Market Keynote to Address Consumer Shifts in Design

At the upcoming High Point Market, an opening day keynote will discuss findings from the 2026 Whole-Home Design Study by HPMA and NKBA.

The High Point Market Authority (HPMA) has announced its opening day keynote event for High Point Market, taking place Saturday, October 17, at 3 p.m. in the High Point Theater.

Reflecting the market’s partnership with the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), the keynote – titled “Evolution of the Home: The Consumer Shifts Reshaping Design & What It Means for Your Business” – draws from the 2026 Whole-Home Design Study jointly organized by HPMA and NKBA. The session will explore the evolving relationship between kitchen and bath professionals, interior designers, and the broader home furnishings industry.

NKBA Global President and CEO Bill Darcy and HPMA President and CEO Tammy Covington will present the study’s findings, examining cross-disciplinary collaboration among design professionals, identifying key growth opportunities, and discussing how shifting consumer expectations are reshaping residential design.

“As the largest trading and educational hub for the design industry, we’ve partnered with NKBA on this inaugural, one-of-a-kind survey, and we’re thrilled to reveal the findings at our Saturday Keynote event in October,” Covington said. “High Point Market is the design industry’s destination for growth strategies that move business forward.”

Darcy added, “As the leading resource for kitchen and bath professionals, NKBA is proud to bring our research capabilities to this partnership with High Point. Kitchen and bath design continues to shape the rest of the home, and this collaborative study will equip industry professionals with valuable insights to better serve their clients and grow their businesses with confidence.”

Survey participants included NKBA members, Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) attendees, and design professionals from HPMA’s database. With research concluding earlier this spring, the study’s findings will be revealed for the first time during the Fall Market event.

The Saturday keynote is presented by HPMA in partnership with NKBA. The High Point Theater is located adjacent to the Transportation Terminal, with doors opening at 2:30 p.m. to all registered High Point Market guests.

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