Six new design companies have been selected to participate in “A+: The Young Designer's Platform,” an incubator exhibit area at the New York International Gift Fair. Reflecting a mix of recent design school graduates and seasoned professionals launching new businesses, A+ participants will introduce a range of new, innovative, and design-focused gift and home products at the summer 2009 market.

A+ showcases emerging talents alongside nearly 200 established contemporary design resources exhibiting in Accent on Design, offering young designers an affordable opportunity to expose their concepts, prototypes and finished products to the wholesale marketplace. A+ participants – including students, recent graduates, or new companies in business for one year or less – are selected on the basis of design concept, creativity and originality.

“Innovative design must be nurtured and encouraged in a business environment to ensure the future health of the industry,” said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president. “A+ offers powerful marketing, sales and partnership opportunities for the designer, and exciting new resources for the buyer.”

Designers accepted into the August 2009 edition of A+ are: Jamie Iacoli of I&M Iacoli Mcallister; Hideaki Matsui of Social Entrepreneurship Network, Inc.; Colin O'Dowd; Mihoko Ouchi and Sherwood Forlee of the.; Gail Rigelhaupt of The Naked Stone; and Peter White of BYWHITE DESIGN.

Once again, the A+ exhibit area will be curated by the American Design Club (AmDC), a professional community of American designers whose goal is to heighten awareness for emerging designers and provide exhibition opportunities. The organization, which was founded in 2008, also will showcase a number of its members within Accent on Design.

Accent on Design, a dynamic juried collection of nearly 200 contemporary and innovative products across all gift and home categories, will mark its 25th anniversary during the summer 2009 market, August 16-20, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.