GERMANY - This year marks the 10th time that Hettich and Rehau have awarded the internationally renowned International Design Award.

This year, entrants were called upon to “take furniture to the next level”. Secondary school pupils and university students studying product design, architecture, interior design, art and wood technology and processing had until 1 March 2015 to send in their submissions.

On 26 and 27 March 2015, a distinguished panel of experts convened to select the three prize winners from an extensive pool of designs sub- mitted by students from 77 countries.

The Winners were: Anita Kokoszczyk, student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, Poland with “HANG OUT”. Marwa Istanbuli of the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates with “G-WASH” and Vishal Sathivada, student at the DYPDC Center for Automotive Research and Studies in Pune, India with “SLICE SIDE DOWN CABINET”.

The winners will be honored with the International Design Award sculpture, prize money of €2,000 each, as well as a joint trip to Germany in September 2015 where they will visit Hettich and Rehau and attend a design workshop over several days. The 50 best submissions will also be awarded a certificate.

This year's €1,500 prize for the university with the highest number of entrants went to the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, Poland. All of the designs submitted by students who opted to participate in the public vote can be viewed online at http://www.internationaldesignaward.com/. Public voting is open until 11 May 2015. The winner of the public vote will receive a €500 gift certificate.

As part of the International Design Award 2015, Hettich and Rehau will also be awarding a company prize, the winner of which will be announced in June 2015.