he American Society of Furniture Designers (ASFD) announced that the deadline for the ASFD Student Design Challenge 2011 entries is November 1, 2011. This design competition, open to junior, senior and graduate level students enrolled in an accredited college design program, showcases the outstanding talents of furniture design students and is an opportunity for ASFD to give back to the industry by promoting future talent.
This year ASFD is partnering with Stanley Furniture to create a competition that will benefit the students, add excitement to the curriculums, foster student mentoring and show ASFD’s support for the young talents of tomorrow. The competition will afford students real world design experience and exposure.
The project for Challenge 2011 will be to design a writing or executive desk that will have new technology capability and will translate into one of four of Stanley’s current style categories. Those style categories include: Relaxed European/Cottage; Casual Artisan/Transitional; Continental/Tuscan; or Contemporary (not modern).
A panel of professional ASFD members and Stanley Furniture executives will judge the entries. Stanley Furniture will manufacture a prototype of the winning design and showcase it in the Stanley Showroom during the April 2012 High Point Furniture Market. Monetary prizes for the winner and finalist will be made possible by the ASFD scholarship fund and special guest co-sponsor, Zenith Global Logistics.
Last year’s winner, Alix Armour, is a recent graduate of California State University. Her winning entry "Pine Scales Table" was designed for Design Challenge 2010 co-sponsor Phillips Collection. The cocktail table inspired by pine cone scales consisted of three parts: two pairs of intersecting legs joined in the middle and a glass table top. The form of the scale is organic and very unusual and blends well into Phillips Collection's innovative designs. The winning design "Pine Scales Table" will be on display August 1-5, 2011 during the Las Vegas Furniture Market at Phillips Collection Showroom, Suite C0132 or A202.
About ASFD: Founded in 1981, the American Society of Furniture Designers (ASFD) is dedicated to excellence, innovation, education and originality in the practice of furniture design. ASFD serves as the unified voice of the furniture design community, advocating professional practice and integrity at all times. ASFD seeks to demonstrate the value of design to the furnishings industry.
The Pinnacle Awards were created in April 1995 by the ASFD board of directors to promote design quality and encourage the recognition of furniture designers within the retail home furnishings industry.