Contract Design Magazine
Contract Design Magazine is a US B2B trade publication founded in 1960 covering the commercial design industry. Operated under Emerald X alongside ICFF, it serves design professionals, brands, and buyers through editorial content, events, and talent-discovery platforms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Contract Design Magazine does
Contract Design Magazine is a commercial design trade publication founded in 1960 and headquartered in New York. It operates as a for-profit media property positioned as a hub of commercial design knowledge, connecting professionals, processes, products, and projects across the contract furniture and interior design market. According to the input data, the publication is part of a broader portfolio under parent Emerald X, LLC, which also organizes the ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair), the leading contemporary design fair in North America held annually at the Javits Center in New York City.
The core product surface spans a print and digital magazine at contractdesign.com, the annual ICFF live trade fair (with 2026 and 2027 event dates confirmed), and supporting digital platforms including ICFF Stories editorial, the Wanted talent-discovery platform (Launch Pad, Look Book, Emerging Designers Spotlight, Schools Showcase, Schools Workshop), ICFF Talks programming, and International Spotlights editorial coverage. Headcount is disclosed at 11-50 employees.
The business model is dual: B2B trade publication advertising and sponsorship revenue from the magazine side, combined with event-driven revenue on the ICFF side via exhibitor booth fees, advertising/sponsorship tiers, and media partnerships. Customer segments split between enterprise furniture, materials, and design brands (Vitra, Jaipur Living, Tolix, Hydro, Manufactures Nationales, Honda R&D) paying to reach design buyers and procurement specialists attending the fair or reading the publication. Marketing and distribution are multi-channel, combining owned content, organic social on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and an opt-in newsletter. Pricing for booth fees and attendee registration is not publicly disclosed.
Contract Design Magazine firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Contract Design Magazine
- Legal name
- Emerald X, LLC
- Website
- https://contractdesign.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Contract Design Magazine is a US B2B trade publication founded in 1960 covering the commercial design industry. Operated under Emerald X alongside ICFF, it serves design professionals, brands, and buyers through editorial content, events, and talent-discovery platforms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Contract Design Magazine industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Trade Fairs and Events
- NAICS
- Interior Design Services (541410), Industrial Design Services (541420)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Trade Show & Exhibition Marketing (Booth Design/Build) (MPAAAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM)
Keywords
Where Contract Design Magazine is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Contract Design Magazine business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Exhibition and Booth Fees: Revenue generated from exhibitors paying to display their products and brands at the annual ICFF fair. Exhibitors include furniture designers, manufacturers, and brands seeking to connect with buyers and industry professionals.
- Advertising and Sponsorship: Sponsors and media partners pay for visibility at the event, including logo placement, feature sections, and partnership tiers.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Contract Design Magazine product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Contract Design Magazine is the hub of commercial design knowledge, connecting design professionals, processes, products, and projects. Its flagship commercial offering is the ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair), North America's leading annual contemporary design fair held at the Javits Center in NYC, which connects designers, brands, and buyers for product discovery, partnerships, and commercial transactions. Supporting offerings include the Wanted designer discovery platform, ICFF Talks educational programming, the Awards at ICFF recognition program, and the ICFF Stories editorial content platform.
Product overview
ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) operates as North America's leading contemporary design fair, functioning as both an annual trade event and a content platform. The core offering centers on the physical fair held at Javits Center in NYC (May 17-19 2026; Nov. 14-16, 2027), featuring exhibitors, Features activations, and Awards programs. Supporting the event is the Wanted platform (Launch Pad, Look Book, Emerging Designers Spotlight, Schools Showcase, Schools Workshop) for designer discovery; ICFF Talks for educational programming; ICFF Stories for editorial content; and International Spotlights for coverage of global design talent. The fair is owned and organized by Emerald X, LLC.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) Annual North American contemporary design trade fair held at the Javits Center in NYC, connecting influential designers, brands, and buyers for product discovery, partnership formation, and commercial transactions. Organized by Emerald X, LLC.
- Wanted Platform Curated designer discovery platform featuring Launch Pad, Look Book, Emerging Designers Spotlight, Schools Showcase, and Schools Workshop sections for identifying emerging design talent and design school programs.
- ICFF Talks Conference programming featuring speaker sessions, panels, and educational content for design professionals attending the fair.
- Awards at ICFF Design awards program recognizing excellence in contemporary furniture and interior design.
- ICFF Features Activation spaces and special exhibits at the fair that elevate the exhibitor lineup and enhance the visitor journey through curated experiences.
