2022 IWF Design Emphasis Winners Announced

IWF Design Emphasis is widely acclaimed as a foremost furniture design competition for U.S. college students. Sponsored by IWF and its owners WMIA and WMMA, the Design Emphasis competition affords students a platform to demonstrate design skills and talent in an independent adjudication conducted by furniture industry designers, manufacturing and retail executives, and representatives from the design media community.

From a field of 75 entries, 48 finalist projects were named in July. On Tuesday, August 23, the opening day of IWF 2022, six winners were selected by the judges.

The 2022 IWF Design Emphasis winners are:

Best in Show: Rebecca Juliette-Duex, Haywood Community College – Tea Towel Cart

Accent Tables: Cam McGookey, Herron School of Art & Design – Pattern Ply Sofa Table

Case Goods: Seth Lawrence, Appalachian State University – Holly Cabinet

Commercial/Office/Hospitality Furniture: Soojung Yoo, Art Center College of Design – Nest Lounge Chair

Design Creativity: Banner Knowles, Appalachian State University – Crawling Chair

Seating: Xiaorui Yin, Art Center College of Design – Dining Chair

The 2022 IWF Design Emphasis Judges:

• Jackie Hirschhaut, VP of Public Relations & Marketing, American Home Furnishings Alliance
• Kelly Peterson, Group Advertising Director, Hearst Integrated Media
• Gat Caperton, CEO, Gat Creek
• Ethan Abramson, Owner, Ethan Abramson Furniture
• Leigh Kivowitz Spencer LEED GA, Managing Partner, Alabama Sawyer
• Cliff Spencer, Founding Partner, Alabama Sawyer
• Hoa Vo, PhD, DEC, IES, ACM, Assistant Professor, Welch School of Art and Design, Georgia State University

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