{"id":3498,"date":"2026-05-19T00:44:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T00:44:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lightingnewsnow.com\/?p=3498"},"modified":"2026-05-19T00:44:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T00:44:24","slug":"wanted-launch-pad-highlights-emerging-designers-at-icff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lightingnewsnow.com\/?p=3498","title":{"rendered":"Wanted: Launch Pad Highlights Emerging Designers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Still in its infancy, the Launch Pad portion of Wanted \u2013 which is now part of ICFF \u2013 is a showcase for up-and-coming designers to display their prototypes of furniture, home accessories, and lighting.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the \u201cLaunch Pad<\/a>\u201d portion of Wanted is relatively new \u2013 established in 2024 \u2013 its roots are deep. Founded in 2011 in New York City, WantedDesign<\/a> was an annual event that featured the work of up-and-coming furniture designers and coincided with the timing of ICFF<\/a> in Manhattan but was held at a different location and was not affiliated with ICFF per se.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a lighting editor covering a bustling ICFF show at the Javits Center, it was difficult to carve out time to take a detour to check out WantedDesign back in those days. Things have changed, however.        <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to ICFF\u2019s website, the last edition of WantedDesign was in 2019. By 2020, the exhibition transitioned to a new format when it was acquired by Emerald Exhibitions, which owns ICFF. In 2021, it was renamed WantedDesign Manhattan and became a show-within-a-show at ICFF. In 2024. Although that name was shortened to Wanted, it has stayed true to its origins of showcasing recent design school graduates and those just starting out in their design careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To be clear, WantedDesign still exists on its own and continues to encourage participation from young designers globally. Led by a multi generational, multicultural team of women, the WantedDesign organization serves as a crossroad for the international design community across the Americas and Europe. WantedDesign organizers state, \u201cThrough our different programs \u2013 including residencies, design awards, destination travels, and a membership program for emerging designers \u2013 WantedDesign is a hub for the design community with a special focus on emerging talent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, what\u2019s the difference between Wanted and WantedDesign? The ICFF site offers this clarification from WantedDesign:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWantedDesign, the organization, is independently owned and run. It hosts programs like the International Residency in partnership with Industry City [in Brooklyn].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe wanted to clearly differentiate Wanted, the ICFF feature, from WantedDesign, the organization. Wanted is a main feature of ICFF. Our vision is that ICFF can grow with features like Wanted, The Oasis, and Bespoke.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wanted\u2019s relatively new Launch Pad platform for emerging designers focuses on new concepts and prototypes of furniture, home accessories, and lighting. It is designed to serve as a convenient setting where manufacturers can meet new designers and discuss potential products to develop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each of the two categories within Launch Pad \u2013 Furniture\/Home Accessories and Lighting \u2013  feature pre-selected design studios and independent designers from all over the world. That selection was made by  a jury of renowned industry professionals who chose the participating artists for this year\u2019s edition from a large pool of applicants.   In this article, Lighting News Now<\/em> takes a look at some of the lighting designs that debuted as part of the Wanted: Launch Pad showcase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Herbarium Collection<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Juba<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Lighten Up Lab<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Hiroki Nakayama<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Neo Design Studios<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
MIOS<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
OHO Studios<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Nolan T.K. Studio<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Roooms Design<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Ulumulu Design<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
East 38th Studios<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Studio Peter Lim<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Hazel Villena<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Landau Design<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Joint Endeavors<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Karen Simon<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related articles<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ICFF OR ICLF?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ICFF to Run Alongside BDNY in 2027<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Still in its infancy, the Launch Pad portion of Wanted \u2013 which is now part of ICFF \u2013 is a showcase for up-and-coming designers to display their prototypes of furniture, home accessories, and lighting. While the \u201cLaunch Pad\u201d portion of Wanted is relatively new \u2013 established in 2024 \u2013 its roots are deep. Founded in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3516,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":3,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,391],"tags":[1068,831,1067,1065,1066],"class_list":["post-3498","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-featured","tag-emerging-designers","tag-icff","tag-launch-pad","tag-wanted","tag-wanteddesign"],"yoast_head":"\nWanted: Launch Pad Highlights Emerging Designers - Lighting News Now<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Launch Pad portion of Wanted \u2013 which is now part of ICFF \u2013 is a showcase for international emerging designers.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/lightingnewsnow.com\/?p=3498\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Wanted: Launch Pad Highlights Emerging Designers - 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