It takes a bold personality to stand out in New York. That held especially true during May’s busy NYCxDesign festival, which included both the International Contemporary Furniture Festival (ICFF) and plenty of off-site events that led me along the Hudson River, deep into Brooklyn, and even into the residence of the Consul General of Sweden. At each stop, major brands and independent designers had to compete with the city to capture fairgoers’ attention — and imagination.

This year’s exhibitors held their own by flexing some creative muscle. New furniture, rugs and lighting all demonstrated serious heft — more aligned with the weighty, brutalist architecture of Marcel Breuer’s old Whitney Museum than the glassy, pencil-thin towers springing up in Midtown. That same solid spirit carried over to the week’s material palette, too. Most standouts were made entirely from a single, substantial medium, whether it was ceramic, travertine or timber. Best of all, this material consciousness extended beyond form to also address sustainability, and plenty of products adopted reclaimed, recycled or biodegradable components. Because what’s even better than a strong, sturdy design? One that’s ready to decompose somewhere down the road.

1

Timber Tables

Montreal-based Lauren Goodman’s series celebrates the beauty of the beam. In this case, a mix of salvaged timber and locally harvested wood from Quebec has been assembled by the designer into coffee and end tables offered in a natural or blackened finish. Goodman’s long-standing concern with the challenge of local waste fuels her materially driven practice. 

_{Hear from Lauren Goodman as part of the session “Product Design, From Local to Global” at Azure’s Human/Nature 2025 conference, taking place October 29-30 in Toronto. Get your tickets now.}

2

Doux

Crafted by Montana-based designer Kelsie Rudolph, Doux is a six-piece ceramic furniture collection that takes its inspiration from French architecture. The hand-built stools, which could double as side tables or sculptures, are made entirely of clay and glazed in a palette of soft neutrals. 

3

M_001 and M_013 Chairs

Monolith Studio’s sculptural forms blur the line between furniture and collectible design. Its M_001 and M_013 chairs exhibit a minimalist approach that engages heavy proportions and gorgeous materials (carved from travertine, for example, or rendered in solid wood), with striking results that may be better appreciated standing versus sitting. 

4

Helm

First introduced last year, the Helm lighting collection by Brooklyn-based Pelle was expanded this May with the Helm Oblique Ring chandelier (shown) and Helm Oblique table lamp. The bold geometric forms shine in handcrafted solid aluminum with a hand-brushed finish. 

5

Plane

Joining Resident’s Plane collection this year is a lounge chair designed by Jamie McLellan. Crafted in New Zealand from solid American oak, it takes a stoic stance with five elements that come together like a stack of building blocks.

6

Bon Triple

New York–based RBW claims that the Bon Triple “owns the room,” and it really does. First spotted in its new Tribeca showroom, the fixture commands attention with its oversized glass globes and minimalist felt shade. Designed by Alex Brokamp, the Bon series also comes in small and large single pendants.

7

Fasad

For over 100 years, Kasthall has been designing and crafting rugs in Sweden with an ethos of longevity. A collaboration with British architect David Chipperfield, the Fasad collection is inspired by bricks, and is available in solid (Uno) or striped (Duo) versions composed of 25 per cent recycled wool content.

8

Gantri Made

Conscious production is a key part of Gantri’s approach to manufacturing. The company’s new Gantri Made platform offers product designers access to its plant polymers derived from non-GMO sugarcane. Every product is made on demand in San Leandro, California, bypassing the need for large inventories and unsold product waste. At NYCxDesign, it debuted three collaborations, with Rarify, Haworth and RAD, whose Little Dot table lamp is shown here.

Tala Asa

Designed in Belgium and made in High Point, North Carolina, by local artisans, this series of five light sculptures by Frero Collective combines re-used stone and minerals with a resin binder. The lights are then hand finished with natural plaster paint (in five earth-toned colours) to evoke adobe buildings.