As the main material used in the furniture designs for the IFDA (International Furniture Design Fair Asahikawa) is wood, the competition is intrinsically linked to the growth of trees. We believed that twentieth century economic growth was supported by a balance of mass production and consumption, yet the era in which economic growth took priority over environmental issues ended along with the cold war era.
Now, a new era has arrived, and the first 10 years of the 21st century seem to have passed so quickly. In December 2009, the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, providing a rare opportunity for heads of state and government to discuss environmental issues. However, the conference failed to produce a substantial agreement between the member countries, as each country seemingly kept to their own egoistical economic priorities.

The survival of every living creature on this earth including humans depends on the conservation of nature. A quarter of a century has passed since the first IFDA competition in 1990, with the eighth competition to be held in 2011.  The type of hardwood used in furniture takes more than 100 years to grow from a sapling, and continues to protect our planet throughout this time. We therefore believe that furniture should retain its beauty and functionality for at least half a century with maintenance, and even through recycling. 

Therefore, the theme of IFDA 2011 is “designed to last and be loved for generations”.

We hope that designers from around the world will propose designs that incorporate the two core concepts of improving our lifestyles and environmental conservation.