The New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) announced its call for entries by young student designers or recent graduates for the new A+: The Young Designer’s Platform, an area within the Accent on Design exhibit at the New York City event. Designers chosen to participate in A+ will display their artistic prototypes and finished products to the wholesale marketplace beside a juried collection of 200–some established and innovative contemporary designers already featured in the Accent on Design exhibit.
“This program gives up-and-coming design talents an exclusive entrée into the marketplace and valuable exposure to potential clients,” says Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director.
Stanley Ruiz, a contemporary home accessory and furniture designer, who participated in the summer 2008 edition of A+, networked with several key contacts in the industry such as upscale retailers Takashimaya and Barneys. “This program has surpassed all of my expectations,” Ruiz says.
Applications for A+: The Young Designer’s Platform are available online at www.nyigf.com/info/documents/AplusSubForm_Finalb_002.pdf and will be accepted through Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008.The Accent on Design exhibit will run Jan. 25- 29, 2009, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in conjunction with the 156th semi-annual edition of the New York International Gift Fair.
