What's really in the materials we specify, and who pays for it later? At ICFF 2026, Healthy Materials Lab's Jonsara Ruth and Studio Gang's Lara Kaufman sat down with Francisco Brown to make the case for asking harder questions about what goes into our buildings and why beauty is non-negotiable in the healthy materials movement. Beyond the fine art galleries and weekend getaways, the Hudson Valley has quietly become one of America's most vital design centers. Meet the makers, studios and spaces turning upstate New York into a hub for craft-led furniture and collectible design. Three rising talents. Three distinct visions. ICFF's Emerging Designers Spotlight Online returns for its seventh edition with a look at the makers redefining lighting and furniture through craft, material, and intention. From a boyhood bedroom painted navy gloss to penthouses in Manhattan and villas in the South of France, Mark Howorth shares how a client-led philosophy and a love of color and texture built an international design practice. For more than a decade, Design Week Mexico and ICFF have built more than a business partnership: they've built a friendship that turned into a cross-border design movement. Andrea Cesarman, Emilio and Marco join Claire Pijoulat and Odile Hainaut to trace the story to a thriving creative exchange between Mexico City and New York. Knockoffs are getting harder to spot, but four design leaders at ICFF 2026 say the real answer isn't a legal fight, it's better design. Ian Yang, John Thorson, Stefano Giussani and Rodolfo Agrella unpack why originality remains the industry's strongest competitive edge. Stephanie Liu of Stonehill Taylor opens up about her journey from Taiwan to Columbia University to the top of hospitality design. Michael McGowan of KAA Design Group explores the intersection of landscape and architecture, the impact of Southern California’s light and climate, and the power of restraint in design. The sixth edition of ICFF's Emerging Designers Spotlight Online is here. Learn about the emerging talent discovered through ICFF’s global network, whose creative voices are shaping the future of contemporary design.Stories
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Talks Highlight: Designing Out Toxicity, Toward Healthier Material Futures
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The Hudson Valley’s Thriving Design Scene
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Building Bridges Through Design: A Dialogue with Design Week Mexico
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