Welcome To Opportunity
Design school has provided you with a foundation of knowledge to succeed in your industry; Projects to hone your skills and promote forward thinking; Critiques to give you perspective in your creations; Time to gain experience and confidence.
Generations Furniture LLC aspires to bridge the design gap in our industry, to reinvent ourselves as our consumers have. To achieve this, we are offering ambitious and talented designers such as yourself the opportunity to build upon your schooling and advance your career.
We are looking for you to create with a purpose.
Reinvent furniture design.
Regenerate consumer excitement.
Unlock creativity and create to enhance lifestyles.
You’re it; you’re the next generation of designers.
Benefits To Students
1. Bringing to the forefront present day, real world, educational awareness as to what the true state of the retail furniture industry is; recognizing gaping holes in meeting consumers ever changing lifestyles through furniture design; opening the creative imagination and crossing generational values.
2. Having the potential experience of interfacing with some of the largest present day retailers, distributors, manufacturers, material suppliers and furniture leaders. The student will have the potential opportunity of getting his/her name out in association with leaders in the furniture industry.
3. Possibility of exposure of your designs being manufactured, and then sold throughout the United States and possibly worldwide.
4. Potentiality to be compensated for successful designs that get distributed regionally and perhaps nationally; in which case, compensation will then be commensurate with the success of the design in correlation to the consumer’s acceptance and purchase of said design.
5. Possibility of exceptional exposure, expert guidance and education, some students may have the opportunity to pick or choose where they would like to work in the future, or for that matter, be in a position to potentially open their own independent design studio based upon this contest and exposure and other experiences.
Sponsor:
Generations Furniture LLC
7114 West Jefferson Avenue, Suite 312
Lakewood, CO 80235, United States
Contest Parameters
The student needs to drill down and follow the parameters, expand upon their own horizons and experiences, and research how they can utilize their design talents to cross-generational values. The student needs to be very focused on the objectives of this contest and be willing to put a significant amount of thought and research into drawing even their first rendering.
The designs need to represent value to the consumer at its suggested price point by combining visual appearance and function. The design needs to make the best use of available materials and production technology. The design needs to incorporate the needs of the retail furniture consumer.
Contest Eligibility
Currently or previously enrolled in an accredited full-time design program that relates to furniture design, in schools selected by Generations Furniture.
Letter of recommendation from the Dean of the design school.
Be a college sophomore, junior or senior in academic year 2008-2009. Fully complete the process of application and forward all materials to Generations Furniture LLC, to be received no later than April 15, 2009 at 11:59 pm Mountain time.
Exceptional skill sets in color rendering, 2D auto cad (3D preferable, but not necessary). Winning designs will exhibit a comprehension of emerging and existing generational lifestyle preferences, so that the designs are produced in large numbers for sale to consumers through retail stores and distributors alike. The designs should not be intended for limited distribution, craft products, or products that will be produced in limited quantities.
Be able to articulate in writing and design the specific consumer target.
No employee of Generations Furniture LLC, or family member of any Generations Furniture LLC employee, or any juror, may enter.
Award Amounts
First Place $ 1,000.00
Second Place $ 500.00
Third Place $ 250.00
Contest Requirements
How to Get Started
Students can register through this website and get their own password to ensure confidentiality of work and open the lines of communication with the decision makers at Generations Furniture LLC. Participants will be able to upload design ideas with detailed explanations supporting their creations as if they were selling to the retailer or wholesaler themselves.
Requirements
To familiarize oneself with what is presently in the marketplace, and in coordination with this contest, please browse the bedroom, dining room, occasional tables, home office, entertainment centers and upholstery offerings at the sites listed under the 'Furniture Research' tab.
As part of your entry, prepare the following:
- For each store and the respective furniture categories within each category and link above, describe the overall feeling you derive in your own words.
- For each store and the respective furniture categories within that store, define in your own words what type of designs you would focus on to attract more customers and increase sales, while at the same time keeping in mind how to complement what is already being sold in the store. By following this procedure, the student will have a comprehensive understanding of what is being presently offered in the marketplace, and how he or she would perceive creative and innovational ideas to capture a significant consumer base presently not being appealed to.
- Produce color renderings of your furniture collections within the respective categories (bedroom, dining room, occasional tables, home office and upholstery) and send them to Generations Furniture LLC for evaluation after approval by the Dean of the design school.
- Showcase your skill sets by producing and uploading, for the contest, professional color renderings, detailed 2D Auto Cads (3D if available), Section Drawings.
- We are looking for students with an eye for creating designs that will sell to the majority of consumers that you pick to target. You will give thought into how to be creative, exciting and unassuming, while also making a statement and fulfilling generational diversities (i.e. ethnicity, age, sex, financial status and lifestyle preferences).
- We would like to see tastefully executed mix media products, new veneer species and new diverse color wood applications. We are looking for designs that will captivate the consumer with its look and enthrall them into purchasing your design. We are after the heart and soul of the ever- changing American consumer.
