DESIGN QUEST 2010 FURNITURE COMPETITION— March 18 - May 2, 2010

For 38 years Design Quest has offered classic and innovative designs to West Michigan. In October 2007, to honor our 35th anniversary, we held a furniture design competition which was so successful that we decided to repeat it. The 2008 Furniture Competition was an even greater success. This year, we decided to move the competion to the spring to give design students and professionals a greater opportunity to compete.

And what a success! This year's competition had a record number of submissions from a record number of countries on five different continents. Only 1 in 4 entries were accepted. The Design entry rules for the 2010 competition had no limitations on material, number of entries per designer, or type of furniture. However, the furniture had to function as furniture. Thanks to everybody who entered!

Special thanks to our judges:

• Iain Thorp, Haworth Inc., Head of Design, North America
• Fabienne Munch, Herman Miller, Director of Ideation, Research & Development
• 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, March 18, 2010.

• First Prize: Pierced Chair, Laura Drake - Crawfordsville, IN
• Second Prize: (b)ONE, Ross McCoy - Hutchinson, KS
• Third Prize: Lily Tables, Bud Panesar - Nairobi, Kenya
• People's Choice Award: Pieni Side Table, Aaron Maki, Grand Rapids, MI

First Prize: 'Pierced' Chair

Design: Laura Drake, Crawfordsville, IN
Material: 3/8" aluminum plate, epoxy 

The pierced chair was inspired by the organic fiberglass seats from the 1950's and 1960's. The form was created by intersecting 26 ribs made of aluminum plate and cut on a waterjet machine. Ergonomics were the primary design drivers for this design.

Second Prize: '(b)One'

Design: Ross McCoy, Hutchinson, KS
Materials: Trupan Ultralight MDF, Fiberglass, Automotive Paint

(b)ONE is a sculptural bench influenced by forms found in nature on an everyday basis.

Third Prize: 'Lily' Tables

Design: Bud Panesar, Nairobi, Kenya
Materials: Solid hardwoods (Mahogany)

Lily tables are designed to be aesthetically pleasing, yet functional. The asymmetric, flowing shape was inspired by the Lily flower, resulting in the name of the pieces.

People's Choice Award: 'Pieni' Side Table

Aaron Mäki, Grand Rapids, MI
Materials: bamboo, particle board, steel

Combining classic design elements with contemporary needs, this pseudo mid-century modern gem meshes well with multiple living environments. Whether you slide this table next to your favorite lounge chair while sipping coffee or platform bed, the variety of heights allows Pieni to easily adapt into the users space.

'04 Console' Design: Clint Baldwin, Roseburg, OR Materials: 100% salvaged materials including: MDF, Laminate, Glass, Stainless steel and light fixture. A wall mounted console table with accent light that has a very modern abstract feel. Great hallway or entry table to put flowers and your keys on and makes a great nightlight.

'Phi Cabinet' Design: Lee S. Brown, Muskegon, MI Materials: Pine, Enamel, Acrylic paint, wax. The Phi Cabinet reveals 4 compartments spiraling the length of the sculpture a in a Fibonacci sequence 1-1-2-3-5 an elemental ratio often found in nature. The black undulating column resembles dark stone eroded by wind and water taking further the idea of form VS elements. The white and iron oxide color in the interior evoke catacomb like spaces within the piece granting a sense of discovery and mystery as the cabinet doors are opened.

'Garden Sitting'

Design: Katarína Baranová, Zvolen, Slovenská Republika
Materials: Polycarbonate - or other plastic material

Futuristic garden chair, shape inspiration by wheelbarrow

'Thin Edge Table'

Design: Garret Brooks, Grand Rapids, MI
Materials: Solid wood base; Veneer Plywood with solid edges, top.

Visibly delicate with simple facets and a visual lightness.

'Skeletal Side Table' Design: Garret Brooks, Grand Rapids, MI Materials: Cherry wood, cherry veneer. A reduction of a shaker design, creating a simple lighter table with all the same function of the original.

'A' Back Windsor Design: Stoel Burrowes, Chapel Hill, NC Materials: Walnut and Ash with Oil Finish Traditional technologies and contemporary working combine to re-interpret the Windsor Chair Design. The solid Walnut seat rests on 'rabbets' in the front legs which penetrate through to become the side posts. Spindles and leg/posts are rived and shaped by shaving with draw knife and spoke shave. Careful study of materials, tooling, craft, history and human factors are brought to bear on this design.

'Coffee Table'

Design: Dina Campolito, Canfield, OH
Materials: Black Walnut, Steel Channels

'My design embodies a unique and modern aesthetic. The concept behind the design was the interaction between metal and wood. I experimented with several different design ideas, size ratios, depths, and configurations. In order to keep cost down but still achieve a stainless steel look, I used steel channels and machined the outer surfaces on a milling machine. I then used a belt sander to give a brushed finish and added a clear lacquer to prevent rust and give a clean uniform gloss. The final product is unique and interesting in that it looks different from each side but has an overall cohesive, edgy feel. I envision my piece adding a fresh, sophisticated look, perhaps in the lobby of a modern office.'

'Caroline Due Two-Seater Sofa'

Design: Onur Mustak, Cobanli, Como Italy
Materials: Metal legs are cast and chromed. Top part is built over a metal mesh coated with foam and specially produced fabric.

