FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 2008

Contact:
Jane Matteson, executive director
American Society of Furniture Designers
Phone 336.617.3209
Fax 336.274.9553
info@asfd.com

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF FURNITURE DESIGNERS ISSUES CALL FOR ENTRIES FOR 2008 PINNACLE AWARDS

GREENSBORO, N.C. ‑ The American Society of Furniture Designers is accepting entries for its annual Pinnacle Design Achievement awards that will be presented at the October 2008 High Point Market. Deadline for entries is July 30.

The Pinnacle awards are open worldwide to any designer or manufacturer; and membership in ASFD is not a requirement for entry.

For the 2008 awards, eligible products must meet the following criteria:

• Generally available to the public in retail stores
• Currently in production
• Introduced since October 2006
• Exhibited at a major retail furniture market or be available in at least 20 retail stores in the United States.

The Pinnacles are given in the following 15 product categories:

• Accessories
• Bedroom
• Casual dining
• Formal dining
• Home entertainment centers
• Home office
• Juvenile furniture
• Leather upholstery
• Lighting
• Major collections
• Motion upholstery
• Occasional storage
• Occasional tables
• Stationary upholstery
• Summer/casual furniture

"I'm really looking forward to the Pinnacle Award process, said Executive Director Jane Matteson, who was named to her position earlier this year. "We are already getting requests for entry forms and feel there will great interest in the 2008 Pinnacle Awards."

The ASFD’s board of directors instituted the Pinnacle Awards in 1995 to promote better design quality and to encourage the recognition of furniture designers among home furnishing retailers. Consequently, the awards are for designs that are produced in large volume for sale to consumers through retail stores, rather than for limited or custom production sold through designers or design showrooms.

Information about the categories, eligibility criteria, entry requirements and the entry for are available online at www.asfdpinnacle.com/downloads or by calling 336-617-3209 or fax 336-274-9553.

For the third year, Furniture/Today is the major underwriter of the Pinnacle Awards and will team with ASFD in planning the gala celebration for finalists and winners on opening day of the October market in High Point.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Jane Matteson, executive director
Phone (336) 617-3209
Cell (336) 312-7725
Fax (336) 274-9553
Email info@asfd.com
Web www.asfd.com

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF FURNITURE DESIGNERS
NAMES JUDGES FOR 2008 PINNACLE AWARDS

GREENSBORO, N.C., May 15, 2008 – A dozen industry experts have been selected to judge the 2008 Pinnacle Awards for design excellence, which will be presented by the American Society of Furniture Designers at a gala on opening night of the next High Point Market, Monday, Oct. 6.

Entries for the awards will be accepted through July 30; and judging will take place Aug. 5 in High Point. The 2008 judges are:

