For its 2023 edition, Lightfair will extend design opportunities for participants through its second partnership with NYCxDesign, a week-long, five-borough celebration of design, and the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) and WantedDesign Manhattan, co-located tradeshows with design-focused exhibits from around the world. Elements of the partnerships include two unique tours of New York lighting installations, an on-floor design panel and access to some 400+ complementary resources, May 21 – 25, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.
“Our partnership with NYCxDesign and co-location with ICFF will provide more design resources and information to attendees visiting for full-scale commercial and industrial projects,” said Dan Darby, LightFair Show Director. “Together, these three events provide synergies that allow designers and specifiers to identify new and necessary products and education that will elevate their designs to the next level.”
NYCxDesgin Partnership
LightFair will capitalize on its overlap with NYCxDesign, an annual celebration of design around New York City, through its full-scope partnership this May, including two guided tours to local lighting installations and a NYCxDesign Lighting Panel in collaboration with the International Association of Lighting Designers in the IALD Designery during the Trade Show. The partnership takes place during New York City’s Design Festival, running May 18 – 25.
The two, guided, Manhattan City Tours will take attendees to different, local locations on Monday, May 22 and Tuesday, May 23. The two tours are: The Reinvigoration Tour, a walking tour taking attendees through the High Line, an obsolete elevated rail line turned into an iconic public park, and Moynihan Train Hall, a historic USPS facility transformed into a state of the art train station on Monday; and The New Classics Tour on Tuesday, bringing attendees by bus to the first location to learn more about One Bryant Park, followed by walking tours to One Vanderbilt and 3 Times Square, all of which have become contemporary architectural landmarks. The tours will each end with libations and light snacks, enabling a spirited social moment and connection between members of the tour and studio designers.
Registration for tours is only open to LightFair attendees and costs $25 per person, per tour. Spots for the tours are limited, and registration for the tours can be accessed through LightFair’s NYCxDesign partnership information page at https://www.lightfair.com/nycxdesign-at-lightfair.
In addition to the tours, LightFair will present a NYCxDesign Panel in the IALD Designery, Thursday, May 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The panel will include select lighting designers from NYC to discuss the unique aspects of lighting design around the city. Topics for discussion will incorporate references to tours and may also include conversation around local supply chain and fabrication to New York City’s trajectory and opportunity, and how the designers have progressed in their careers in NYC. LightFair will choose designers with a variety of backgrounds who utilize a variety of techniques, with the goal of each providing a unique perspective.
“Having LightFair, North America’s largest architectural and commercial lighting Trade Show and Conference, as a partner with NYCxDesign, New York City’s official celebration of design, is simply enlightening to say the least,” said Ilene Shaw, NYCxDesign interim executive director. “LightFair is a distinguished spotlight feature in addition to our many citywide design exhibits and activations.”
ICFF Co-Location
LightFair will be co-located with the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF), North America’s leading platform for contemporary furnishing design and WantedDesign Manhattan, a trade event which guides attendees through exhibitions and programs such as the Schools Showcase, Launch Pad, Look Book, and Wanted Interiors, at the Javits Center May 21-23. The co-location will provide overlap and further design insight for full-scale commercial and architectural lighting projects.
Both LightFair and ICFF Trade Show badges will grant access to each show. On the ICFF show floor, attendees will have opportunities to find inspiration through ICFF + WantedDesign Manhattan Talks, a focused lineup of panel sessions, keynote presentations, and intimate conversations led by notable names in the industry. Furthermore, opportunities to widen professional networks are boundless. From organic meetings on the show floor to evening events, attendees and exhibitors join together to exchange business strategies while strengthening relationships in the design community.
ICFF will provide 400+ brands across design project categories: accessories; carpets and flooring; fabricators; furniture; kitchen and bath; lighting; materials; outdoor furniture; seating; sustainable products; textiles; and wallcoverings.
“ICFF and LightFair are two great brands and the synergy between them is a huge benefit for attendees of both shows as it provides expanded access to lighting and furniture products that will complement their respective design projects. We’re excited to partner with LightFair and are looking forward to a great event,” said Kevin Gaffney, Group Vice President, Emerald.
The 2023 LightFair Trade Show and Conference will focus on future-shaping innovations and an incredible attendee experience driven by new product discovery, networking and on-floor education, Sunday, May 21, through Thursday, May 25, at the Javits Center in New York City. Registration is complimentary for IES and IALD members as well as students. Early Bird registration is open through March 31. For more information and to register, visit https://www.lightfair.com/attend.
About NYCxDesign
NYCxDESIGN is a not-for-profit organization committed to empowering and promoting the city’s diverse creative community. Since its inception as a grass-roots organization, NYCxDESIGN has been an influential and unifying entity by nurturing, supporting, and providing opportunities for NYC’s design sector on a global stage. NYCxDESIGN organizes exceptional year-round programming, including its annual international festival. Strategic leadership includes a new Board of Directors and a Steering Committee made up of representatives from NYC’s design schools, museums, cultural institutions, design districts/centers, and trade shows. Diversity, purpose, cultural placemaking, economic opportunity, and creativity are core to the not-for-profit’s values. https://nycxdesign.org/
About ICFF
With its emphasis on original and sustainable design, ICFF presents a broad range furnishing product for residential, contract and hospitality environments to an audience of 10,000 architects, interior designers, retailers, distributors, developers, and press. ICFF and the co-located WantedDesign Manhattan bring together over 400 established and emerging design brands from more than 25 countries. https://icff.com/
About LightFair
LightFair, North America’s largest architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference, is owned by the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD), the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and is produced and managed by International Market Centers (IMC). For more information, visit LightFair.com. Follow LightFair on Facebook, Twitter @lightfair, Instagram @lightfair_international, LinkedIn and YouTube. To stay up to date on lighting industry news leading up to LightFair, visit the LightFair Blog at https://www.lightfairblog.com/.
###