In the global calendar of international design debuts, New York always follows Milan. Yet, while Salone del Mobile remains a dominant global force, New York’s design week, NYCxDesign, is more than a mere stateside follow-up, offering up an expansive collection of offsite shows and a trade fair in one of the world’s most dynamic cities.

This year, there was no shortage of shows to see, talks to attend and neighbourhoods to explore. Anchored by the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) trade show — which includes Wanted, a can’t-miss feature for emerging talents — my busy schedule was rounded out by a wealth of shows and exhibitions, plus a bonus visit to the Smithsonian Design Triennial at the Cooper Hewitt museum. It all made for an invigorating trip — and a reminder that one of the best ways to understand a city, even one you already know well, is through art and design.

Debuts at ICFF/Wanted

Heller’s expanded Vignelli Collection is distinguished by bold new colourways and more sustainable new plastics. Photo courtesy of Heller.

It’s hard to not see the world through the lens of the climate crisis. International brands and small companies alike addressed this top-of-mind issue in their designs. In 2025, Heller partnered with Worry Free Plastics to transform their recyclable products into fully regenerative materials, including an expansion of their Vignelli Collection with six new colours, free of microplastics at end-of-life. Lighting company Gantri uses an industrial biodegradable plant polymer in their quirky and colourful lights that are made on-demand in California.

Anony Pola Collection.

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Daniel Gruetter’s offcut cabinetry.

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Gantri lighting.

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Lauren Goodman collection.

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Lauren Goodman collection.

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Toronto-based lighting studio Anony expands their Pola collection, with pendant, sconce and floor lamp versions, all made in the Greater Toronto Area. NYC-based Frero Collective makes textured light sculptures with re-used stone, while Torontonian Daniel Gruetter salvages woodshop offcuts in an elegant cabinet resembling quilted patchwork, and Montreal-based Lauren Goodman continues her line of sculptural furniture made using discarded objects and reclaimed timber beams.

Shelter by Afternoon Light

New Zealand-based Resident debuted an expansion of their Plane collection, anchored by the striking Plane lounge chair by Jamie McLellan.

A new fair this year was Shelter, organized by Afternoon Light, an online destination for home décor and furniture (launched by Deirdre Maloney and Minya Quirk of the Shoppe Object trade show). For three days, Shelter assembled over 80 furniture, lighting, and design collectives in the Starrett-Lehigh Building, a former freight terminal and warehouse (dating to the 1930s) on the Hudson River. 

HEAKO’s striking lighting juxtaposes sleek glass globes and polished metal with the rough, elemental textures of rocks and minerals.

Of particular note was a group show organized and guest curated by Chen Chen & Kai Williams for JONALDDUDD. Set on a shag carpet backdrop, the selection brought together an eclectic yet artfully organized assortment; a new line of paper cord Woven Structures by USM in collaboration with designer Henry Julier; sculptural lighting by HEAKO mixing glass globes with rocks and polished metals; a lounge area by Moooi to introduce their Haybale Lounge collection designed by Nicholas Baker. The showcase was complemented by an engaging series of talks.

Lines, Squares and Painterly Light at PELLE

PELLE’s botanically inspired Lure series draws the eye in a beautifully adapted industrial workshop.

It was well-worth a trip to Brooklyn to see Lines, Squares and Painterly Light, an exhibition of 24 new works by Jean and Oliver Pelle in their gorgeous Red Hook workshop. PELLE’s expansive repertoire includes lighting, furniture, and paintings, curated into vignettes. Lighting spans from clusters of clear and hand-painted glass globes (Bubble Chandelier series), to botanical expressions with cotton paper leaves (Lure series) and industrial forms made of hand-finished aluminum plates and exposed welds (Helm series).

PELLE’s bold, angular Helm Series showcases the “hard angles and crude geometries [that] permeate our everyday environment.”

The Family Show at Love House

The playfully unconventional collection at Love House includes an art piece by Atarah Atkinson (on the wall), as well as a walnut chair by Monolith Studio (back LEFT), the sculptural Martini Table by J.T. Gibson, a bold armchair by Alter Ego (both centre), and a chandelier by StudioDanielK.

On Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Love House is an eclectic showroom with a curated roster of both emerging and established designers from around the world. Founders and longtime friends Jared Heinrich and Aric Yeakey debuted their first-ever group exhibition The Family Show with more than 60 pieces spread over two floors. Oxblood red floors, plinths and curtains anchored a range of unique design objects.

A seemingly precariously perched armoire by Jackrabbit Studio (right) is among the Love House standouts. The expressive ULU XT1 table by Ara Thorose is seen in the foreground, while a rug by Speny Rugs hangs on the left wall.

A hand-painted bench by Canadian Hamilton Holmes stood out, as did a wood armoire by Jackrabbit Studio of Hudson, New York, a chunky walnut chair by New York City’s Monolith and an ash framed mirror by BNF Studio from Chicago. (It was hard not to make a visual connection between this show and the Ensemble exhibition at the recent DesignTO Festival.) 

RBW’s New Tribeca Flagship

RBW’s new Tribeca Hub puts high-design lighting into a poetic dialogue with the building’s exposed bones.

Well-known New York lighting company RBW (Rich Brilliant Willing) opened their new flagship showroom in Tribeca, designed with architect Neil Logan, in time for NYCxDESIGN 2025. RBW’s eye-catching sconces and pendant lights are set against traces of the building’s former life; exposed brick walls, coloured patches and leftover scribbles.

RBW Tribeca.

Modular MDF display units are accompanied by cleverly curated metal carts displaying photos of RBW’s 10,000 square-metre factory and headquarters (in upstate Kingston, New York), blown-up product images, photos of the showroom before and during the renovation and other curiosities. Products are on display on the ground floor, with private offices on the second floor adjacent to a flex space for gatherings.