		Terry Allen – retired furniture veteran. Allen is well-known throughout the furniture industry for his artistry in fabric placement for upholstered furniture. Before retiring in 2007, he was responsible for merchandising at Pearson Co. for almost 30 years. He generously shares his knowledge through American Society of Interior Designers-accredited presentations for students and designers.
		Richard Bennington – professor of business and director of the home furnishings program at High Point University. Bennington coordinates the National Home Furnishings Assn. Management Development Institute and serves on the boards of the Furniture Discovery Center and the Bienenstock Furniture Library. He is a faculty and accreditation board member of the International Home Furnishings Representatives Assn. Certified Home Furnishings Representatives Program.
		Daren Koenig Cronin - manager of the Dianne Davant Academy of Design at Florida-based retailer City Furniture. Cronin created an affordable residential design firm within an already-successful furniture retailer. AOD clients spend an average of four times as much as non-AOD customers at City Furniture.
		Judith Z. Cushman-Hammer – an adjunct lecturer in the Interior Architecture Program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Cushman-Hammer specializes in the history of furniture from King Tut to Phillipe Starke. A former Furniture/Today and Home Accents Today editor, Cushman-Hammer also has worked with design-driven home furnishings companies through her consulting firm J.Z. Cushman and Company.
		Gary Evans - a senior editor at trade newspaper Furniture/Today. Evans has been covering the home furnishings industry for nearly 20 years. His assignments have taken him to nine countries and he has served as a design award judge at the Cebu Furniture Show in the Philippines, and at this year’s International Furniture Fair Singapore/Asean Furniture Show.
		Ellen Gefen - home fashion industry spokesperson, hosting Industry Update’s Home Fashion Report at the High Point Market for more than 23 years. Gefen and her husband own Gefen Productions, a media production studio in the Triad region of North Carolina and are known for their work in the home furnishings industry including TV commercials for retailers and manufacturers.
		Jaclyn C. Hirschhaut – vice president of public relations and marketing for the American Home Furnishings Alliance. Hirschhaut directs AHFA’s consumer marketing program and serves as the liaison with media, government agencies and related industry groups. She won the “Golden Thinker Award” from the North American Press Syndicate in 2006.
		Sheila Long O'Mara - editor in chief of Home Furnishings Business magazine. O'Mara has been covering the furniture industry for 12 years for a variety of publications. She lives in Columbia, S.C.
		Max S. Shangle  - a teacher of furniture and industrial design at Kendall College of Art & Design in Grand Rapids, Mich. Shangle has served as chair of both the Furniture Design Department and the Division of Design Studies. He also has been managing director of the Grand Rapids Area Furniture Manufacturers Assn., and has been an expert witness and case consultant in product liability cases involving furniture products.
		Julie M. Smith – editor of Furniture Style magazine and supplements, Home Fashion Forecast and The Retail Experience. Smith attends home furnishings markets and trade shows in North America, Europe and Asia and has judged other furniture design competitions including CWB magazine's Design Portfolio Awards and the International Woodworking Fair's Design Emphasis Awards.
		Steve Walker – associated with the Furniture Manufacturing and Management Center at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. Walker has more than 20 years of manufacturing management experience with a broad range of furniture companies, including The Hon Company, Ethan Allen Furniture and Thomasville Furniture Inds.
		Rhonda Wolf – assistant vice president, merchandising, Havertys, Atlanta. Wolf joined Havertys in 1986 and has held management positions including store manager, assistant general manager, merchandise coordinator and regional merchandise manager before joining the corporate merchandising team in her present role in 2002.

Pinnacle Awards are given in 15 categories:

1. Major Collections
2. Stationary Upholstery
3. Motion Furniture
4. Leather Upholstery
5. Bedroom
6. Casual Dining
7. Formal Dining
8. Home Office
9. Juvenile Furniture and Correlates
10. Lighting
11. Accessories
12. Entertainment Centers/Home Theater
13. Occasional Tables
14. Occasional Storage
15. Summer/Casual Furniture

Criteria for judging include the extent to which the design represents value to the consumer at its suggested price point by combining visual appearance and function; the extent to which the design makes the best use of available materials and production technology; and the extent to which the design incorporates the needs of the retail furniture consumer.

Furniture/Today is the major underwriter of the 2008 Pinnacle Awards. Other sponsors include World Market Center, High Point Market, Furniture Style, Weyerhaeuser, Showplace, Appalachian Hardwoods, International Home Furnishings Center, Home Furnishings Business, Home Lighting and Accessories, Merchandise Mart Properties, Leggett & Platt, Elmo Leather, Hickory Springs, Furniture Design Studios Inc.

Entries should be sent to ASFD at 519 Cornwallis Dr., Greensboro, N.C., 29408, in time to arrive by July 30. Entry requirements can be viewed on the ASFD Web site at www.asfd.com or call (336) 617-3209.

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The purpose of the ASFD Pinnacle Design Achievement Awards is to promote better design quality and to encourage the recognition of furniture designers within the retail home furnishings industry. The Awards are intended to celebrate designs that are produced in large numbers for sale to consumers through retail stores. The awards are not intended for craft products or products produced in limited quantities.

• The extent to which the design represents value to the consumer at its suggested price point by combining visual appearance and function
• The extent to which the design makes the best use of available materials and production technology
• The extent to which the design incorporates the needs of the retail furniture consumer

PINNACLE AWARD CATEGORIES

MAJOR COLLECTIONS Entries in this category will include dining and bedroom collections of least 30 pieces. Other categories, for example upholstery, lighting or accessories can be included if part of the collection. Pieces or groups that are a part of the collection may not be entered in other categories.

STATIONARY UPHOLSTERY Includes upholstered pieces with moving trays, shelves, etc., as long as the movement does not affect the posture of the person seated. Entry may be by individual pieces or by group.

MOTION UPHOLSTERY Includes pieces whose motion changes the posture and comfort of the person seated. Entry may be made by piece or by group.

