The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) announced the winners of the 2014 Student Design Competition, which challenged students to design an office that encouraged collaboration, productivity, health and well-being, while mitigating the negative effects of the open office.
Amanda Heineman, Student IIDA, University of Texas at Austin won first prize honors and $2,500. Her project, Spark, is an open office concept that introduces flexibility and choice for employees and contains three varied work environments: Ignite, Trigger and Kindle.
Amanda Heineman.
One of the judges, Betsy Vohs, said the project won because it “addressed the need for not only collaborative spaces but spaces for focus and well-being. The visualization techniques were successful as were the narrative components demonstrating the research and design concept for the submission.”
Second place went to Vivien Chen, Student IIDA, Savannah College of Art and Design, while Gisella Allen, Student IIDA, University of Texas at Austin, took home third prize. Chen’s project, Pencil Shavings, integrated sustainability, brand design, furniture and architecture into an overall design solution and complete design approach. Allen’s project Flourish presented a co-working space focused on employee well-being. The project implements a work-life cycle where employees work uninterrupted for 90 minutes and then take a break to encourage relaxation, renewal and replenishing.
Winning entries are available to view here.
Vivien Chen, left, and Gisella Allen, right. Images courtesy of IIDA.
