The 12th annual Interior Design HiP Awards celebrate the products and people pushing boundaries and defining the future of design. Held in conjunction with NeoCon and Design Days, the HiP awards are a tribute to the minds shaping our industry. Hosted by Editor-in-Chief Cindy Allen, more than 350 designers, manufacturers, and creatives gathered to celebrate the best of the best in commercial design.
We are proud to announce that our Looper bench, a David Edward product, was named an Honoree in the Iconic Product category. The Looper bench, designed by Donald Strum and Robert Van Varick of Michael Graves Design, is a constant, Möbius loop of beauty and grace that repeats with precision. Looper is an architectural masterpiece that pays homage to the iconic keystone element found in Graves’ work.
The bench features a continuous looping solid maple frame available in two, five, or seven loops. With its solid wood construction and striking sculptural quality, the Looper bench is a bold and captivating piece of furniture. Earning this recognition highlights Looper’s sculptural appeal, exceptional design, and architectural craftsmanship.
“As this marks the tenth anniversary of Michael Graves’ passing, it feels especially touching to see the Looper bench recognized in the “Iconic Product” category for Interior Design’s HiP Awards,” said Donald Strum, Designer of Looper and President of Michael Graves Design. “The keystone, being a significant element in his work and now, quite literally, hiding in plain sight, helped inform the original concept of Looper. For Looper to receive Honoree recognition so many years after its creation speaks to its timeless quality and enduring relevance in the world of furniture design. Its ongoing success is both meaningful and affirming.”
Designed by
Michael Graves Design
Donald Strum
With Michael Graves Design since 1984, Donald Strum is the Principal in charge of product, furniture, and graphic design and has played a key role in the development and the success of the firm’s product design practice. In 1997, under the leadership of Mr. Strum, the firm began a relationship with Target Stores that led to what many in the critical press have hailed as “the democratization of design”. Mr. Strum and his product design group have brought over 2,000 consumer products to market over the past three decades.
Robert Van Varick
With Michael Graves Design since 2003, Rob passionately believes design has the power to positively impact people’s lives. His mission is to apply the right blend of research, psychology, creativity, and strategy so that root causes are identified, allowing the best solution to be designed. Well-rounded solutions require multi-disciplinary input and collaboration. As a partner at MGA&D, Rob works with architects, interior designers, product designers, graphic designers, researchers, and strategists all focused on one goal: enhancing the human experience at every scale.
About Kimball International
Kimball International is a leading commercial furnishings company with deep expertise in the Workplace, Health, and Hospitality markets. We combine our bold entrepreneurial spirit, a history of craftsmanship, and today’s design-driven thinking alongside a commitment to our culture of caring and lasting connections with our customers, employees, and communities. Since 1950, our brands have seized opportunities to customize solutions into personalized experiences, turning ordinary spaces into meaningful places. Our family of brands includes Kimball, National, Etc., Interwoven, David Edward, Kimball Hospitality, and D'Style. Kimball International, based in Jasper, Indiana, is a business unit of HNI Corporation.
For additional information contact:
Abby Troutman
Communications Manager