LEATHER FURNITURE Includes upholstered furniture, either motion or stationary, where the predominant covering is leather. Judging will be based in part on how well the design accommodates the unique problems and opportunities created by leather-upholstered furniture.

BEDROOM Includes headboards, mirrors, nightstands, chests, dressers and other storage units intended primarily for bedroom use. Entry may be by piece or by group.

CASUAL DINING Includes table and chairs of various sizes intended for casual use. Entry may be by piece or group.

FORMAL DINING Includes table, chairs, buffets, china cabinets, etc. intended for formal dining room use. Entry must be by a group consisting of armchairs, side chairs, at least one size table, and at least one form of tableware storage.

HOME OFFICE Includes desks, seating, and storage intended for home office. The intent is to combine office functionality with style and sizing suitable for home use. Entry may be made by piece or by group.

JUVENILE FURNITURE AND CORRELATES Includes furniture for infants and youth bedrooms including beds, children's room accessories, and storage. Entry may be made by individual piece or group.

LIGHTING Includes portable lighting intended for home use. Entry may be by piece or by group.

ACCESSORIES Includes functional and decorative accessories intended for home use. Entry may be by piece or by group.

ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS/HOME THEATER Entries in this category include individual or multiple units (groupings) that accommodate audio/video components.

OCCASIONAL TABLES Includes cocktail, lamp, sofa, console, and other tables for occasional use. Includes moving tables such as serving carts. Entry may be by piece or group.

OCCASIONAL STORAGE Includes occasional furniture whose primary function is storage. Included are wall units, etageres, curio cabinets, or movable storage intended for home use. Entry may be by piece or group, etc. It does not include entertainment or home theater furniture.

SUMMER/CASUAL FURNITURE Includes tables, chairs and other furniture designed primarily for outdoor or leisure-time settings such as sun rooms, porches or atriums.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

1. All Pinnacle entries must be received on or before July 30, 2008.

2. Each Pinnacle entry must be enclosed in a report cover or binder with the 2008 Pinnacle Entry Form included as the cover sheet or first page of the package. Multiple entries may be submitted with one Check covering the total Entry Fees.

3. Each Pinnacle entry must include glossy photographs, printed catalog sheets, or color photocopies. Small samples of fabric, leather or wood may be submitted—not larger than 8-l/2 x 11 inches—and must be attached or bound within the package.

4. All submitted materials will become the property of ASFD and will not be returned.

5. ASFD is the sole judge of the qualifications and eligibility of each entry and reserves the right to make whatever inquiries are appropriate to validate the information submitted in the Entry Form. An entry which fails to meet the eligibility criteria will be disqualified.

6. Any entry that ASFD deems to be a copy or derivative of an existing piece or group will be immediately disqualified.

7. Previous admissable entries may be resubmitted if they were not selected as finalists before.

8. Pinnacle Awards Finalists will be notified by email within two days after the Judging which takes place in High Point on August 5, 2008. Each finalist will then be asked to submit an electronic ZIP file to include a Microsoft Word document (.doc file) containing: product name, description & price, designer name and brief (paragraph) biography, manufacturer name/description and contact information. Both High and Low resolution images of the product and the designers will be required. High-resolution images to be used for print & publication should be 300dpi and preferably CMYK color scheme. Low-res images for the ASFD Pinnacle Web site should be 72dpi and constrained to a maximum of 200px by 200px for designers, and 250px by 250px for products. This means, one direction (width or height) should be maximum, the other direction may be less or equal as long as one side is equal to the maximum.

9. Furniture/Today, 2008 Pinnacle Awards Underwriter will publish the Pinnacle Awards Press Booklet highlighting all Pinnacle finalists as a special supplement to their October pre-Market and/or opening day publications. The ASFD Pinnacle Awards Web site will feature same.

10. The 2008 ASFD Pinnacle Awards banquet is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 6, 2008 during the High Point Market where all Pinnacle Finalists will be honored and the Winners announced in a special ceremony. Winners will receive a glass Pinnacle Award statue and all Finalists will receive Pinnacle Awards Certificates.

