Organized by the Federation of Furniture Associations (MOSFED), Furnishings & Design Istanbul (FDI), Türkiye’s first design-focused trade fair, has come to an end. “Held under the motto “Design Returns to Istanbul,” the three-day trade fair showcased innovative, original, and aesthetic solutions in interior design, while manufacturers and designers connected through the D2B (Designer-to-Business) program. At the trade fair, 100 introductory and collaboration meetings took place between producers and designers as part of the D2B program, while at FDI Stage & FDI Talks, prominent Turkish businesspeople and designers discussed the future of design in 10 sessions.
Organized with the main mission of making design an indispensable element of the industry and creating a competitive added value in exports, FDI attracted visitors from 26 countries, including Russia, Macedonia, Iraq, Bulgaria, France, Italy, and Greece. Ahmet Güleç, President of MOSFED, the event’s host, said, “We’ve experienced a trade fair that attracted significant interest from our manufacturers and designers. In addition to the unique and inspiring product exhibitions, with the design-focused talks and the Designer-to-Business (D2B) program, we are pleased to see our recycling initiative gain such a strong acceptance within the industry in its first year.”
Bringing together all stakeholders of the interior design ecosystem -from furniture to lighting, home textiles to accessories- for three days, Furnishings & Design Istanbul (FDI) attracted significant attention not only as Türkiye’s first design-focused trade fair but also due to the overwhelming interest from manufacturers and designers.
In addition to showcasing new and inspiring designs, FDI featured a range of products that steered clear of repetition, focusing on various areas such as sustainability and innovation. The event also hosted enlightening discussions, an international buyer delegation program, and activities connecting designers with manufacturers. Reflecting on the event, “As expected, we completed a highly productive and dynamic trade fair,” said Ahmet Güleç, MOSFED President, and added, “FDI hosted brands offering a broad spectrum of unique and innovative designs. Our panels and talks also shed light on the future of the industry. Of course, our trade fair stood out not only for design but also for its sustainability vision. Over the three days, all booths and materials used at the trade fair will undergo recycling and be transformed into various materials for schools.”
A Collaborative Environment Created Between Designers and Brands
Brands that met the participation criteria, particularly in terms of originality and innovation, showcased their products at the trade fair. Additionally, areas such as the “FDI Design Circle,” “FDI New Horizon Exhibition,” and “Designer-to-Business (D2B)” garnered significant attention throughout the event.
In the D2B space, which brought designers and manufacturers together, 500 designers met with 100 manufacturers. Commenting on these special areas, Ahmet Güleç, MOSFED President, noted, “In our highly efficient and energetic trade fair, many bilateral meetings were held between designers and brands in the D2B space, fostering collaboration. We also brought together select products from the portfolios of participating companies and brands in our specially curated FDI Design Circle area, centered around different themes. At the FDI New Horizon Exhibition space, we showcased various design exhibitions. We’ve provided both our participants and visitors with a vibrant fair experience.”
Design Discussed with Industry Experts in 10 Sessions
Throughout the trade fair, 10 panel sessions were held under the title FDI Stage & FDI Talks. Spanning three days, these panels featured thought leaders and manufacturers who contribute to furniture and interior design. They engaged in intellectual conversations and professional discussions on innovative and pioneering approaches, reflecting industrial transformation with current insights The most notable panels of the fair included: “Transforming Workspaces: The Design Story of a New Generation Office,” “Contract Furnishing,” “Green Transformation: Sustainability and Innovation in the Furniture Industry,” “How Did We Design?,” “Innovation and Originality in Furniture,” “Spaces Transformed by Light,” “FDI: Environmentally-Friendly Event,” and “The Design Ecosystem: Actors and Relationships.” Prominent figures such as Koray Malhan, Atilla Kuzu, Kunter Şekercioğlu, Ayşe Tuna Gülsoy, Emre Kuzlu, Ozan Sinan Tığlıoğlu, Kerem Enginoğlu, Raşit Karaaslan, Şule Koç, Göksal Günaydın, Şeref Özer, Demir Obuz, Cemal Çobanoğlu, İbrahim Kılıç, Burak Savaş, Bilal Savaş, Erdem Akan, Ece Yalım, Alp Nuhoğlu, Özlem Yalım, İnci Mutlu, Ali Berkman, Ufuk Akengin, Esra Kara, Ahmet Güleç, Cengiz Ayyıldız, Alpay Er, and Bader Arslan made significant presentations during these sessions.
A Recycling Lab Was Established
In collaboration with MOSFED’s project partner Repairers Club, FDI established a recycling laboratory (ReUpcycle Lab). Over the course of three days, this space hosted workshops on recycling and product design. Additionally, materials used at the trade fair will be recycled and transformed into various materials for schools. Students from Eskişehir Technical University also participated in the trade fair with their “Upcycle” project, a joint initiative with KYS Design.
