Parsons The New School for Design presents FLOW, a special exhibition of student work, at this year’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF). The exhibition, on view May 15-18 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, features a juried body of work from students in the product design program that explores the theme of flow.

A central feature of the installation is three mobile Watertables, convertible dining and worktables designed and constructed by Parsons students for a special water-themed dinner and 24-hour design slam last fall. In keeping with their sustainable nature, the watertables serve a dual purpose at the exhibition—acting as both individual pieces and support structures for the display of the other Parsons work, which ranges from furniture to medical devices and highlights the numerous interpretations of flow.

Featured projects include OTO Sound & Life by Chika Nakayama, a ceramic pitcher crafted using ancient techniques of ceramic instrument making. The piece was selected for a Design Distinction Award in this year’s I.D. Design Review. Other highlights include Chelsea Briganti’s Mademoicell, a simple, medical-grade silicone device and storage kit that empowers women to collect and store their own stem cells from menstrual blood. Zackary Lauth asks visitors to reconsider cultural perceptions of good and bad with Reconstructed, an iconic Parsons table deconstructed by termites. Designed Constraint, a porcelain tea set with a multidirectional pot designed by David Lee, explores habits and flows of consumption. And Samta Shah’s felted children’s furniture, namda, aims to preserve traditional Indian handcrafts.

The ICFF exhibition will run concurrently with the BFA Product Design Thesis Exhibition, a presentation of seminal work from graduating product design students. The thesis show is on view May 7-16 at the David M. Schwartz Fashion Education Center at Parsons, 560 Seventh Avenue. For more information, please  visit www.newschool.edu/parsons/thesis.

Parsons at ICFF: Saturday, May 15-Tuesday, May 18, 2010 Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Sat-Mon), 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Tues.) Jacob K. Javits Convention Center 655 West 34th Street, New York Booth #974. Opening Reception: Friday, May 14, 7 p.m.-midnight, Parsons The New School for Design, 560 Seventh Avenue at 40th Street

Admission to ICFF is free with your New School ID