ELIGIBILITY & PRODUCT CRITERIA

The ASFD Pinnacle Awards are open to all furniture designers and manufacturers meeting certain conditions with respect to products being exhibited and sold in the United States. If a manufacturer submits the entry, the names of the designer/s must be given, rather than using generic credits such as "design staff". Up to three designers can be credited. If one designer is an ASFD member, then the Member application fee will apply. For ASFD members, the fee is $60.00 per entry; for non-ASFD members, the fee is $85.00 per entry. The Product entered must be in current production and must have been shown at one of the following major retail furniture markets since October 2006; or be available in at least 20 retail stores in the U.S. Each location of a retail operation can count as one of the stores.

High Point, NC (October 2, 2007)  -  The American Society of Furniture Designers (ASFD) celebrated its 2007 Twelfth Annual Pinnacle Design Achievement Awards on Monday evening at the High Point International Home Furnishings Center Ballroom
 
Following a gala reception sponsored by Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company, Jack Lewis, ASFD president welcomed the nearly 300 industry guests and thanked all of the 2007 sponsors for their outstanding Pinnacle support  beginning with Furniture/Today who serves as the Major Underwriter of the annual Pinnacle Awards, and including Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, Elmo Leather, Furniture Style, Hafele America Co., Hickory Springs Mfg., High Point Market Authority, Home Furnishings Business, Home Lighting & Accessories, International Home  Furnishings Center, Leggett & Platt,  Merchandise Mart Properties, SHOWPLACE, Weyerhaeuser and World Market Center Las Vegas.

Steve Hodges, ASFD 2007 Pinnacle Awards Chairman introduced the 2007 Pinnacle Judges who were Dr. Richard Bennington, High Point University; Clint Engel, FurnitureToday; Leslie Fishbein, Kacey Fine Furniture, Denver; Ellen Gefen, Industry Fashion Update; Francel Goude, RFG-Global Design Group; Jackie Hirschhaut, AHFA; Sheila Long O'Mara, Home Furnishings Business; Max Shangle, Kendall College of Art & Design; Julie Smith, Furniture Style and its supplements, Steve Walker, NC State/Furniture Manufacturing and Management Center; and Rhonda Wolf, Havertys, Atlanta.

As evening master of ceremonies, Furniture/Today editor-in-chief Ray Allegrezza introduced the participating Pinnacle presenters who were special guests from the furniture retail community.  They included Caroline Hipple, HB/2 Resources; Jim Gabbert, Gabberts Fine Furnishings; Leslie Fishbein, Kacey Fine Furniture; Cathy Allen, Badcock Furniture; and Tony Wilkerson, Havertys.

The 2007 Pinnacle Award winners including comments  from the Pinnacle Judges are:

Occasional Tables
Wilshire Blvd.
Berry & Clark Design Associates for Bernhardt Furniture
Judges Comments:
This collection is defined by strong contemporary lines boldly combining materials.  The tables are cleverly  accented with inlaid lines of brushed nickel to create decorative lines emphasizing the rectilear motif of the collection.

Occasional Storage
Family Communication Centers
Valerie Schmieder, ASFD for Sligh Furniture Co.
Judges Comments:
Functionality meets good looks for the way we live and work in our homes today.  Size and scale make it easy to take grateful  advantage of the clever storage of the table making the collection versatile and useful. 

Juvenile Furniture
Hang Time & Free Time
Abigail Eaton, ASFD & Dudley Moore, Jr., ASFD for Lea Industries, Inc.
Judges Comments:
Available in multiple finishes, this collection  features clean, asysmmetrical cases with endless possibilities for configurations dedicated to the various needs of children as they age.  A special feature is an "iPod" ready bed with speakers and a docking station hidden by a sliding storage compartment.

Casual Dining
Hudson                                                           
John Kolkka, ASFD for Charleston Forge
Judges Comments:
This winning collection adapts beautifully from a contemporary lifestyle to a mountain retreat, cityscape or tradional setting.  Hammered steel balances the smooth metal with a multi-hued finish giving this collection versatility in style yet accessible to many interior design schemes.

Formal Dining
Wilshire Blvd.                                                 
Berry & Clark Design Associates for Bernhardt Furniture
Judges Comments:
Banquet seating option allows flexibility and placement in a room.  The shapely curio offers unique storage options.  The round table is complimented by a sideboard combining an air of sophistication with casual comfort.

