Benefits

ASFD General Meetings

ASFD hosts general meetings and social events twice each year during the Spring and Fall High Point Markets in North Carolina.  During these times, members will gain new insights into the workings of the home furnishings industry and have the opportunity to network and get to know their peers in the design community as well.

ASFD Website

ASFD maintains a website at www.asfd.com where news and information is made available to both the members and the public.

Members will receive a screen name and password to log into the “Members Only” area whereas, the benefits include:

Member Directory

Members can input and update their information and/or summary of their company at their leisure and discretion  in the “Members Only” section.

Designer Job Board/Referral Service

ASFD regularly receives inquiries from manufacturers seeking professional design assistance.  All appropriate job referrals requests will be posted for members.  Members will be able to make contact with many manufacturers who seek to match their products with members’ design expertise.

Members can also post their own resumes in the event they are seeking new employment.

Designer Resources

Members have the opportunity to post and/or review resumes and portfolios of freelance professionals associated with the furniture industry, including renderers, engineers/detailers, patent attorneys and designers.

Professional Mentor

      Students/others can ask a professional member design career oriented questions and read archived         questions/answers.

Forum

Open discussion capability for members and other industry professionals to talk about current industry topics, and/or other issues.

Helpful Downloads

Members can download member or industry related documents such as membership surveys, member update forms, sample design contracts, and the latest Patent information.

Stay Informed

Information about the latest ASFD and furniture industry news and events will be located on the website.  In addition, the downloadable version of the most recent Member Newsletter will be available.

Photo Galleries

Browse the images and read summaries of past ASFD events

Pinnacle Awards

Current and past Pinnacle Awards summaries and photos are available in this section of the Website.

ASFD Membership Directory

The annually published membership directory includes a listing of all members and their related personal and professional profiles and contact information.  The ASFD Code of Ethics and original Bylaws are included as well as a listing of current and previous association Officers and Directors.

ASFD Bulletins

Periodic bulletins are posted on the website and sent to all members.  The bulletins provide an important means to share pertinent industry news, events, ideas, and opinions on a regular basis. 

ASFD Pinnacle Design Achievement Awards

The annual ASFD Pinnacle Design Achievement Awards are open to furniture designers and manufacturers worldwide.  The purpose of the awards is to promote better design quality and to encourage the recognition of furniture designers within the retail home furnishings industry.  The Pinnacles are intended to celebrate designs that are produced in large numbers for sale to consumers through retail stores.  They are not intended for crafts or products produced in limited quantities.

Entries can be submitted in any of fifteen furniture  categories including Major Collections; Stationary, Leather and Motion Upholstery; Casual and Formal Dining, Bedroom, Home Office, Youth Furniture, Lighting, Accessories, Entertainment Centers, Occasional Storage, Occasional Tables and Summer/Casual Furniture.

The Pinnacle Awards were created in 1985 by ASFD and have become the industry’s premier design awards.  As such, there is great recognition and prestige associated with winning a Pinnacle, both for the designer and for the product manufacturer.

You do not have to be a member to enter, but participants are encouraged to join ASFD and are offered discount membership fees when joining at the same time as entering the Pinnacle competition.   Members also pay a lower fee for Pinnacle entries compared with non-Member rates.

ASFD Design Student Competitions and Mentoring

Design student mentoring is a very important initiative of the society.  The aim of the program is to accelerate the development of the student into an active, self-sustaining designer.  This can be accomplished by pairing the student with a professional member, thus giving the student a window into the industry that would otherwise be inaccessible. Both Professional and Corporate members are invited to participate in this valuable mentoring endeavor.  The ASFD website provides a “Mentor” section where students can have their questions answered by a professional member, as well as read archived questions and answers.

Student member Website benefits include access to the “Member’s Only” area on the Website which allow students to review jobs, post resumes, view membership listings and other related features.

Student members receive ASFD sponsored High Point Market passes which allow admission to the main exhibition buildings during the Markets in the Spring and Fall.  Students are also sponsored at the Annual Pinnacle Awards Dinner by Leggett & Platt, and/or other ASFD Corporate and Professional Members.

ASFD also offers an annual (or periodic) design competition sponsored by Hafele or other ASFD Corporate Members.

ASFD National Conference

ASFD holds national conferences away from the day to day work environment, giving its members and guests the opportunity to meet informally, network and participate in informative seminars and discussion groups.  Guest speakers highlight the conferences with presentations of special interest to the furniture industry, and corporate members provide a variety of interesting products which can help generate new design ideas.  Conferences are planned so that they are exciting and educational, and take place in a location that provides professional insight.

ASFD Corporate Membership

Since its beginning, the American Society of Furniture Designers has taken a leadership role in the advancement of design and in support of designers to the furniture industry.  Like so many American enterprises, the furniture industry is driven by creative and responsive designs that interpret and satisfy the market it serves.  Increasingly, the professional furniture designer, by providing innovative design concepts and direction, is recognized as a major factor in the growth of the industry.

ASFD Corporate members are a vital component to our Society.  Working in concert with ASFD, Corporate members keep us informed of the latest in hardware, materials, systems, mechanisms, and many related items.  The prospects for success can be profoundly influenced by a designer who specifies these products.

At ASFD events during the semi-annual furniture markets in  High Point, Corporate members are invited to showcase their products to a professional group of decision makers who would otherwise not be gathered together,  The synergy between designers and Corporate members at these events offers a unique opportunity to network and gain valuable professional expertise and support.

Corporate members are also invited to sponsor several of ASFD’s events such as Award programs, social and professional gatherings, and conferences.  The goodwill created by sponsorship can be invaluable to the Corporate member.  This strategic business relationship can have far-reaching and positive effects on both the Corporate member’s business and the life of the Society.  We encourage our Corporate members to continue to tap into the creative heart of the industry.