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Six High Point University Students Win Fine Furniture Design Visual Merchandising Competition

Furniture World News Desk on 10/5/2016


     

     
The six students awarded $500 scholarships as winners of a design competition:
Top: Alana Isbell, Alexandra Cote, Emily Kurek, Bottom: Gabi Berger, Hayley Mitchell, Katie Switow


Six High Point University (HPU) students have been awarded a $500 scholarship as the winners of a design competition sponsored by Fine Furniture Design. The competition challenged students working toward their bachelor’s degree in visual merchandising design to develop mood boards, which visually represent the demographics, psychographics and overall lifestyle of consumers likely to furnish their homes with the new Meritage Collection, being introduced at the October High Point Market.

More than 15 students participated in the competition. The winners are: Gabi Berger from Cheshire, Conn., for her creative use of rustic, abstract and modern graphics to form an inspiring visual of a Millennial’s travels across the U.S.; Alexandra Cote from Chatham, N.J., for her polished and sophisticated, yet soft and feminine representation of a professional Gen X working mom; Alana Isbell from Charlotte, N.C., for a striking depiction of a retired Baby Boomer with a passion for volunteering and expressing her authentic sense of style; Emily Kurek from Columbus, Ohio, for her mood board that embodies a hard working Gen X female trying to balance her hectic work and family lives, while expressing herself through her furniture and home accents; Hayley Mitchell from Columbus, Ohio, who captured the essence of the Meritage Collection with a clean aesthetic, combined with energetic and spunky accessories to match the

Baby Boomer’s consumer profile; and Katie Switow from Louisville, Ky., who’s mood board conveys an adventurous Millennial with strong family values and a creative, yet practical and classic sense of style.
“The students did a tremendous job conveying realistic lifestyles of the Millennial, Generation X and Baby Boomer consumer profiles for the Meritage Collection,” said Eric Graham, president of Fine Furniture Design. “The mood boards creatively demonstrate the broad consumer appeal of the group, and our retailers will benefit from a student point of view. These visuals have inspired us, and we believe they will also inspire our retailers to develop in-store displays, which appeal to these consumers.”

The students will be on hand for the Reflections of Time kickoff party in the Fine Furniture Design showroom, 305 S. Hamilton St. on Oct. 21, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Reflections of a Student winning entries will be on exhibit throughout the High Point Market.

Taking a cue from the modern-day classic styling of the Meritage Collection, the Reflections of Time event will deliver an entertaining evening that reflects upon the past while looking to the future. Guests will be greeted with trendy cocktails including Bees Knees, Greyhound and French 75, along with beer and wine selections and a full bar. The menu is highlighted by a carving station and nostalgic culinary creations reminiscent of childhood, yet updated for today.

The evening will also feature interactive entertainment by dueling piano performers who will take guests on a trip down memory lane with request-based medleys from a variety of musical eras. In addition, guests will have the opportunity to experience the high-tech Mirror Me Photo Booth, an interactive mirror that communicates through colorful animations and entertaining voice guidance, to create lasting photo memories with Market friends.

More about Fine Furniture Design: Fine Furniture Design is dedicated to the core principles of providing the best quality, craftsmanship and value in home furnishings today, with superior design and unequalled standards at every stage of manufacturing – from the forest to the stores. Creating precisely crafted case goods and upholstered furniture for homes around the world, its home furnishings are produced in its company-owned manufacturing operations in Shanghai, China. For further information, visit www.ffdm.com.