At NeoCon earlier this month, the Furniture Revolution Gallery afforded design students a chance to debut their unique prototypes on the show floor in front of the world’s top manufacturers.

“The idea was born out of a discussion about the status of furniture design in the United States,” says Antonio Larosa, project chair of the Furniture Revolution Gallery and Professor of the Furniture Design Department at the Savannah College of Art and Design. “This is unique because NeoCon is the first venue out there giving students a real chance of being seen and noticed by the major players in the design industry.”

Representing 10 individuals and assembled in less than three months, the gallery highlighted students and young graduates who have the potential to be the next great designer in America. Larosa says NeoCon executives invited the gallery to return next year with a promise to at least double its size.  

For Larosa, ushering in the next generation of creatives is all about facilitating relationships between education and the real design world. “If you can inspire those people to be good designers and the connect them with top companies, they will be successful,” he says. “We must be sure the students are not only educated but that their designs positively affect the U.S. and global economies. America is not currently designing with the innovation it had in the ’50s, but these students can be the next Charles and Ray Eames or George Nelson.”

Doe-C-Doe Rocking Chair (above), Otto Dining Table and Stools

Lacey Campbell, Savannah College of Art and Design

Tria Sofa

Justin Dehner, Savannah College of Art and Design

Latigo Chair, Bar/Buffet and Cocktail Stools

Martin Eduard Goebel, Rhode Island School of Design

Chrysalis Chair

Timothy Luscher, Savannah College of Art and Design

Phenomena Table

Sang Hoon Kim, Cranbrook Academy of Art

Bridge Chair

Kevin Scott & Tomas Alvarez, Harrington College of Design 

Waste Bin

Grace Youngeun Lee, Cranbrook Academy of Art