HIGH POINT, N.C., Sept. 29, 2016 – Six High Point University students have been awarded a $500 scholarship as the winners of a design competition sponsored by Fine Furniture Design. The competition challenged undergraduates majoring in visual merchandising design to develop mood boards, which visually represent the demographics, psychographics and overall lifestyle of consumers likely to furnish their homes with the new Meritage Collection, which will be introduced at the October High Point Market.
More than 15 students participated in the competition and the winners are:
Gabi Berger from Cheshire, Conn., for her creative use of rustic, abstract and modern graphics to form an inspiring visual of a Millennial’s travels across the U.S.
Alexandra Cote from Chatham, N.J., for her polished and sophisticated, yet soft and feminine representation of a professional Gen X working mom.
Alana Isbell from Charlotte, N.C., for a striking depiction of a retired Baby Boomer with a passion for volunteering and expressing her authentic sense of style.
Emily Kurek from Columbus, Ohio, for her mood board that embodies a hard working Gen X female trying to balance her hectic work and family lives, while expressing herself through her furniture and home accents.
Hayley Mitchell from Columbus, Ohio, who captured the essence of the Meritage Collection with a clean aesthetic, combined with energetic and spunky accessories to match the Baby Boomer’s consumer profile.
Katie Switow from Louisville, Ky., who’s mood board conveys an adventurous Millennial with strong family values and a creative, yet practical and classic sense of style.
“The students did a tremendous job conveying realistic lifestyles of the Millennial, Generation X and Baby Boomer consumer profiles for the Meritage Collection,” said Eric Graham, president of Fine Furniture Design. “The mood boards creatively demonstrate the broad consumer appeal of the group, and our retailers will benefit from a student point of view. These visuals have inspired us, and we believe they will also inspire our retailers to develop in-store displays, which appeal to these consumers.”
The students will attend the Reflections of Time kickoff party in the Fine Furniture Design showroom, 305 S. Hamilton St. on Oct. 21, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Taking a cue from the modern-day classic styling of the Meritage Collection, the Reflections of Time event will deliver an entertaining evening that reflects on the past while looking to the future. The Reflections of a Student winning entries will be on exhibit throughout the High Point Market.
The evening will also feature interactive entertainment by dueling piano performers who will perform request-based medleys from a variety of musical eras. In addition, guests will have the opportunity to experience the high-tech Mirror Me Photo Booth, an interactive mirror that communicates through colorful animations and entertaining voice guidance to create lasting photo memories with Market friends.