Motion Upholstery
Clever Recliner & Ottoman                           
Michael Shields for American Leather
Judges Comments:
Elegant, contemporary and sleek with an advanced unidirectional suspension system providing  maximum comfort and support in a recliner resting at a unique 45-degree angle.  This permits the proprietary mechanism to adjust to an individual's body weight giving the upmost and maximum comfort available in motion furniture.

Stationary Upholstery
Hayden                                                           
Debra Halsey-Strother for Vanguard Furniture
Judges Comments:
The graceful, curvelinear back parallels the detail on the front rail with exquisite nail-head trim appointed with graceful wood accents to create a formal, yet comfortable upholstered centerpiece for any room.

Leather Upholstery
MOOD                                                            
Normand Couture for Couture International
Judges Comments:
This winner combines couture detailing with a low profile and plush, deep seated comfort with a contemporary flair to make any environment both interesting and exciting. 

Accessories
Contemporary Custom Rugs                         
Pia Cyrulnik, ASFD for The Contemporary Couch
Judges Comments:
Inspiring custom carpet designs help to accentuate upholstery invigorating any interior with color, style and texture.

Lighting
Stage Floor Lamp                                          
Ian Fowler for Visual Comfort, Inc.
Judges Comments:
Creatively designed, multi-positioned lamp exhibits a dramatic yet playfully modern silhouette with a variety of lighting effects.  The  unique slotted shade and diffuser is available with a variety of finishes making it easy and fun to integrate into any interior design.

Home Office
Liv360                                                            
Andy Nielsen & Ken Levi for Aspenhome
Judges Comments:
Reflecting ultimate functionality in a small, contained footprint, this home office is a perfect example of  versatility for the way families live today.  This winning design maximizes every square inch offering the upmost in work surfaces and/or storage options.

Home Entertainment Centers
Medley                                                             
Ron Watson for Riverside Furniture Corp.
Judges Comments:
This collection contains a melage of materials which are very current signaling the importance of texture and surface interest in today’s home furnishings;  adaptable for use with different entertainment systems and diverse style categories.

 Summer/Casual
Kyoto Collection                                            
Richard Frinier, ASFD for Century Furniture
Judges Comments:
A perfect example of  taking outdoor or patio furniture to a new sophisticated level.  It at once demonstrates refined scale but with attention to comfort. There is an extensive range of product to complete any design whether it is used inside the home or out.

Bedroom
Nautica Harrison Collection                                                                          
Troy Hollis for Lexington Home Brands
Judges Comments:
The Nautica Harrison Collection has combined an interesting contrast of textures and materials complimenting the warm, rich finish inspired by Asian influences while still expressing homage to contemporay design.

Major Collections
New Traditional                                             
William Faber for Century Furniture
Judges Comments:
Very versatile collection with engaging colors and adaptable in multiple environments.  The wood and metal combination offer a "wow" factor with the sophisticated tribute to texture and surface interest.

NEW LONDON, North Carolina — Sixty finalists have been chosen in the 2007 12 th Annual ASFD Pinnacle Design Achievement Awards competition, representing 4 finalists in each of the 15 categories.

The Pinnacle judges convened for a full day on August 7 at High Point University's "Norton Hall". The 2007 panel included Dr. Richard Bennington, High Point University; Clint Engel, Furniture/Today; Leslie Fishbein, Kacey Fine Furniture, Denver; Ellen Gefen, Industry Update Home Fashion Report; Francel Goude, RFG-Global Design Group; Jackie Hirschhaut, AHFA; Sheila Long O'Mara, Home Furnishings Business; Max Shangle, Kendall College of Art & Design; Julie Smith, Furniture Style and its supplements; Steve Walker , NC State/Furniture Manufacturing and Management Center; and Rhonda Wolf, Havertys, Atlanta.

The 2007 Pinnacle Awards sponsors include Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, Elmo Leather, Furniture Style, Hafele America Co., Hickory Springs Mfg., High Point Market Authority, Home Furnishings Business,Home Lighting & Accessories, International Home Furnishings Center, Leggett & Platt, Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc., SHOWPLACE, Weyerhaeuser and World Market Center Las Vegas.

Furniture/Today serves as the Major Underwriter of the 2007 Pinnacle Awards. Editor in chief, Ray Allegrezza will serve as emcee at the Awards banquet to be held at the IHFC on Monday evening, October 1 during the High Point market. At that time, all finalists will be recognized and the winners announced by a team of distinquished industry retail executives.