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IWF announced six winners of the 2024 Design Emphasis Student Furniture competition Wednesday in the Design Emphasis Gallery.
IWF Design Emphasis is widely acclaimed as a foremost furniture design competition for U.S. college students. Sponsored by IWF and its owner, WIA, the competition affords students a platform to demonstrate design skills and talent in an independent adjudication conducted by members of the manufacturing industry, academia, and the design media community.
The winning projects were selected by a panel of judges chaired by Jackie Hirschhaut, VP of Public Relations & Marketing for American Home Furnishings Alliance. More than $10,000 in prize money was awarded to the winners, certificate of merit recipients and honorable mention certificate recipients. All winning and finalist projects are on display in the Design Emphasis Gallery in Booth C922 during the show.
The 2024 competition winners were selected from a field of 41 finalist projects in 5 categories. Together with certificate of merit and honorable mention certificate recipients, the winners are:
Accent Furniture / Accent Tables
Winner – Michael Aehle (Kansas State University) – Sonia Coffee Table
Merit – Toryn Black (Haywood Community College) – Janus
Honorable Mention – Haley Grimbeek (Appalachian State University) – Vega
Case Goods
Winner – Jen Schmidt (Haywood Community College) – Barrel Manilow
Merit – Meredith Metz (Haywood Community College) – Ash and Sapele Credenza
Honorable Mention – Allen Kromer (Haywood Community College)– Flicker Cabinet
Commercial / Office / Hospitality Furniture
Winner – Grayson Hall (Purdue University) – Poppi
Merit – Vic Stocker (Appalachian State University) – Eyry
Honorable Mention – Kyle Haggerty (Georgia Institute of Technology)– Resonance
Design Creativity
Winner – Orko Sen (Appalachian State University) – Luma
Merit – Katherine Semler (Auburn University) – Serpentine Cellar
Honorable Mention – Genevieve Smith (SUNY Buffalo State University) – Prismatic
Seating
Winner – Katie Sturm (Appalachian State University) – Lou
Merit – Vic Stocker (Appalachian State University) – Luna
Honorable Mention – Jen Schmidt (Haywood Community College) – Barrel White
Best in Show
Winner – Orko Sen (Appalachian State University) – DLW Station
