Nov 2, 2012

NYIGF Partners With Red Clay on Two New Design Projects

In a first-of-its-kind design project, the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®) has partnered with Red Clay, a collaborative product design studio, to produce a crowd-sourced creation of an innovative NYIGF branded tote and a new design concept for NYIGF’s Accent on Design® award. The “NYIGF Design Project: Red Clay Concept Showcase” will debut at the winter 2013 NYIGF, January 26-30, 2103, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

“As NYIGF evolves towards the culmination of its Focus Forward 2013 strategic reorganization, we look for new opportunities to incorporate fresh design into our at-market activities,” said Christian Falkenberg, NYIGF director and GLM vice president. “Red Clay brings talent, innovation, and a built-in design community to the process.”

The first project in the Red Clay Concept Showcase involves the creation of an NYIGF branded tote bag, which will be produced and distributed at the summer 2013 market. Following its collaborative model, Red Clay is currently soliciting design concepts for the bag on its website. From all submissions, a select few will be chosen as finalists and displayed in the Red Clay Concept Showcase at the winter 2013 NYIGF. All market participants will be invited to vote for the winning design, with the top-voted designer receiving $1,000.

Additionally, NYIGF has commissioned Red Clay to run a second design challenge to create a new design for the Accent on Design Award, which has taken different shapes since its inception in 1985. Red Clay will solicit concepts for the award, and the Accent on Design Selection Committee and several guest design luminaries will select one winner. The winner will receive $1,000 and the award will be produced for distribution to winners beginning with the winter 2013 NYIGF.

“Red Clay is driven to bring innovative ideas to the home and gift category by using technology to bring people together,” said Abigail Kiefer, “fearless leader” of Red Clay. “Partnering with NYIGF to bring this platform to the industry is a natural step, as this show is at the center of the home and gift industry. We’re excited to see what our design community and the NYIGF show participants create together.”

Founded in 2011, Red Clay is a product design platform in which an online community of designers, brands and consumers congregate for one purpose: to turn good ideas into compelling objects for the home. In its commissioned work with brands, Red Clay issues design projects on which its entire design community may collaborate. Designers submit work based on the project creative brief and deliverables. Consumers critique, curate and ultimately select the designs that will be produced. Designers interested in joining the Red Clay community can find more information at: www.redclaydesign.com

NYIGF is the nation’s premier gift, home and lifestyle marketplace, with 2,800 exhibiting companies featuring an extraordinary breadth and depth of design-driven home fashion products and complementary giftware. The winter market takes place Saturday January 26, through Wednesday, January 30, 2013, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94. Some 35,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 80 countries worldwide are expected. Information and registration is available online at www.nyigf.com.