Bernhardt Design

Want to tap into a seemingly endless pool of some of the best emerging designers in the World? Bernhardt does. They are a large furniture powerhouse that keeps their eyes on the prize and the hand on the pulse through sponsoring design competitions and the top schools in the world.

They run events like the ICFF/Bernhardt Design ICFF Studio competition, soliciting prototypes from emerging designers. Essentially a who’s who of manufacturers will be there and I imagine Bernhardt will have first crack at the cream of the crop.

They also run Bernhardt Design Press which shows off the collaboration between education and business. For example, see the Art Center College of Design. You will find Emi Fujita.

You will also see her work on the Bernhardt site. Nice business model!

  Emi by Emi Fujita

Check out the Bio…talk about a super talent in the making:

Born and raised in Japan, Emi Fujita ventured out into the world when she was only sixteen to attend TASIS, The American School in Switzerland. Realizing that she wanted to pursue her artistic side more seriously, Fujita transferred to the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan where she concentrated on the study of painting and sculpture. As an Interlochen student, she received the prestigious Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation award. After graduation, she attended Maryland Institute, College of Art, majoring in fine art before transferring to study environmental design at Art Center College of Design as a recipient of the General Motors scholarship.

Fujita’s artistic talents became apparent at the early age of seven as she became skilled in the art of calligraphy. Throughout the next decade, she won numerous calligraphic competitions including the noted Yomiuri Newspaper award. Fujita’s designs continue to be influenced by her cultural aesthetics, as well as the inspiration of Japanese sculptor Isamu Noguchi. In the same manner, she strives to achieve sculptural quality in her work while creating furniture and environments that transcend international boundaries.