Easy Going Green

Badge Value of Green Furniture

The difference between buying green furniture and a hybrid (car) is the badge value is different than a sofa. With a hybrid car, you’re announcing to the world you’re green and socially responsible. On a sofa, the only person that really knows the cushions are made from soy is you. It is a personal affirmation.”
From “Is it Green Enough?” Furniture Today – 5/27/08

Can furniture ever be designed or marketed with Badge value? Is RTA furniture worth wasting my breath (or in this case typing) on or is it a lost cause by its very disposable nature? Is this a marketing or a design problem or both? Is Badge value just green-washing in disguise?

Is there anything RIGHT with American Furniture Design?

How could I not directly address the article in ID Magazine, “What is wrong with American Furniture Design?” If you haven't read it - it is a recap of the ICFF Panel Discussion sponsored by ID Magazine addressing the state of American Furniture Design and as a direct response to an article written by design critic, Alice Rawsthorn in a New York Times article, "Dearth of a Nation." The panel included New York designers Stephen Burks and Jason Miller, Future Perfect owner Dave Alhadeff, Jerry Helling of Bernhardt Design, Derek Chen of Council, and Yves Béhar, founder of Fuseproject and chair of the industrial design program at California College of the Arts. The panel was moderated by Aric Chen. An article followed in the June issue of ID Magazine featuring comments from Stephen Burks, Jerry Helling, Alice Rawsthorn, and adding Rosanne Somerson, professor of furniture design and Rhode Island School of Design.

First Rosanne's inclusion had to get me commenting, those of you who know me, you already know how I feel about the furniture design department at RISD. So there is no surprise that they have not churned out stellar designers that are burning up the marketplace...but my personal feelings aside...your/our industry has been offended and with it we deserve to understand why, get mad, and take back our design leadership.