DESIGN QUEST 2008 FURNITURE COMPETITION— October 16 - November 30, 2008

For 35 years Design Quest has offered classic and innovative designs to West Michigan. In October 2007, to honor of our 35th anniversary, we held a furniture design competition which was so successful that we decided to repeat it. Design entry rules for the 2008 competition had no limitations on material, number of entries per designer, or type of furniture. However, the furniture had to function as furniture. We received many wonderful, functional, all-original designs. From this years 41 accepted entries: 21 were from Michigan, 8 were international and 12 from other states.

Special thanks to our judges:

• Iain Thorp, Haworth Inc., Head of Design, North America
• Timothy McLoughlin, Herman Miller, Senior Design Manager, R&D Department
• Terence D. West, IDSA, Steelcase Inc., Director Research WorkSpace Futures
• Jorgen Sorensen, Design Quest
• Thor Sorensen, Design Quest

Design Quest offered $2000 in prizes for innovative furniture design and the public was invited to help award the Peoples Choice Prize during the opening reception, October 16, 2008.

• First Prize - Breakplane, Andy Kem - Detroit, MI
• Second Prize - Perch, Joey Ruiter - Grand Rapids, MI
• Third Prize - Cape Gooseberry, Kim Eui Sun - Singapore
• Honorable Mention - Eve, Justin Peart - Kalamazoo, MI
• People's Choice Award - Addicus Bench, Troy Bosworth - Grand Rapids, MI

First Prize
'Breakplane' — Andy Kem, Kalamazoo, MI

CNC cut baltic birch plywood

Judges Comments:
"It's its own thing; not referencing to another style." - Timothy McLoughlin
"Great possibilities to expand the concept." - Iain Thorp
"Honest design because there is no pretense. Just clean execution." - Jorgen Sorensen

Second Prize 'Perch' — Joey Ruiter, Grand Rapids, MI Powder coated aluminum Judges Comments: "Begs the line between sculpture and function" - Iain Thorp "Very nice use of negative space." - Timothy McLoughlin	Designer Joey Ruiter Designer Joey Ruiter and Guest chat with Meg and Jorgen Sorensen of Design Quest

Third Prize
'Cape Gooseberry' — Kim Eui Sun, Singapore

Fiberglass

Judges Comments:
"Fun possibilities, in many materials" - Thor Sorensen
"More of a risk. Unfamiliar shapes." - Iain Thorp
"I like the direct reference to nature." - Terence West

People's Choice Award
'Addicus' Bench — Troy Bosworth, Grand Rapids, MI

Walnut, Concrete

Honorable Mention 'Eve' — Justin Peart, Grand Rapids, MI Bendable Birch Plywood, Walnut Veneer Judges Comments: "Very compelling design" "Well thought out for manufacturing"	'Scoop' Lounge Chair — Tzu-Hung Ho, Dallas, TX Polyurethane, stainless steel, fabric

'Camel' Chair — Armend Meliyadhie Ardhie, Singapore

Wicker and stainless steel

Coffee Table — Jennifer Unrein, Wichita, KS

Masonite, teak veneer and aluminum

'Dulce De Leche' Divan — Trevor G O'Neil, Chicago, IL

Recycled Cork with Birch Plywood

'Dulce De Leche' Divan

Designer Trevor O'Neil takes a moment to relax atop his entry during the Furniture Competition
opening held October 16, 2008

'Orgeometric' Seating — Adhi Hardiansah, Singapore

Plywood and oak veneer, bamboo -
"Orgeometric" - drived from the words: Organic and Geometric

'Minds Eye' — Doug Harkless, Kentwood, MI African Paduak, tinted glass	'Curve' Shelf — Julie Keith, Portage, MI Baltic Birch Plywood and Paduk

'Curve' Bookshelf

Attendees of the 2008 Furniture Competition pening reception take a moment to study the
'Curve' Bookshelf by designer, Julie Keith.

'Portland Chair' and 'Fragment Table' — Curt Pieper, Hamilton, MI

Chair: Concrete, Stainless Steel, Fabric Cushions
Table: Concrete and Stainless Steel

Self-standing Bookshelf — Eric Greene, Kalamazoo MI

Hardwood oak, oak-veneered plywood

'Wrapped' — Ethan J Skeels, Whitefish Bay, WI

Two contrasting woods

'Ready Made Function' — Fathony Bisri, Gresik, Indonesia

Cardboard

Outdoor Bench — Joey Ruiter, Grand Rapids, MI

Powder-coated aluminum -
An outdoor bench that can handle all sorts of weather; has a natural and geometric flow between it's form and material.

Decorative Mirror — Joey Ruiter, GR, MI Laser-cut powder-coated aluminum - Victorian-style mirror featuring menagerie of birds, horses, pine trees and more; constructed with new-age materials.	'MD-100' — Kurt Stone, Manchester, MO Steel and Bloodwood - Designed from single sheet of 3/16 inch plate steel with sculpted Bloodwood top pieces.

'Binder' Bench — Troy Bosworth, Grand Rapids, MI

Cypress Wood

'1+1=1' — Kim Eui Sun, Singapore

Wood and steel

'Clouds' — Kim Eui Sun, Singapore

Spring, gloves and wood

'Presies' (African for "Sharp") — Matthew Mcmullen, Kalamazoo, MI

Plywwod with African zebrawood and African anegree wood veneers

'House of Cards' — Mario Atias, Kentwood, MI Baltic birch plywood - Made from 6 plywood parts, assembled without glues or screws	'Giddyup Stool' — Noah Norton, Menomonie, WI Bent plywood, steel, cast plastic feet - Inspired by cowboy imagery of the American West.

Coffee Table — Michael Hancock, Grand Rapids, MI

Bubenga and Purple Heart

'Unity' — Michael Hancock, Grand Rapids, MI

Bubenga and Purple Heart

'Axon' Table — Steven Jelinek, Ferndale MI

Poplar, aluminum, glass

Jewel Top Table — Sarah Teasdale, Seattle, WA Resin, Glass, Steel, LED light bulbs, electrical components.	'X' — Thomas Lynes, Grand Rapids, MI Soft curly maple, ebonized walnut, glass

'Bluey' Bench and Stool — Teo Huey Chia, Singapore

Metal with water pipe

'Tureno' Chair — William Olman, Grand Rapids, MI

Molded plywood and bent tube frame

'Blackfish' — Wedya Yuniarti, Singapore

Fiberglass

'The Revolving Cube' — St. Louis, MO

Quarter sawn teak or walnut frames, polished chrome tubular steel legs

Overview of 2008 Design Quest Furniture Competition

Photo of Design Gallery hours before the opening reception held October 16, 2008