From reissues of classic chairs by architect Antoni Gaudí to an MSCHF lamp made with a Mercedes seatbelt and a reimagined folding chair, here are 14 of the best designs we saw during the yearly NYCxDesign showcase.
Numerous showcases took place during the city-wide design event, with dozens of group shows happening simultaneously with veteran trade fair ICFF and newcomer Shelter.
Many of the showcases prioritised collectible design and one-offs, and we’ve highlighted several key trends from the week, including ornate fabric on contemporary furniture forms, simulated fabrics and fantastical ceramics.
Here, we’ve selected designs that are clearly functional, many with clean lines and industrial materials.
Read on for the 14 best designs from NYCxDesign:
Facet chair by Danny Kaplan Studio
Part of a newly developed metal furniture collection, the Facet chair features a simple construction of stainless steel wrapped over powder-coated steel tubing, which comes in a variety of colours.
According to studio founder Danny Kaplan, the chair was informed by art deco and the “enduring elegance of metal”. It was showcased in the designer’s newly opened showroom in Manhattan during the design week.
Cargo modular seating by Mizetto
Swedish furniture studio Mizetto chose New York to launch its Mizetto modular seating at an exhibition hosted by the Scandinavian Design Embassy, a group that promotes Scandinavian design in the US.
This modular seating collection has a design informed by wrapped packages and was designed to be easily shipped, with a simple connecting mechanism and easily removable upholstery.
Woven Structures by Henry Julier for USM
Brooklyn-based designer Henry Julier collaborated with Swiss modular furniture company USM to create a collection of stools, chairs, and shelves for the Shelter fair.
Woven Structures features USM’s classic chrome-plated steel components with American-made Danish paper cord elements, a fusion of materials that made it one of the most talked-about designs during the week.
Find out more about Woven Structures ›
Linea Coffee Table by Ziroru Studio
New York-based Ziroru Studio unveiled its Linea Collection at trade fair ICFF, of which this sleek coffee table was a part.
Informed by the geometry of the Bauhaus, the table features a continuous bend of stainless steel tubing that transects a glass tabletop to support a single spherical light fixture.
Foreshadow Lamp by Ladies and Gentlemen Studio
An example of a material trend that emerged during the week of lights surrounded by solid grids of metal, Foreshadow Lamp was on show at Brooklyn music venue Public Records in an exhibition created with consultancy Hello Human.
Part of an upcoming collection for the Brooklyn-based Ladies and Gentlemen Studio, the lamp is made of layers of perforated sheet metal that modulate the light, creating textured shadows on its surroundings.
Part of an exhibition that saw art collective MSCHF creating furniture from Mercedes-AMG car parts, Seatbelt Light featured a triangular form affixed with a seatbelt.
A playful take on reuse, the seatbelt hangs slack and, when connected to a buckle on the base, turns on the strips of light affixed to the belt.
Find out more about Seatbelt Light ›
Ultra-Light Writing Desk-01 by Christian Borger
American designer Christian Borger exhibited a light-weight writing desk and chair set for the Jonald Dudd showcase at Shelter Fair.
The desk was constructed using corrugated polycarbonate for a surface, which was attached to pine wood legs with drywall anchors and supported by a series of architectural carbon fiber cord structures.
Cube One Table Lamp by Rarify and Gantri
This modular lighting design was displayed at an installation in the Lower East Side curated by local design outfit Studio Guapo.
It is the first product designed by vintage furniture outlet Rarify and features USM modular components and a light that was 3D-printed by manufacturer Gantri, which has launched a digital portal for designers to submit designs for development in an effort to shake up design manufacturing.
Find out more about Cube One Table Lamp ›
Tectonic Folding Chair by Eric Jacoby
American designer Eric Jacoby reimagined the folding chair, creating sturdy prototypes that can be stored by hanging on the wall.
The geometric chairs have been developed in wood and steel, with small seat and back components sitting on metal bases. Dezeen selected the chair as one of the stand-out designs from the Wanted Look Book independent design showcase at ICFF
Launched at an event co-hosted by Dezeen, New York designer Maghsoudi‘s Hug Chair was the latest in a series of “hedonistic” furniture he has been releasing under the Hug moniker over the last two years.
Italian leather upholstery and thin, removable legs form a chair that the designer said provokes a freedom of use in terms of the possible positions users can take up in it.
Find out more about Hug Chair ›
ZE Sofa by Lichen for Karimoku
Queens design hub Lichen teamed up with Japanese furniture manufacturer Karimoku to showcase new designs and reissues from Karimoku’s collection at ICFF.
Displayed alongside storage furniture designed by Lichen was the ZE Sofa. The plush 1982 design was brought back to life for the contemporary market to create a comfortable residential sofa, maintaining the spirit of the original design, which was more commonly used in offices.
Above the Ground by Joyce Billet
French-American artist Joyce Billet showcased a bench developed with Florida International University’s Robotics and Digital Fabrication Lab at Amelie du Chalard Gallery in SoHo.
The design features etched and cut plywood for the seat and for a decorative panel, and is supported by 3D-printed transparent PLA columns with organic forms that can be filled with soil and host live plants.
Antoni Gaudí Battló Chair by Casa Valle and BD Barcelona
Originally designed by famed Spanish architect Gaudí in 1904, the Battló chair has been reproduced by furniture marketplace BD Barcelona.
The classic chairs with twisted legs were given a dark ebony stair for a special edition made with New York-based design studio Casa Valle, whose headquarters served as an exhibition space for the collaboration.
Exo Chair by Bond Hardware
Brooklyn jewellery design studio Bond Hardware launched its first foray into furniture design with the Exo Chair at the inaugural Shelter design fair.
The studio took its Exo cable hardware, usually used for apparel purposes, and affixed it to a vintage Marcel Breuer chair frame, creating a canopy of metal that suspends the user while utilising an existing chair structure.
NYCxDesign ran from 15 to 21 May throughout New York City. For more events and showcases during NYCxDesign visit our dedicated guide on Dezeen Events Guide.
The post Fourteen of the best furniture designs from NYCxDesign appeared first on Dezeen.
