An independent studio project at Virginia Tech has resulted in an exhibition at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF), which ends today, that lets future generations of industrial designers shine. The studies were led by Joseph Wheeler, AIA (Associate Professor of Architecture), and Robert Dunay, AIA (Director of the Center for Design Research), at the university’s School of Architecture + Design. “The work links physical and intellectual processes addressing the duality of actuality and possibility,” says Dunay. “As attempts to exploit and exhibit technological innovation, new forms evolve through what we have termed industrialized furniture. As prototypes, they require extended study. Yet in each lurks an idea traversing the realm between fantasy and false fiction.” Chip Clark, an architecture student, remarked during the show, “It’s a huge advantage for us to have an understanding of the manufacturing process. It’s one thing to design something that’s awesome, but if no one can produce it or use it, where does that leave you?” Other participating students included Kashuo Bennett. Andrew Camardella, Jonathan Grinham, Marc Holbrook, Nathan King, Brandon Lingenfelser, Charles Meyer, Nick Monday, Brandon Ramsuer, David Rariden, Jason Tropp, Catherine Worsham and Jason Zawitkowski. To read more about ICFF’s youngest design stars, read my post on The Curated Object.