

One of the 2 honourable mentions in the Furniture Design Award (student category), Gaun, designed by Evelyn Lioe from NAFA gets a nod for the flexibility of its design. Made from wood and leather, Gaun not only serves 2 functions – as a coffee table and magazine storage – but can also be flattened to store away.

Cilicon Faytory displayed a new series of plastic rotary products for KIAN.

Cilicon Faytory

Cilicon Faytory’s Cici Chen and Lui Honfay were once again back in collaboration with furniture manufacturer KIAN, this time to launch a new series of plastic rotary products inspired by classical proportions and curves from nature. The striking seats and planters appear to successfully blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor, modern and classical, art and furniture.

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