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ICFA Honors Richard Frinier with Lifetime Achievement Award

Frinier retired from Brown Jordan in 2002 to form his own firm and design for the likes of Century and Dedon.

Nicholas Tamarin -- Interior Design, 8/17/2009 12:00:00 AM

The International Casual Furnishings Association honors one of its most esteemed colleagues on September 23 as legendary outdoor furniture designer Richard Frinier takes the stage to claim the organization's lifetime achievement award at its 50th annual awards gala in Chicago.

Reserved for members of the association who have made a contribution to the casual furniture industry at large as well as their own communities, the award honors Frinier's long and prolific design career, including 22 years with major outdoor furniture specialist Brown Jordan, where he served as chief creative officer.

Credited with helping fuel the "outdoor room" phenomenon that is now a staple of Southern Californian homes, Frinier began his career as a sculptor and lighting designer in the '70's before branching out into case goods, and ultimately, the outdoor furniture than became his signature.

Frinier retired from Brown Jordan in 2002 to form his own creative consultancy based in Southern California. Since "retiring" seven years ago, Frinier has designed more than 20 new furniture collections, 500 textile designs, and 23 lighting designs for brands including Century, Currey & Company, Dedon, and Sunbrella fabric manufacturer Glen Raven.

"I have always loved what I do, as well as the industry that I was lucky enough to choose to land in so many years ago," says Frinier. "This type of award is never for one person, but for all of the great companies and people that I have been lucky to work with over the years."

The stroll to the podium should come easy to Frinier, whose mantle already boasts several Design Excellence Awards from the American Society of Interior Designers, a slew of Pinnacle Awards from the American Society of Furniture Designers, and multiple ADEX honors.

Frinier will share the stage with another casual furniture icon, retired Laneventure founder and president Art Thompson, who will also receive lifetime achievement honors from the ICFA at the ceremony.