It will also include a special exhibit on the Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition, celebrating 20 years of exemplary projects by North American architects and designers using Italian ceramics.
The institutional booth will be a wellspring of design inspiration, showcasing the latest introductions in Italian tile. With each collection, manufacturers continue to push the envelope in terms of design and production, transforming ceramic and porcelain into wood, marble, concrete -- even paper -- using advanced technologies and eco-friendly manufacturing processes. Staff will be on hand to give out more information about the products on display as well as the latest developments in the industry.
"We are excited to return to ICFF for a fifth consecutive year," said Franco Manfredini, President of Confindustria Ceramica. "New York is an important market for our Italian companies and the connections they make with high-profile decision makers make it an event we cannot miss."
Pier Paolo Celeste, the new Trade Commissioner for North America at the Italian Trade Commission New York office, adds, "New York has one of the highest concentrations of architects, designers and tastemakers in the country, making ICFF a must-attend event. It is the Italian Trade Commission's mission to offer attendees the chance to witness the latest tile trends, and therefore assist Italian tile manufacturers as they continue to grow in the U.S. market."
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition, an annual celebration of design and architecture, sponsored by Confindustria Ceramica and the Italian Trade Commission. To honor the occasion, a special interactive exhibit designed by Maiarelli Studio will offer a retrospective look at two decades of exceptional residential, commercial and institutional projects. It will demonstrate how prominent architects and designers are using Italian tile in new and innovative ways and will include this year's grand-prize winners: the Barclays Center by SHoP Architects; the Schaefer/Graf Residence by MRSA Architects & Planners; and the Colorado campus of the National Institute of Standards and Technology by HDR Architecture.
In the days leading up to ICFF, Ceramics of Italy will offer a digital sneak peek of products on its Facebook page as well as on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram (@CeramicsOfItaly). During the four-day show, Ceramics of Italy will be reporting live from the show floor with updates on products, news, events and hospitality. They will also host a special Instagram Contest with Architizer, a dynamic online community for architects, where ICFF attendees will be encouraged to snap photos of their favorite Italian tiles tagged for the chance to win a trip to Bologna, Italy to attend Cersaie 2013.
