Winners announced in the 2021 FORM Student Innovation Competition.
Architecture and design students submitted furniture designs for the chance to win cash prizes and showcase their work at NeoCon 2021.
Celebrating up-and-coming design professionals, Formica Corporation has announced the winners of its 2021 FORM Student Innovation Competition. Now in its fourth year, the competition invites interior design, architecture and furniture design students across the U.S. and Canada to create furniture using Formica® Brand products.
A record total of 244 entries from more than 35 universities across the U.S. and Canada were submitted under the theme of “Design for the Next Generation,” which called for students to interpret their design vision for a variety of post-pandemic commercial settings using products from the 2021 Specialty Collection by Formica Corporation.
Grand Prize: Martin Gonzalez Godoy and Bénédicte Laurent | University of Montréal | “Toboom”
In the future, teleworking parents will need places for children that are versatile and allow for independence. This design encompasses an area for children to work, play, relax and have storage, and is designed with fluidity and dynamic curves; the absence of corners makes it safe for children and enhances cleanliness. The piece’s duality can be seen in its integrated seat and writable surface for flowing creativity. It also features a slide for expelling energy and encouraging playtime. The winning design will be created and showcased at NeoCon, Oct. 4-6, 2021, at the Mart in Chicago.
Second Place: Maria Rodriguez | University of Texas at Arlington | “Portal”
Rodriguez recognized that today’s employees are on video calls more than ever and designed an all-encompassing workspace set up strategically for these calls with ample lighting and writable surfacing for notes. The space is semi-enclosed to ensure safe social distancing between colleagues.
Third Place: Ryan Todys | University of Cincinnati | “You, Me and a Tree”
Created from the inspiration of two words – “collaboration” and “biophilic” – this design connects people to nature and is meant to welcome all with an interchanging space for a live tree, allowing for more social distancing between patrons.
The winning designs were chosen by a jury of influential industry professionals:
• Alda Ly, founder and principal, Alda Ly Architecture & Design
• Cheryl Durst, executive vice president and CEO of IIDA
• Cindy Allen, editor-in-chief of Interior Design Media
• Renee Hytry Derrington, managing principal of design at Formica Corporation
• Sarah Kuchar, owner and creative director of Kuchar Studio
• Vern Yip, award-winning designer, TV host and author
About the Competition:
The FORM Student Innovation Competition is a modern take on the original “FORM: Contemporary Architects at Play” challenge, held by Formica Corporation in 2008. Ten world-renowned architects, including Zaha Hadid, Michael Graves, Bernard Tschumi and Massimo Vignelli, constructed new works of art from Formica® Brand products.
Details about the 2022 FORM Student Innovation Competition will be posted in September.
Below is a gallery of the winning entries from previous years of the FORM Student Innovation Competition.
