Interior design students rack up awards
July 16, 2002
KALAMAZOO -- Three Western Michigan University interior design students were recently honored in a statewide student design competition.
Suzanne Danford, a sophomore from St. Joseph, Mich., won first place and $500 in the 13th Annual Ghiordes Knot/American Society of Interior Designers Student Creative Space Competition. The competition, held at the Michigan Design Center in Troy, involves designing a space to incorporate a specific handmade rug, and illustrating it. Danford's entry featured a gold and taupe Valencia rug, which suggests royalty and opulence, in an oversized walk-in closet.
"In order to expand the feeling of luxury, it was only fitting that the rug be showcased in a room that exemplifies the ultimate in contemporary indulgence--the oversized walk-in closet," Danford wrote in presenting her concept to ASID judges who evaluated 61 entries. "Design characteristics reminiscent of a regal Renaissance era were combined with modern extravagance to create a space of redefined elegance," she added.
Troy, Mich., native Colleen Ennis took third place and a $250 award in ASID's Junior Competition. Open only to nine interior design programs in Michigan, participating schools pre-select three entries for the final competition. This year's competition involved the design of an insurance office, and is based on the National Council for Interior Design Qualification exam, a national competency exam taken by professional interior designers.
Ennis' winning proposal, which she completed without faculty input, emphasized traditional materials and lighting "to create a sense of stability and trust."
ASID also recognized Kelly Cross, a senior from Traverse City, Mich., for her leadership and service to WMU's interior design program, and for mentoring fellow design students. Kelly was nominated by a committee of faculty and students for her dedicated commitment to the WMU Interior Design Student Organization.
Media contact: Gail H. Towns, 269 387-8400, gail.towns@wmich.edu