High Point Market is fast approaching—the design free-for-all returns to North Carolina over October 22 to 26. Prepare for your visit with our take on the programs, product launches and, of course, personalities that make Market tick. And you'll find the full scoop in EAL’s latest Designers’ Guide to High Point Market, debuting today online and, later this month, in person down South.

New introductions—and new tenants—abound, as always: there's the long-anticipated Mark D. Sikes collection for Henredon; Christopher Spitzmiller's debut glazed ceramic lighting collection with Visual Comfort; designer Tina Nicole's new upholstered, made-in-California case goods line for Nathan Anthony Furniture; a new creative collaboration between Justina Blakeney and Selamat Designs; Ave Home's lighting collection from Julie Neill Designs; and Susan Hable's collection for Hickory Chair. Other collections to look out for: Windsor Smith for Arteriors; Jan Showers for Kravet; Michael Berman for Robert Abbey; and Michelle Workman with Pyar & Co. 

SHO Modern's hammered metal and fringe leather lighting

(Insider's tip: Designers seeking specific, debuting products can check out High Point Market Authority's Product Picks search, a convenient browsing tool.)

There will be 100-plus new-to-market names, among them Areté Collection, Abbyson Living, NOIR Gallery, Sunbrella, SHO Modern case goods, lighting and leather upholstery, European stalwart Eichholtz and more.

Market makes education fun. Embark on guided tours alongside the experts on the Design Blogger Tour with leading designers in the digital space, including Courtney Allison, Cathy Austin and Arianne Bellizaire, who will be on hand to point out the season's best (follow them from afar using #designbloggerstour across Twitter, Instagram and Facebook). 

The aging-in-place movement is the theme for this season's Design Viewpoints Series, a partnership with ASID that features a series of programs run by industry leaders including Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt People’s Design Award winner Marianne Cusato, ASID CEO Randy Fiser, Fran Ducharme of Benjamin Moore, and interior designer Kerrie Kelly, among others. First on the docket is: "Thriving in Place: Designing Your Best Life, Now & Later," a preview of the documentary of the same name, which is paired with a panel discussion focused on the ways issues including aging and careers intersect with good design (October 22, 12pm-1:30pm, High Point Theatre). Also a part of the series is "Color & Paint in Environments for the Aging," a discussion with Ducharme centered on how color perception changes as a result of aging and disease, how color impacts quality of life and the essential role paint choice can play in such environments (October 23, 9-10am, High Point Theatre).

The third part of the series, "Livable Design: The Evolution of the Home Environment," led by Kelly, will tackle the topic of "livable design," meaning, how all design should ideally serve the most people possible. Kelly's presentation will include livable fixtures, finishes and equipment (October 23, 12-1pm, High Point Theatre). Lastly, "Where We Choose to Thrive: A Discussion of Aging-in-Place Communities, " led by BJ Miller of The Vision Group, will discuss how interior design impacts and transforms communities for the aging (October 24, 9-10am, High Point Theatre).

Returning this market are High Point Market Authority's 2016 class of Style Spotters, posting the most Pinterest-worthy of finds across social media and compiling the season's Trend Report. Among the spotters are Erika Hollinshead Ward, Scot Meacham Wood and Style Spotter Emeritus Michelle Jennings Wiebe.

Furniture marketplace Chairish will host a three-day lecture series in a dedicated space at the Antique & Design Center. On the docket: A wanderlust-themed lecture and book signing with interior designer Michelle Nussbaumer (October 22 at 4:30 p.m.); a "Love It or Hate It" decor game led by Domino editor Jessica Romm Perez and Chairish co-founder and president Anna Brockway with a catalogue of top designers, including Jason Oliver Nixon, (October 23 at 2:30 p.m.); and a discussion on exploring the potential of vintage furniture, lighting and accessories with designer and lifestyle expert Eddie Ross (October 24 at 4:30 p.m.).

Events, cocktail parties and sip-and-see's abound, as always, in High Point. Some of the highlights? Sustainable Furnishings Council will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary with a party hosted by designer Libby Langdon and appearances by Thom Filicia, Mitchell Gold, Robin Wilson, Angelo Surmelis, Dann Foley and others, all with a look at past progress and future plans (October 21 from 6 to 9 p.m., The Lofts at Union Square, 410 English Road, RSVP). Another must-see is a discussion between Elizabeth Ralls, editor of Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, with Currey & Company’s "designing women," Marjorie Skouras, Aviva Stanoff and Shannon Koszyk (October 23 at 1:30 p.m., Currey & Company, IHFC, M110 on Main St.). And designer Michelle Workman will celebrate the launch of her first exclusive trim collection with a party at Pyar & Co (Suites at Market Square M-7060) on October 23 at 4pm (RSVP). British luxury bedding manufacturer Vispring will host ongoing live demonstrations of side-stitching, with an expert craftsman flown in from England; as well as a Champagne celebration dedicated to designers and their pets, called "Design Unleased," which will bring together dog-loving designers including Michelle Nussbaumer, Mally Skok, Mitchell Hill and others, to design dog beds with fabrics from top firms like Robert Allen and Pollack. (Demonstrations taking place October 22-23, from 10am to 5pm; "Design Unleashed" kicks off October 23 at 11am; Suites at Market Square, T-810). Interiors magazine will team up with the SFC on October 22 at 5pm, Lee Industries, in discussion with Susan Inglis of the SFC and others about the importance of sustainability in design. 

Celerie Kemble

Book lovers can get their reading fix with a signing by Celerie Kemble and Mark D. Sikes, who will both be launching their latest tomes with a party at Henredon on October 22. Sikes will be on hand to debut his latest, the Mark D. Sikes Collection, which encompasses bedroom, dining room and living room furnishings (book signing, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., party, 4 to 6 p.m., Henredon, Market Square, 305 W. High Ave., Suite 348. RSVP.)

Surya's "Vision and Resources, Achieving the Local and Authentic in a Global Market," moderated by Gary Inman of Baskervill, with panelists from top design firms and magazines, will offer .2 CEU credits to attendees (October 24, 5 to 7:30 p.m., Surya showroom, Showplace, 4th floor).