RECAP: CIN | Seat at the Table
Updated: Oct 27
October 16, 2026 | The Royce | Cincinnati, OH
What an unforgettable evening! On Friday, October 16, IIDA Cincinnati/Dayton hosted its inaugural A Seat at the Table, a special gathering dedicated to celebrating creativity, fostering meaningful connections, and advocating for reasonable regulation within the interior design industry.
The evening brought our design community together around a shared table to celebrate the incredible talent, imagination, and passion that make our industry so special. From inspiring chair designs to engaging conversations and opportunities to connect with fellow professionals, the event was a wonderful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together to support our profession and one another.
At the heart of the evening was our Chair Design Challenge, inspired by the theme “Table of Curiosities,” drawing from the fascinating concept of a Curiosity Cabinet. Historically, curiosity cabinets were collections of intriguing, unusual, and extraordinary objects gathered to spark wonder, invite exploration, and showcase the creativity of the world around us.
Our designers brought this spirit of discovery to life, transforming discarded or day-to-day items into imaginative works of art that reflected individual perspectives, innovative thinking, and the endless possibilities of design. Nine uniquely designed chairs were arranged around our community table and offered up for auction, creating an exciting showcase of creativity while bringing our community together for a meaningful cause.
Each chair told its own story, and every design offered a fresh perspective on what happens when imagination meets craftsmanship. We loved seeing these one-of-a-kind creations take center stage!
A huge congratulations to everyone who took home a piece of this incredible showcase. We hope your new chairs bring a little extra curiosity, conversation, and creativity to their new homes!
Logan Hendrick
Megan Mershman
Olivia Smith
Kate Schneider
Amber Gaines
Sarah Smallwood
Leah Hunter
A special round of applause for Team APG/Champlin, whose chair design received the highest bid of the evening! Congratulations on this fantastic achievement and for contributing such a memorable piece to our Table of Curiosities.
Events like this are only possible because of the generosity, collaboration, and continued support of our industry partners. We are incredibly grateful to our benefactors for helping make our inaugural A Seat at the Table such a success and for investing in our design community and the future of our profession.
Level 1
Mohawk
Level 2
Dan Binford & Associates
Hamilton Parker
Level 3
Hampton Products
J+J Flooring
Level 4
Allermuir | Senator
Allsteel
Armstrong Ceilings
Ghent
Haworth
Tarkett
Your support helped create an evening filled with inspiration, collaboration, and opportunities to celebrate the incredible work happening throughout our industry. Thank you for being part of this exciting first chapter!
We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to the wonderful partners who helped bring every detail of the evening together.
Venue: The Royce, designed by Springhouse Architects, provided a beautiful setting for this special celebration. We’re excited for The Royce’s upcoming grand opening on Thursday, October 29, 2026, from 4–7 PM which is open to the public!
Venue Coordinator: A special thank-you to Christina Penfield for helping make the evening run smoothly.
Delivery Support: Thank you to Ed and the Operations Team at RJE Business Interiors for delivering benefactors’ products for display and helping bring the event vision to life.
Food, Catering & Bar: Thank you to eat well celebrations and feasts for providing the passing appetizers, desserts, and libations.
Photography: Thank you Nick Davis Photography for capturing the connections and creativity throughout the evening!
Comments