2008 Design Excellence Awards Competition Rules

Entry Identification Form
Product Description Form
Schedule

If you are a current member of the International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA), now is the time to enter the 2008 Design Excellence Awards Competition. This prestigious, annual awards event is the only awards program focusing exclusively on casual furniture products. This competition is open only to International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA) members whose product will be exhibited at the 2008 International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market™.

All ICFA members who submit Design Excellence entries are expected to attend the Industry Excellence Awards presentation during the Welcome Party on Monday, September 15, from 6–8 p.m. on the 7th floor. All products that can be displayed on the 7th floor will remain on display in a gallery through the awards presentation. Both manufacturers and retailers are invited to attend this event. Winners will be encouraged to stay after the awards ceremony for photo opportunities. Please note that the Lillian B. Winchester “Best of Show” Award will be announced at the 49th annual Apollo Awards on the evening of Wednesday, September 17, 2008.

Casual Living magazine will again be featuring all of the Design Excellence Award entries in the August 2008 issue. The 2008 winners will also be featured in an on-site, Market issue of Casual Living/Garden Décor, which will be distributed after the Industry Excellence Awards. As an added bonus, the July 2008 issue of Casual Living will begin promoting the Design Excellence Competition. The August 2008 issue of Casual Living will include bonus distribution at the September 2008 Spoga show in Germany and at the October 2008 High Point Market. Finally, winners will be featured in the October 2008 issue of Casual Living, also distributed at the October 2008 High Point Market.

The Design Excellence Awards Committee has established entry requirements for each category, which are attached. Please review each category qualification carefully.

If an ICFA member has a product or products that they would like to enter and the product is not represented in one of the current nine categories, the member may submit a written request, recommending to Joseph P. Logan, ICFA Executive Director, that the Design Excellence Committee review the award categories to address the member’s concerns. The nine categories for 2008 are: Cast Metal Furniture, Tubular Materials Furniture, Wrought Iron/Wrought Aluminum Furniture, Resin/Fiberglass Furniture, Rattan/Wicker/Woven Materials Furniture, Wood Casual Furniture, Shade Products, Complementary Casual Products and Outdoor Lighting Products.

We look forward to receiving a record number of entries for 2008 and wish you all the best of luck in the Design Excellence Awards Competition!

Competition Rules

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
A. This competition is open to all ICFA members displaying product in a permanent Merchandise Mart showroom on floors 15,16 or 17, or in the Market Suites on floors 7 or 8, during the 2008 International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market.™

B. All product entries must arrive assembled or will be charged an additional fee for assembly.

C. The nine (9) product categories in which manufacturers may submit product are as follows:

1. Cast Metal Furniture

Frame fabricated primarily from any type of metal casting. The cast materials are integral parts of the structural rigidity of the furniture and not just for decoration. The structural rigidity would generally include the legs or base of the furniture and the armrest (if applicable). The material could be Aluminum, Iron or any other metal or combination thereof.

Dining tables would be included in this category. Either the base frame or the tabletop must meet the applicable description of the category as described above. The top of the table could be made of cast or of another material such as glass or a solid top.

2. Tubular Materials Furniture

Frame fabricated primarily from tubular material.
Tubular material being defined as any hollow or partially hollow tube made from a metal or plastic material. The tube would typically come from an:

• Extrusion, or could be
• Drawn,
• Rolled or
• Formed to make a tube

Material could be Aluminum, Steel, Plastic or a combination thereof. A majority of the frame must be tubular in structure.

Seat & back could be fabricated from the same material. The seat & back are typically sling, cushion or strap in nature but may include other seating materials that would not be described by the other categories.

The overall frame, base and/or (if applicable, the framing of the seat and back) may include decorative non-structural parts such as cast, “cast-like,” wood, plastic, etc. The parts are more for decoration and not integral components of the structural rigidity of the furniture. If the product includes an armrest, then it must include tubular material for the structural rigidity of the armrest. The armrest may combine a decorative cast, wood, plastic part etc.. but must be supported by tubular material.

Dining tables would be included in this category. Either the base frame or the tabletop must meet the applicable description of the category as described above. The tabletop could also be made of another material such as glass or a solid top.

3. Wrought Iron – Wrought Aluminum Furniture

Frame fabricated primarily from a solid iron or aluminum material. Solid material being defined as any solid metal that would typically come from wrought-ing metal, drawn or extruded solid metal but not from a casting. The metal would be Iron or Aluminum in nature or a combination thereof. A majority of the frame must be solid metal in structure.

Seat & back are typically cushion and/or metal mesh in nature but may include other seating materials.

