Groovystuff's most recent student design competition
Groovystuff reported that it has added one of its student Design Challenge winners to its fulltime staff to help facilitate the company’s interaction with the many universities now participating in its student design competition.
Lee Beatrous will manage the Groovystuff Design Challenge program, interfacing with the participating students and their schools to help move viable products more quickly from the prototype stage into production.
Lee is an Industrial Design graduate from Appalachian State University and was the first place popular vote winner of the Groovystuff Design Challenge in the fall of 2010. He completed a six-week internship with Groovystuff prior to graduation in May of 2011. Groovystuff President Chris Bruning subsequently hired the talented young designer as Manager of Product Design.
“Lee was the first person I had ever hired as an intern,” notes Bruning. “The venture was extremely effective and productive for our company. He was able to improve operational efficiencies within the company.”
Lee says the internship matched his goals for full-time employment. “I think the decision of where an internship should be should be based on what you want to accomplish (in your career) … not (on) just one specific aspect (that goes into a job).”
Bruning notes that Lee’s experience with the Design Challenge helped form a foundation of product knowledge that put him a unique position to bring value to the Groovystuff team.
“His interaction with customers and industry professionals at market gave him the experience and knowledge he needs to guide other students who have the talent to bring products to market.”
Groovystuff is nearing the completion of its second Design Challenge competition, which included designs from 16 Auburn University students. Their products were displayed at the April High Point and July Atlanta home furnishings markets. The company is currently producing the most popular designs from the original 16 in preparation for the October High Point Market. The design receiving the most orders at the fall market will be declared the grand prize winner, and that student designer will receive a $1,000 cash prize and permanent royalties on all future sales of their design.
About Groovystuff: Founded in 1998 by Chris Bruning, Groovystuff designs, produces, and distributes unique reclaimed teakwood home furnishings at upper-medium and high-end price points. Based in Dallas, TX, Groovystuff is showing next at the International Casual Furniture Market in Chicago, IL (The Merchandise Mart, Booth No. 8-4046).