- Each participant needs to think outside the box of their personal biases and get in touch with the various generational consumer biases. Design concepts need to be innovative while also keeping in mind the ultimate goal of having mainstream America embrace the product, and purchase in mass quantities.
- Last but not least, with each drawing, a short explanation is required, about the design, how it fulfills a void on the retail floor, why it will appeal to the majority of the targeted consumers and who exactly the consumers are.
Contest Deadline
Deadline for Submission of Applicable Materials
1. All applicable materials must be posted and available for review by Generations Furniture no later than April 15, 2009 at 11:59 pm. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
2. The odds of winning depend on the number of entries received.
3. Taxes are the sole responsibility of the winner.
4. Final judging will take place in April 2009. Winners will be notified by May 31, 2009.
5. Winner will have 3 weeks to collect Prize.
6. Winner's names will be posted on the Generations Furniture website at generationsfurnituredesign.com in May, 2009.
7. Winners will be required to execute an Affidavit of Eligibility and to execute a Publicity Release. In the event a winner is under the age of majority in his/her state of permanent residence, his/her parent or guardian must also execute the Affidavit of Eligibility.
8. Any Entrants whose designs are selected for manufacture or distribution must execute a contract with Generations Furniture in order for the designs to be manufactured or distributed.
Dates
Online registration due: April 15, 2009 11:59 pm Mountain time
Entries Due: April 15, 2009 11:59 pm Mountain time
Judging: April 2009
Generations Furniture LLC
All winning entries and honorable mentions may be displayed, i.e. winning entrants picture and short biography, mention of the design categories won and the specific features of the design(s) at www.generationsfurnituredesign.com, and may be written about in Furniture Today.
Void where prohibited
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS: BY ENTERING THIS CONTEST, ENTRANT AGREES TO ABIDE BY AND BE BOUND BY THESE OFFICIAL RULES AND THE DECISIONS OF THE JUDGES, WHICH ARE FINAL AND BINDING IN ALL RESPECTS. ENTRANT WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT ENTRANT'S ENTRY IS ENTRANT'S ORIGINAL WORK AND ENTRANT OWNS ALL RIGHTS TO THE DESIGN(S) AND OTHER MATERIALS ENTRANT SUBMITS; AND PUBLICATION OF THE MATERIAL VIA VARIOUS MEDIA WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS. BY ENTERING THE CONTEST, ENTRANT HEREBY GIVES GENERATIONS FURNITURE AND ITS AGENT AND ASSIGNEES, FULL PERMISSION AND AUTHORITY TO PRESENT ENTRANT'S WORK TO MANUFACTURERS AND/OR DISTRIBUTORS FOR REVIEW AND POSSIBLE SELECTION FOR MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTION. ALL ENTRANTS WHOSE DESIGNS ARE SELECTED FOR MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTION MUST EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH GENERATIONS FURNITURE IN ORDER FOR THE DESIGNS TO BE MANUFACTURED OR DISTRIBUTED. WINNER WILL BE REQUIRED TO EXECUTE AN AFFIDAVIT OF ELIGIBILITY AND TO EXECUTE A PUBLICITY RELEASE. IN THE EVENT A WINNER IS UNDER THE AGE OF MAJORITY IN HIS/HER STATE OF PERMANENT RESIDENCE, HIS/HER PARENT OR GUARDIAN MUST ALSO EXECUTE THE AFFIDAVIT OF ELIGIBILITY. BY ACCEPTING PRIZE, WINNER CONSENTS TO THE USE OF HIS OR HER DESIGNS, COMMENTARIES, AND PUBLICATION OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF DESIGNS WITHOUT FURTHER COMPENSATION OR CONSENT, UNLESS PROHIBITED BY LAW. ENTRANT RELEASES, DISCHARGES AND HOLDS HARMLESS GENERATIONS FURNITURE AND ITS AFFILIATES, SUBSIDIARIES, AND AGENTS (INCLUDING CONTEST JUDGES) FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS OR DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ENTRANT'S PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST, AND ENTRANT AGREES TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS GENERATIONS FURNITURE AND ITS AFFILIATES, SUBSIDIARIES, AND AGENTS (INCLUDING CONTEST JUDGES) IF ANY THIRD PARTY CLAIMS RIGHTS IN THE DESIGN OR OTHER MATERIALS ENTRANT SUBMITS. GENERATIONS FURNITURE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST, LATE, DAMAGED, MISDIRECTED, ILLEGIBLE, OR INCOMPLETE ENTRIES. GENERATIONS FURNITURE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPUTER SYSTEM, PHONE LINE, TECHNICAL, HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, PROGRAM OR SERVER FAILURES OF ANY KIND; LOST OR UNAVAILABLE NETWORK CONNECTIONS; FAILED, INCOMPLETE, GARBLED OR DELAYED COMPUTER TRANSMISSIONS; OR LOST, LATE, ILLEGIBLE, CORRUPTED, MISDIRECTED, OR INCOMPLETE ENTRIES. GENERATIONS FURNITURE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRUPTED ENTRIES OR TECHNICAL OR HUMAN ERRORS OR OMISSIONS OF ANY KIND RELATING TO THE SUBMISSION OR PROCESSING OF ENTRIES. IN NO EVENT WILL GENERATIONS FURNITURE OR ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES AND AGENTS, BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF ENTRANTS' ACCESS TO USE OF THE WEBSITE . WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, EVERYTHING ON THE WEBSITE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.
