Formica Corporation announced the winners of its seventh annual student design competition, spotlighting the next generation of interior designers’ and architects’ creativity and design prowess. The 2024 FORM Student Innovation Competition asked students studying interior design, architecture and furniture design in the United States, Canada and Mexico to create furniture pieces using Formica Brand products.
The furniture pieces also reflected the students' interpretation of the theme “Newstalgia,” an aesthetic that blends retro and vintage design with a fresh, modern take. Designs united at least two Formica Laminate colors or patterns and at least one color or pattern from FENIX innovative materials.
2024 Winners
Students with the top three winning designs earned cash prizes and the grand prize winner’s design will be created and on display at NeoCon 2024 in Chicago.
“It was amazing to see the innovation using Formica products in this year’s competition,” said Beth Dotolo and Carolina V. Gentry, competition judges and founders of Pulp Design Studios. “As seasoned interior designers, we are always inspired by fresh eyes and new ideas. This year, we saw creative ways to use the breadth of Formica’s product offerings in unique and adaptable ways that could actually get brought to market.”
Cali Pitcher from Georgian College in Ontario, Canada, is the grand prize winner for her entry “Notions.” The piece was inspired by mid-century modern design and encapsulates the mantra of the design movement: form follows function. Pitcher took inspiration from mid-century modern sewing boxes and turned it into a piece usable for today. Notions serves the need for a storage unit, two desks and a dining table within a single piece.
“Cali’s winning design is a testament to the power of innovative thinking,” said Meghan Howell, North American design and creative director at Formica Corporation. “By seamlessly blending mid-century modern inspiration with contemporary functionality, she has created a remarkable piece that captures the imagination and nods to the nostalgia of the past.”
Audrey Weiss from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, was awarded second prize for her timeless piece “Novaro.” It resonates with the past and present, inviting users to reminisce while also embracing modern comfort.
Juarez Zacatel and Monica Arrezola from Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla in Puebla, Mexico, earned the third-place prize for their “Saturno Cabinet.”
It was inspired by the colors of the 1980s and outer space, an important inspiration point in design during that time, representing the timeless nature of both the furniture style and the materials in a straightforward manner.
Saturno Cabinet is designed for enthusiasts of Mid-Century style who also are looking for a casual touch without neglecting elegance and utility in each component.
Honorable mentions
Other top 10 finishers, in no particular order, include:
• Alex Borger from Bowling Green University
• Capri Easterday from Ringling College of Art and Design
• Emilia González from Anahuac Mayab University
• Gigi Dybalsko and Jenny Huggon from Sheridan College
• Hector Godinez from Anahuac Mayab University
• Maryna Diachenko from Dawson College
• Salem Morris from Appalachian State
For more information about the winning students’ designs, please visit www.formica.com/studentcompetition.