- ICFF Stories Editorial content platform featuring brand spotlights, design news, and international spotlights covering design trends and featured brands at the fair.
Companies that use Contract Design Magazine
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Contract Design Magazine technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Contract Design Magazine partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Emerald X, LLCcoreEmerald X, LLC is the parent company and organizer of ICFF, managing the exhibition, venue operations, and overall event production. © 2026 Emerald X, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Contract Design Magazine competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NeoCon: Chicago-based annual trade show for commercial interior design, serving architects, designers, and corporate buyers. Closely comparable in targeting the commercial design market and offering exhibitor booths, programming, and awards in a similar format.
- High Point Market: The largest furnishings industry trade show in North America, held semi-annually in High Point, NC. Directly comparable as a furniture/interior design trade fair with shared exhibitor and buyer audience, particularly for residential and contract furnishings.
- Maison&Objet Paris: Bi-annual Paris trade fair for interior design, decoration, and lifestyle brands. Closely comparable to ICFF in targeting contemporary furniture and interior brands with international buyers, using a similar exhibitor-fee and sponsorship revenue model.
- Boutique Design New York (BDNY): Annual NYC trade fair for hospitality design (boutique hotels, restaurants). Comparable as a curated design fair with exhibitor booths, sponsorship, and an overlapping audience of interior designers and procurement buyers.
- Salone del Mobile.Milano: Milan's flagship furniture and design trade fair, widely regarded as the global benchmark for contemporary design exhibitions. Directly comparable to ICFF in offering, audience (designers/brands/buyers), and business model (booth fees, sponsorship, awards).
- Maison & Objet Americas / Maison&Objet Miami: Americas edition of Maison&Objet targeting the same North American buyer and brand community as ICFF. Comparable in product categories, exhibitor base, and audience, making it a direct North American competitor.
Regional players
- Stockholm Furniture Fair: Leading Scandinavian contemporary furniture and design fair held in Stockholm. Comparable in focus on contemporary furniture design, but primarily serves the Nordic/European market rather than directly competing in North America.
- London Design Festival: Annual multi-venue design event in London featuring exhibitions, installations, and trade programming. Comparable as a curated design gathering with brand activations and a design community focus, but serving the UK/European market.
Others
- Emerald X sister events (e.g., Surfaces, KBIS): Other trade events operated by Emerald X, ICFF's parent company. Comparable as sibling trade fair assets sharing operational infrastructure, exhibitor pools, and sponsorship patterns, providing a direct benchmark for ICFF's monetization model.
Emerging players
- Dwell on Design: Design-focused event and media property centered on modern residential design. Partial overlap with ICFF in contemporary design audience and brand community, with a more residential rather than contract/commercial orientation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Contract Design Magazine social profiles
Digital presenceContract Design Magazine financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Contract Design Magazine leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Contract Design Magazine funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Contract Design Magazine M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Contract Design Magazine
What does Contract Design Magazine do?
Contract Design Magazine is the hub of commercial design knowledge, connecting design professionals, processes, products, and projects. Its flagship commercial offering is the ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair), North America's leading annual contemporary design fair held at the Javits Center in NYC, which connects designers, brands, and buyers for product discovery, partnerships, and commercial transactions. Supporting offerings include the Wanted designer discovery platform, ICFF Talks educational programming, the Awards at ICFF recognition program, and the ICFF Stories editorial content platform.
Is Contract Design Magazine a public or private company?
Contract Design Magazine is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Contract Design Magazine founded?
Contract Design Magazine was founded in 1988. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Contract Design Magazine based?
Contract Design Magazine is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Contract Design Magazine make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Exhibition and Booth Fees are the primary driver. The others are advertising and Sponsorship.
Who are Contract Design Magazine's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NeoCon, High Point Market, Maison&Objet Paris, Boutique Design New York (BDNY), Salone del Mobile.Milano and Maison & Objet Americas / Maison&Objet Miami. Regional players are Stockholm Furniture Fair and London Design Festival. Emerald X sister events (e.g., Surfaces, KBIS) is listed as an others. Dwell on Design is listed as an emerging player.
Does Contract Design Magazine have an API?
No public API is recorded for Contract Design Magazine.
What industry is Contract Design Magazine in?
Contract Design Magazine's product category is Trade Fairs and Events. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAAAGAC, Trade Show & Exhibition Marketing (Booth Design/Build), with a secondary code of BPAHAKAB, Interior Design Services. Its NAICS code is 541410 and its SIC code is 2741.