The overall frame, base and/or (if applicable the framing of the seat and back) may include decorative non-structural parts such as cast, “cast-like,” wood, plastic parts, etc.. If the product includes an armrest, then it must include a wrought iron or wrought aluminum material for the structural rigidity of the armrest. The armrest may combine a decorative cast, wood, plastic, etc. but must be supported by a wrought iron or wrought aluminum material.

Dining tables would be included in this category. Either the base frame or the tabletop must meet the applicable description of the category as described above. The tabletop could also be made of another material such as glass or a solid top.

4. Resin Furniture – Fiberglass Furniture

Furniture comprised primarily of resin or fiberglass manufactured by injection molding or other molding techniques or combinations of both

The Frame including the seat and back are fabricated primarily from a molded resin or fiberglass material. Molded resin or fiberglass material being defined as comprised entirely of resin or fiberglass manufactured by injection molding or other molding techniques or combinations of both.

Dining tables would be included in this category if the base frame met the applicable description of the frame as described above.

5. Rattan/Wicker/Woven Materials Furniture

Furniture comprised primarily of Rattan/Wicker/Woven materials and/or Rattan/Wicker like materials

The Frame could be fabricated from any material.

The Seat, back and/or frame could be fabricated from or covered with any woven material that gives the furniture a “Rattan/Wicker-like” appearance.

Dining tables would be included in this category. Either the base frame or the tabletop must meet the applicable description of the category as described above. The tabletop could also be made of another material such as glass or a solid top.

6. Wood Casual Furniture

Furniture fabricated primarily of natural wood

The furniture design must be casual in nature and should be designed for a “non covered” or covered “outdoor air” environment. The furniture may have an outdoor/indoor design but should not be designed primarily for indoor use.

Dining tables would be included in this category. Either the base frame or the tabletop must meet the applicable description of the category as described above. The tabletop could also be made of another material such as glass or a solid top.

7. Shade Products

Umbrellas and other shade products designed for protection from the sun and elements. The shade products should be designed for outdoor use

8. Outdoor Lighting

Portable lighting (such as table lamps, floor lamps, garden and accessory lighting) that are Underwriters Laboratory listed for outdoor wet locations or using the twelve (12) volt system

9. Complementary Casual Products

This category encompasses all other non-furniture products. Examples of appropriate items are swings, hammocks, plant stands, accessory tables, outdoor hearth and heating products, alternative tabletops (no bases), etageres, etc. These products typically include accessories for all of the furniture categories. This category would not include dining tables, outdoor lighting or shade products.

D. An ICFA member may submit no more than two (2) product entries per category, and must select one piece per collection to enter. An entire collection may not be entered. If the committee thinks a product is more valid in another category, we reserve the right to move it to its proper category. All ICFA members with multiple industry brand names may submit no more than two (2) product entries per category. In the event a manufacturer would like to submit more than two (2) product entries per category under a different brand name, then the manufacturer must register and pay the ICFA dues as two or more separate members. NOTE: There must be a minimum of three entries within a category in order for the category to be judged. In the event that there are less than three entries received, please refer to Section J.

E. PLEASE NOTE: If you want to submit the same product(s) for the Design Excellence Competition and New Product Gallery, you must send 2 of the same product, 1 for Design Excellence and 1 for New Product Gallery. As the Design excellence entries will be on display during a portion of the Market, they will not be moved to the New Product Gallery.

F. Product must be a new introduction since the 2007 International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market. You will be requested to sign off on the entry registration form that the product meets this requirement.

G. A distinguished panel of judges will evaluate all entries on Friday, September 12, 2008. Joe Logan, Executive Director of the ICFA, will monitor this judging process.

H. If a product entry has unique operational or functional features, it is the responsibility of the manufacturer to communicate those to the ICFA. If the manufacturer should elect to do so, they may submit a video describing the unique operational/functional features or schedule an appointment with the ICFA Executive Director to demonstrate those features prior to judging. Videos should be submitted and requests for appointments received no later than two business days preceding the competition judging, Wednesday, September 10. Unique operational/functional features of a product entry must also be explained on the Product Description Form as discussed in a subsequent section.

I. No product identification, manufacturer name, showroom/Market Suite number, designer, etc., will be given to the judges prior to the judging process. However, please be sure to mark the shipment properly with the manufacturer name on the crate exterior and include a business card on the inside of the crate. All shipments and products must be insured by participant for any loss whatsoever during the event.

J. Judges will base their selections on actual product, not photos. The criteria include: imaginative use of materials; product innovation; color; construction; overall design and marketability.

K. All products that can be displayed on the 7th floor will remain on display in a gallery through the Monday night Welcome Party September 15th.

Products will be returned to temporary booths between 8 p.m. and midnight on Monday, September 15. Products will be left in front of your booth.

