KI Makes ICFF Debut as Sponsor of ‘WANTED’ Design Schools Workshop

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--KI will make its debut at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) this year as sponsor of the WANTED Design Schools Workshop, a collaborative design program that brings together emerging designers from leading international schools during ICFF, May 17–19, 2026, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

The Design Schools Workshop culminates in final presentations and jury review on Tuesday, May 19, as student teams share their work on ICFF’s main stage. The program is part of WANTED at ICFF, the fair’s platform for emerging talent, experimentation, and cross-disciplinary exchange.

As sponsor, KI provided furniture to support a purpose-built workshop environment designed for hands-on collaboration. The space is organized around flexible group work areas, pin-up boards for ideation and critique, and tiered soft seating that supports focused collaboration and conversation. The setting reflects KI’s human-centered approach to environments that support how people learn, work, and connect.

“This workshop aligns closely with how we think about education and design at KI,” said Jason Lazarz, national architecture and design manager, who will serve on the 2026 jury. “It is about collaboration, experimentation, and giving ideas room to develop. Supporting that process, and doing so at ICFF for the first time, is meaningful for us.”

Participating schools in this year’s workshop include Centro de Diseño y Comunicación (Mexico City), Escuela Mónica Herrera, The Ohio State University, Pratt Institute, and School of Visual Arts, bringing together students from diverse cultural and disciplinary perspectives.

Furniture featured in the workshop includes Cogni seating, recipient of a 2026 Red Dot Design Award, along with Stout tables, a Tributaire lectern, and Clamber tiered seating, the latter recognized as a finalist for Interior Design’s Best of Year Awards. Together, these solutions support learning, presentation, and collaboration within an active studio setting.

KI’s participation in the Design Schools Workshop reinforces the company’s long-standing commitment to education while reflecting its broader focus on creating thoughtfully designed environments across workplace, healthcare, and learning spaces. Through research-driven, human-centered design, KI continues to support spaces that foster creativity, engagement, well-being, and connection.

Design professionals are invited to see the collaborative workspace imagined by KI for the Design Schools Workshop in Booth 1369.

ABOUT KI

KI manufactures innovative furniture for education, healthcare, government, and corporate markets. The employee-owned company is headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with sales and manufacturing facilities worldwide. KI tailors products and service solutions to the specific needs of each customer through its unique design and manufacturing philosophy. For more information, visit ki.com.