The winners and honorable mentions of the SURTEX® 2007 International Student Design Competition have been selected in four new categories: Home Interior, Hospitality (Restaurant/Lodging), Housewares/Tabletop and Stationery/Paper Products. A jury of design industry professionals selected winners of this year’s competition, themed “Nature’s Inspiration,” from some 90 entrants representing 27 schools worldwide.
“It is exciting to see the energy, creativity and innovative concepts that this competition inspires in art and design students from around the world,” said Gina DeLuca, show manager. “SURTEX is proud to nurture and encourage these young designers with a professional challenge early on in their careers, and to reward and honor their vision, talent and fresh ideas.”
The Grand Prize was awarded to Ya-Ling Hou, Academy of Art University, San Francisco CA, for Lovely Garden, inspired by the soothing “sunny and breezy feeling” and “flower wave” that she experiences during afternoons in her own garden. Hou’s Stationery/Paper Products designs include gift boxes and bags, wrapping paper, photo albums, journals and notecards. Her project won for its compelling designs, beautiful use of color and distinctive prints. Judges singled out her work for its outstanding presentation, excellent mixture of color and pattern, and “high-level, market-ready” quality. Hou will receive a $1,000 cash prize and a trip to the 2007 edition of SURTEX, including round trip transportation and hotel accommodations, plus a one week internship within the design industry.
Jungmin Choi for Urban Green and Henry D. Reyes for Lost City Hotel received honorable mentions for their outstanding design submissions.
A jury of design industry professionals selected winners and honorable mentions based on surface design development; creativity, style and use of color and pattern; potential for viability in the commercial marketplace; and overall presentation. Judges for the SURTEX 2007 Competition were Britt Bivins, director, Promostyl Americas; Dorothy Cosonas, creative director, Knoll Textiles; Gordon Kaye, publisher/editor, Graphic Design; Bingka Leung, managing design director, Dwell; Jane Wicks, design director, Designtex.
The SURTEX International Student Design Competition is open to all third and fourth year students enrolled in a surface design or related program in an institution of higher learning. Students were challenged to create a collection of coordinating surface designs (minimum six, maximum nine), inspired by nature, within one category and with a specific end use in mind. The collection had to be themed and the designs original. Students are invited to create the surface designs in the medium(s) of their choice.