Products will be returned to the permanent showrooms on Tuesday, September 16 at the following times:
17th Floor 7 – 8 a.m.
16th Floor 8 – 9 a.m.
15th Floor 9 – 10 a.m.

Note for Permanent Showrooms: A representative must be available to receive product. If the showroom is not open during this time the product entries will be left in the hall in front of the showroom at your own risk. The showroom will then be responsible for moving the product back into the showroom.

L. The Lillian B. Winchester Award for “Best of Show” will be presented to one product selected from among the award-winning products in each of the nine categories. Any entry from a category not judged due to the lack of entries will be considered and judged for this Award. The Lillian B. Winchester Award for the “Best of Show” will be announced at the 2008 Apollo Awards banquet on the evening of Wednesday, September 17, 2008

M. The Entry Identification Form must be filled in completely. This form should be typed, as it will be submitted to Casual Living/Garden Décor as an informational piece to accompany your product photo. If more than one item is being entered, copy the form and fill out each form separately. If you do not want the image published, please note that on the entry form. Entry Identification Forms will not be accepted beyond 5 p.m. on Friday, June 20, 2008.

N. The Product Description Form must be filled in completely. It is to include one or two descriptive paragraphs (50 words or less) highlighting the construction, materials used, operational/functional elements, content as well as suggested retail price. The Product Description Form accompanies your product in the judging process. Therefore, to maintain discretion and the integrity of the competition with the judges, there must be no reference or indication of manufacturer’s name, no showroom or Market Suite numbers mentioned, etc. Product Description Forms will not be accepted beyond 5 p.m. on Friday, June 20, 2008.

O. IMPORTANT REMINDER: Each Entry Identification Form must be accompanied by the following:

• A fully completed and typed Product Description Form for each item entered along with a photograph, drawing or rendering of the entered product (for identification during the setting of the competition). Do not forget to fill in the suggested retail price.
• Material will not be returned to you unless special arrangements are made with Jaclyn Kotzum, MMPI, Director of Marketing, 312-527-7764 or jkotzum@mmart.com.

For inclusion in the August issue of Casual Living magazine, each Entry Identification Form may be accompanied by the following:

• Digital image of product(s) entered on CD at a minimum of 300 DPI, sized 4x6” and preferably in a TIF format. (Note: This competition is being judged on product design; not landscape or lifestyle.)

• Material will not be returned to you unless special arrangements are made with Jaclyn Kotzum, MMPI, Director of Marketing, 312-527-7764 or jkotzum@mmart.com.

P. Deadline for receipt of all forms and images is 5 p.m. on Friday, June 20, 2008. Please mail, fax or e-mail to:

Jaclyn Kotzum
Design Excellence Award Entry
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.
Suite 470, The Merchandise Mart
Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: 312-527-7764 Fax: 312-379-6053
jkotzum@mmart.com

Q. Products should arrive between Tuesday, September 2nd and Friday September 5th, from 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Deadline for receiving the actual product entry at The Merchandise Mart for judging purposes is 3 p.m. on Friday, September 5, 2008. Send product to:

The International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market
DESIGN EXCELLENCE AWARDS COMPETITION
The Merchandise Mart West Dock
470 The Merchandise Mart
Chicago, IL 60654
ATTN: DAVE FOLEY

If you need further shipping instructions or procedures, contact Dave Foley at 312-527-7563.

R. IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR PRE-MARKET PARTICIPANTS: If you would like to submit a product that you will be showing at Pre-Market, we will store the product for you. All Design Excellence Products will be stored together. To store your product you must notify Jaclyn Kotzum by July 11th at 312.527.7764 or jkotzum@mmart.com.
Please put your product in a separate crate and label your crate with the following:

Company Name
September Booth #
DESIGN EXCELLENCE AWARDS COMPETITION
Name of Product

If your Design Excellence product is crated with the rest of the products you store you will be charged for the time and labor to open crates to find your entry. If we cannot clearly identify which product is the entry, it will not be judged.

S. IMPORTANT: ALL PRODUCT ENTRIES MUST ARRIVE ASSEMBLED. If the product entry arrives at The Merchandise Mart, unassembled, the manufacturer or its representatives is responsible for set-up or assembly by Mart Union Dock Personnel for a fee that will be charged back to your booth. To arrange set-up or assembly, call Dave Foley at 312-527-7563. Products must be assembled by Friday, September 5, 2008. Make your arrangements early so you can be sure to meet all deadlines. There will be absolutely no exceptions to the deadlines. Disqualification will result if all above listed prerequisites are not properly followed.

If you are interested in participating, please fill out and submit the Entry Identification Form and Product Description Form by June 20, 2008.

A condensed deadline schedule is available by clicking here.