What We Want to See in You
Each artist participating in this contest must have a clear understanding of not only of design concepts, but how to relate those to consumers and their corresponding generational cultures, values and lifestyles.
The creation of furniture rarely encompasses this thought process, primarily relying upon the furniture manufacturing community to identify consumer lifestyle and preference shifts; thus offering furniture retailers product designs that, not always, hit the target of this ever changing demographic consumer bias. As designers we often create pieces that appeal to our own eyes and reflect our own generational upbringing.
We are not taught how to transcend our design concepts into pieces that fulfill the diversified cultures of today. Traditionally as an industry, we design furniture that appeals to our own biases, when we really need to adapt and embrace the ever changing demographic consumer and the biases of their personal preferences. We just keep making the same things over and over again, when we really need to adapt and embrace the changes in consumer wants. The truth… we need intuitive introspection and recognition of the emergence of new market forces coming into play through targeted innovative designs.
Embedded Elements Within Design
It is up to each student to have a clear understanding about the people of this country, their culture, their values, their lifestyles, their like and dislikes. Rarely in furniture design are these elements taken into consideration today. We design furniture that appeals to our own eye and fits our own generational values. We are clueless how to design furniture that fulfills the diversified cultural and ethnic values, and lifestyles of today and tomorrow’s consumer. We just keep making that old clunky looking furniture with carvings, shaping, and styling that relates to a generation that will someday be a very small factor in the consumer’s expendable dollars, especially on furniture. Let’s face it, we need a face-lift.
It is today’s young people that we have to look up to; the future for all of us is in their hands. We need to help them unlock their creativity, allowing them to enhance the quality of life for us all. We need to critically think outside the nine dots and connect them. We need to adapt and embrace change.
Creativity…as Stephen B. Leacock said, “What we call creative work, ought not to be called work at all, because it isn’t. I imagine that Thomas Edison never did a day’s work in his last fifty years.”
Let’s Create!!!!
Judging of Contest Entrants
The designs will be evaluated by Generations Furniture LLC, CEO, Kevin Moats, and Mr. Moats will select the finalists. The finalists' designs will be judged by a distinguished board of leading retailers.
In the event the student’s design is chosen for manufacture and distribution, that student will not only be exposed on a national basis of recognition of their designs, they will also be monetarily compensated as well.
GENERATIONS FURNITURE AWARD CATEGORIES
BEDROOM - Which includes headboards and footboards where applicable, mirrors, nightstands, five or six drawer chests, dressers, and other storage units intended primarily for bedroom use.
CASUAL DINING - Which includes table and chairs of various sizes intended for casual everyday use.
FORMAL DINING - Which includes table, chairs, buffets, china cabinets, and servers intended for formal dining room use. Entry must be by a group consisting of armchairs, side chairs, at least one size table, and at least one china cabinet.
ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS/HOME THEATER - Entries in this category include individual or multiple units (groupings) that accommodate audio/video components that are compatible with present and future entertainment electronics.
OCCASIONAL TABLES - Which includes cocktail, lamp table, sofa table, console table, and other tables for occasional use. Also includes moving tables such as serving carts, and occasional tables, as well as other pieces, that utilize storage or are multi functional.
HOME OFFICE - Which includes student desks, executive desks, L-shaped desks, 72” open bookcase and 72” door bookcase, 2 drawer file cabinet and 4 drawer file cabinet, multi-function space saving cabinets, seating, and storage intended for home office. The intent is to combine office functionality with an attractive home furniture look, not institutional.
UPHOLSTERY – Stationary Upholstery which includes upholstered pieces with moving trays, shelves, etc., as long as the movement does not affect the posture of the person seated. Motion Upholstery which includes pieces whose motion changes the posture and comfort of the person seated.
Judging/Criteria
The designs will be evaluated by Generations Furniture's CEO, Kevin Moats, and Mr. Moats will select the finalists. The finalists' designs will be judged by a distinguished board of professionals involved in the furniture industry, primarily retail buyers. The judges will review entries based on the following criteria and grading scale:
1-10 Originality - Clarity, uniqueness, creativity and appeal of color renderings
1-10 Practicality - Potential for viability in the marketplace and targeting generational preferences with mass appeal
1-10 Articulated Comprehension – Understanding of emerging and existing generational lifestyle preferences that will have mass appeal to consumers reflected in the design
1-10 Function – Functional features incorporated into the design to meet consumer’s lifestyle needs.
1-10 Fulfilling generational diversities
1-10 Tastefully executed mixed media products, new veneer species, new diverse color wood applications.
The entrants with the three highest scores will be the Award winners.
In the event of a tie, the winner will be selected by Kevin Moats, CEO Generations Furniture LLC, with the assistance of the judges, based on the highest scores in the categories of Practicality and Originality.
