In the 19th century, Chicago architect Louis Sullivan coined the phrase “form follows function.” Today, the Chicago Furniture Designers Association borrows the still-relevant words to dub its newest exhibit. “Form Follows Form, Architecturally Inspired Furniture,” which would be held September 21—October 28, presents the creations of Chicago designers that honor the tradition and the institute of architecture itself. Suddenly, the act of building furniture takes on a whole new meaning, as designers integrate architectural concepts into their pieces. The show would be held in the Upper Level Sculpture Gallery in the Paul V. Galvin Library at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

“Chicago is full of world-class buildings” says designer and CFDA president Christopher Brandel of CEB Design. “Having these great resources to draw on in our own work is certainly exciting.”

CHICAGO, Aug 1 - U.S. office furniture order growth slowed once more in June, raising concerns among some analysts that the market might be slowing. 

Industry orders rose 2 percent from the same period last year to $1.075 billion, the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association said.Industry for May had shown a double-digit augment in orders on the year, following a slower month in April. 

“Although the results still show positive growth, it could lend credence to the prospect that growth in the office furniture space is moderating, particularly when taken with April’s results,” Raymond James analyst Budd Bugatch wrote in a research note.

LAS VEGAS - Developers of a furniture industry show place wrapped up their third meeting in two years Friday and talked of adding millions more square feet of space and casting a wider global net for buyers and sellers. 

Across the country, the new head of a respected old furniture show in North Carolina said he was less concerned about expansion at the World Market Center in Las Vegas than about putting people through the turnstiles of his fall show in October. 

“Certainly Las Vegas has sharpened the focus for High Point,” said Brian Casey, president since April of the International Home Furnishings Market Authority in High Point, N.C. “That’s a good thing. There’s room in this industry for both to exist.”