Bienenstock Furniture Library Names Winning Student at Future Designers Summit

Furniture World News Desk on 9/29/2021

Bienenstock Furniture Library Executive Director Karla Jones; Vivian Grace Dudley, Broyhill Family Foundation scholarship winner, and former library board chairman Charles Sutton, at the Future Designers Summit. PHOTO CREDIT: Anna Danielle Photography].

The Bienenstock Furniture Library concluded its inaugural Future Designers Summit, held Sep. 20 - 22, awarding one student a $5,000 scholarship.

Vivian Grace Dudley, a senior at Appalachian State University, was named winner of The Broyhill Family Foundation Scholarship for 2021.

"I would love to thank the Broyhill Family Foundation for supporting my education and future endeavors in the design world," said Dudley. 

"Attending the Summit was such an amazing experience and learning opportunity,” she added. “I met so many design professionals and students that have the same passion for design as I do."

All student participants were eligible to win, and each had several opportunities throughout the event for their name to be added to the drawing, which took place at the closing session of the Bienenstock Future Designers Summit, in the Universal Furniture showroom.

Sheila Triplett-Brady, Executive Director, Broyhill Family Foundation, Inc., acknowledges the role designers play in the future success of the home furnishings industry.

“Designers are at the core of an industry,” she says. “Everything begins with an idea, a vision. Through the Future Designers Summit Scholarship, we at the Broyhill Family Foundation are pleased to help young designers gain knowledge and experience to take his or her place in making visions become reality.”  

This fall’s conference for future design leaders focused on areas of study in furnishings, interior design and architecture, and industrial and textile design, offering an immersive 3-day educational and networking experience, including a roster of keynote speakers, facility tours, and breakout sessions moderated by industry professionals.

U.S. based students submitted applications in late February, with 30 selected from 10 colleges and universities to attend. Along with their applications, students included personal essays in which they were asked to envision their future role in design, provide examples from their portfolios, and secure a professor recommendation.

Event sponsors and contributors helped to offset the costs of travel, accommodations and meals for each student attendee, and covered expenses for the program’s development and marketing. Participating sponsors included Broyhill Family Foundation, Davis Furniture, Otto & Moore, Inc, Furniture World magazine, Savour Partnership, and the Tomlinson group of furniture brands; as well as contributors at Cohab Space, Congdon Yards, Fairfield, High Point Theatre, High Point Visitors Bureau,  HPxD, Phillips Collection and Verellen.

About the Bienenstock Furniture Library: The Bernice Bienenstock Furniture Library is a worldwide center for research, design, and collaboration.  It holds the world's largest collection of rare and significant books on the history and design of furniture, with more than 5,000 volumes.

The Library is located in High Point, NC and is open to members of the home furnishings industry, students and the general public. The Library was founded in 1970 with an endowment from Furniture World Magazine and the Bienenstock family. It is supported by a board of directors from nearly every facet of the home furnishings industry. It is devoted to the advancement of knowledge about design, furniture, interiors, architecture, textiles, finishes, and constructions.

The Library's rare book collection contains volumes published since 1543. A special climate-controlled room houses these rare volumes. It is a treasure trove of inspiration for anyone interested in home furnishings and interior design.  

The Library's facilities include the Vuncannon Seminar Room, the high-tech Hadley Court Center for Design Collaboration and the Pat Plaxico Sculpture Gardens.  These areas are available for seminars, classes, events, meetings, design collaborations, networking and design retreats for a small honorarium.

For more information visit www.furniturelibrary.com or contact Karla Webb, Library Director at info@furniturelibrary.com or 336-883-4011.