U.S. – New talents in furniture design have the opportunity to win cash prizes and showcase their work in a public exhibition as the Formica Corporation’s 2019 FORM Student Innovation Competition opened entries on September 10th.

From now until December 10, 2018 the competition invites architecture and interior design students to showcase their creativity by designing furniture pieces for resimercial spaces that showcase Formica Brand products.

Resimercial spaces are the new design trend, blurring the line between residential and commercial spaces. The distinguished panel of industry and design professionals who will judge the work of today’s up-and-coming talent include:

• Leanne Ford, interior designer and star of “Restored by the Fords” on HGTV
• Tristan Butterfield, chief creative officer at Baker Interiors Group
• Jaime Velez, former director of interior design at SOM
• Renee Hytry Derrington, global design lead at Formica Group
• Steven Matijcio, curator for the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati

“As we continue to see the line between commercial and residential design blur, with residential spaces inspired by hospitality settings and office and health care environments designed to feel like home, we are excited to see recent momentum for the resimercial trend,” Hytry Derrington said. “I can’t wait to see what today’s talented students will envision in their entries.”

The grand prize winner will receive a USD 1,500 cash award, and their design will be created and displayed at an unveiling event at the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center on March 22, 2019. The second-place winner will be awarded USD 1,000, and the third-place winner will receive USD 500.

“I am so excited to see how students interpret the new wave of ‘resimercial’ design,” Ford said. “In reality, this is a style that has been around for years and will continue well into the future, but now it has a name. I love that these rising design students will undoubtedly have an impact on how it continues to evolve as they jump into their careers. I am thrilled and honored to be part of this competition.”

For more information, including complete competition details and rules, visit http://www.formica.com/studentcompetition.