Interior Design students travel to The Big Apple
Accompanied by Instructors Kathy Huus, IIDA, CID, LEED AP, and Anne Farniok, ASID, IIDA, CID, LEED AP, 18 students in the Interior Design program at Dakota County Technical College traveled to New York City to attend the 23rd annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair, which took place May 14–17, 2011. Held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, the ICFF is recognized worldwide as “North America’s singular showcase for contemporary design.” Spread out over 145,000 square feet, more than 550 exhibitors were present to wow 23,000 industry professionals, including residential and commercial interior designers, architects, retailers, distributors and manufacturers. Articles on display represented the absolute best in future-edge design concepts and materials involving:
- Contemporary furniture
- Carpeting and flooring
- Lighting
- Outdoor furniture
- Wall coverings
- Textiles
- Home design
- Kitchen design
- Bath design
- and more…
Interior Design students and faculty at ICFF 2011
Anne Farniok reported that her tour of the ICFF was the first of her career—and she found the experience exceptionally inspirational. She noted that the ICFF showcases the greatest and latest in the super-creative realm of interior design. Exhibitors from around the globe participated, representing such countries as Argentina, China, Denmark, France, India, Israel, Mali, Mexico, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore and Turkey—to name only a few.
“We saw an amazing array of the industry’s most original, innovative and pioneering products all under one roof,” Farniok said. “Our students got the chance to talk and network with the people who drive our industry and make it one of the most creative, technically resourceful in the world.”
Herman Miller | ICFF 2011
Design Deutschland 2011 | ICFF 2011
Kikkerland | ICFF 2011
Javits Convention Center | Manhattan, New York City
Manhattan, New York City
Farniok said their group arrived separately Saturday morning, May 14, and toured the Metropolitan Museum of Art that afternoon. “We ate dinner at an Italian restaurant near our hotel (ink48),” she added. “Sunday, we spent the entire day touring the International Contemporary Furniture Fair. We encountered wonderful products from local sources, including 3M, as well as products from many international companies.”
On Monday, May 16, faculty and students toured Material ConneXion, a consultancy and library featuring the planet’s largest resource for advanced materials and processes of interest to interior designers and architects. That same day, the group toured the Rockefeller Center locality of Gensler, an architectural, design, planning and consulting firm—the second largest in the U.S.—with more than 2,500 employees at 38 locations around the globe. That evening several students saw Priscilla Queen of the Desert on Broadway.
3M Architectural Finishes | ICFF 2011
“Tuesday, a small group of us toured New York City by subway and visited site of the World Trade Center,” Farniok said. “We also toured Chinatown and SoHo. The students enjoyed shopping and spotting trends in these historic neighborhoods of the city.”
On Wednesday, May 17, Farniok and several students took a ride through Central Park and then boarded a double-decker, open-top bus for another tour of the city. “We got drenched even with rain jackets and umbrellas,” Farniok reported with a smile. “Let’s just say taxis are sparse on a rainy day in New York.”
Escape to New York
A tale of three students
Kimberly Scanlon
Kimberly Scanlon
A 2000 graduate of Southgate High School in Southgate, Mich., Kimberly Scanlon, 19, went on to get her A.A. from Normandale Community College and then a B.S. in psychology from the University of Minnesota. Now a resident of Lonsdale, Minn., Kimberly worked for a number of years in home behavior services related to autism care, but because she was always interested in interior design, she decided to switch careers and go back to school. She chose the DCTC Interior Design program due to its location and its reputation for excellence throughout the industry. Her new career goals are centered on first working for a small firm before starting her own interior design business. She is up in the air regarding commercial or residential design, but finds both paths exciting. She is set to graduate in spring 2012.
On her trip to New York…
“The trip was fantastic. Part of the excitement was just never having been to New York City. The International Contemporary Furniture Fair was phenomenal. The whole idea behind ICFF is displaying contemporary furnishings and textiles, everything you might possibly need for an interior environment, but in all new and innovative lines. As we were walking through, my classmates and I kept coming up with ideas for our senior projects. Overall, the ICFF was really inspiring.”
Matt Griffin
Matt Griffin
Matt Griffin, 39, has always had a passion for interior design due to a love for color and the prospect of changing spaces. Originally from the Fresno area in the Central Valley of California, Matt worked for a time in the airline industry and as a driver for UPS. Once he moved to Minneapolis and his home on Lake of the Isles, he met designers already working in the field. They recognized that Matt has what it takes to be an interior designer and told him to go to school. He’s enjoyed his experience in the DCTC Interior Design program, reporting that he’s met a lot of nice people as he’s learned and built on the basics of his future profession. Matt is definitely interested in high-end commercial design working for people with unlimited budgets. He sees himself owning his own business after more schooling. Matt is set to graduate after completing his interior design internship. He’ll be heading to Metro State to earn a bachelor’s in interior design/business.
On his trip to New York…
“The New York trip was awesome. We had a lot of fun. The ICFF exhibits were great. We learned a lot about contemporary furniture and clean lines. I saw a lot of cool chandeliers, including one shaped like an umbrella. If you don’t go to these exhibits, you really don’t know what’s out there. You can go online and look at pictures, but it’s nothing like being there and actually seeing the merchandise.”
- Philippe Starck’s Umbrella Chandelier
Katy Hipple
Katy Hipple
A first-year Interior Design student at DCTC, Katy Hipple, 24, is no stranger to fine art and design. A resident of St. Paul, Minn., Katy graduated from the Convent of the Visitation School in Mendota Heights, Minn., in 2005. Four years later, she earned a B.A. in studio art from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. Her senior show focused on oil painting, but she’s also versed in ceramics and sculpture. After deciding to return to school for interior design, she chose the DCTC program following extensive research and a visit to the program’s studio space. Katy likes that she can bring her artistic talent to her new field. She’s interested in residential design and looks forward to working for a small architectural or interior design firm before owning her own business. She will graduate with her A.A.S. degree in spring 2012.
On her trip to New York…
“The International Contemporary Furniture Fair was amazing. I had never seen such innovative furniture designs. I really, really like furniture and furniture construction, and it was cool to have them all in one place. They use the newest materials—and the different ways things are made means a chair might not even look like a chair anymore. Talking to actual designers was interesting. The ICFF was the perfect place for interior designers because you could network, get business cards, booklets and lots of information.”
- Alien Chair by Sedes Regia
To learn more about the Interior Design program at DCTC, contact:
- Katharine Huus, IIDA, CID, LEED AP
Interior Design Director and Instructor
651-423-8456
BIO - Anne Farniok, ASID, IIDA, CID, LEED AP
Interior Design Instructor
651-423-8414
BIO - Coco Early, IIDA, CID, LEED AP
Interior Design Instructor
651-423-8261
BIO
ABC Block Chair by BRC Designs | ICFF 2011
TDCUS Live @ ICFF 2011 — Material ConneXion
ICFF Fair really doing good thing, it’s provide fresh n innovative interior design & Furniture Design under a single Roof .