Caroline is a spacious two seater, but not just that, it is a fun furniture to have at any young space, the design itself is living; it promises to occupy the best space of the living room, to be an emotional attraction point, something that even if it gets old, will be kept. An enduring timeless design.

'Lapis'

Design: Onur Mustak, Cobanli, Como Italy
Materials: Possible options - Metal coated with leather; injection-molded plastic; Wood.

An elegant chair to fill in the happy home spaces! You can lean backwards without fearing to fall, this chair is so comfortable that it redefines your feeling of comfort, you will never sit on another chair after this one!. I would also like to note that this is a re-interpretation of the Chinese Ming chair, we wanted to carry the traditional Chinese chair to the modern era and give it a new look and feeling.

'Hamurisi'

Design: Onur Mustak, Cobanli, Como Italy
Materials: Cristalplant, Corean, Plastics, Wood, Metal; the object could be realized in almost any material. Top part is Glass.

Hamurisi is an organic table inspired by rotating dough, the design is very modern and easy going.

'Magica 2'

Design: Davide Conti, Chiavari, Italy
Materials: Wood, plexiglass

MAGICA 2 - chair in wood and plexiglass, wants to delude the people who watch it!

'Magica'

Design: Davide Conti, Chiavari, Italy
Materials: Wood, plexiglass

MAGICA 2 - chair in wood and plexiglass, wants to delude the people who watch it!

'Kreo'

Design: Davide Conti, Chiavari, Italy
Materials: Wood

KREO - wooden sofa consists of three seats together. her line is perfect for elegant interiors of each house.

'U Stool'

Design: Danilo Cvjetkovic, Toronto, Canada
Materials: Aimed for sustainability

Stackable stool. Appealing design, Simple manufacturing/ assembling and choice of materials are aimed for sustainability.

'Lounge Chair - 4J'

Design: Danilo Cvjetkovic, Toronto, Canada
Materials: Wood veneer, natural grain, finished with semi gloss water-based white paint or any simple water based varnish.

Four equal pieces of "green" plywood CNC cut and "J" shape bent, intersect and form a comfortable guest chair.

'Pitch'

Design: Nicolai Czumaj-Bront, Grand Rapids, MI
Materials: Reclaimed lumber/wood (various types).

Pitch is a stool/side table exploring a balance and celebration of precision and imperfection. Combining a machining process with reclaimed wood. As the weathered and worn wood is shaped, the beauty and character from the variation in color, material arrangement, and signs of wear are exposed to produce a highly precise yet imperfect design. While the overall form is consistent each piece is individual.

'Tact'

Design: Mike Devereaux, Shelby Township, MI
Materials: Plywood, Steel, Wool Upholstery, Hardware (finished prototype).

Tact warms up any living space with its soft upholstered doors and loop handles, offering a welcome alternative to the cold, glass clad pieces in this category. Combining the Mid-century credenza with contemporary lifestyle needs, this piece is the perfect foundation for the modern multimedia experience. The simple media cabinet features two types of storage. One side houses all your tech gear and provides a hinged rear panel, allowing easy access to the back of the components, while the other is a deep drawer to accommodate your media collection. While not in use the tech side is hidden by a flip up door, that slides back to allow for optimum channel surfing. The warm upholstery also lends itself to many fabric choices creating a range of different styles and applications for this little charmer.

'One Eye Open'

Design: Ryan Duke, Oakland, CA
Materials: Reclaimed wood, Hand spun wool yarn, Reclaimed bed frame foot covers.

Reclaimed wood from futon and bed frames make up the striking colors of this credenza. Naturally hand dyed yarn, in a geometric arrangement, creates a round "eye" window on the single sliding door. An asymmetrical design means it always has one eye open, watching the world around.

'PlusMinus'

Design: Ryan Duke, Oakland, CA
Materials: Reclaimed wood.

Built from reclaimed chair seats, these 14in stools cut and combine pieces creating an equation for a form found near the intersection of nature and machine. Add two old seat tops, subtract material as needed, produce one sly, new stool. Math is fun!

'Bangle Table'

Design: Lauren Hucek, Hinsdale, IL
Materials: Hollow slab door, walnut veneer, stainless steel.

The Bangle Table was constructed through the use of a hollow slab door. The slab door was cut down to four main pieces which were then blocked out and covered in a walnut veneer. A stainless steel bracelet serves as a shelf to help keep magazines looking organized, but still close at hand. I originally played with proportions, colors, and materials for the actual bands but ultimately decided that one simple band would work dually with the concept as well as to conceal the items that could be placed inside.

'Sofia'

Design: Randy Jacobson, Chicago, IL
Materials: Stainless steel + Bungee Cord.

SOFIA is an ottoman/coffee table. The frame is a continuous line made of 4 welded, interlocking stainless steel semi circles that bend outwards where the semi-circles intersect. This form, a square transforming into a circle recalls arches that support domes in medieval churches like the Hagia Sofia. The saddle shaped surface is woven with an irregular pattern takes the form of a hyperbolic paraboloid. The frame without the bungee cord seat can support a glass tabletop. The dimensions of the base can be modified to make a dining room table.

'Breakplane Chair'

Design: Andrew Ken, Detroit, MI
Materials: CNC cut baltic birch plywood, cut from a flat sheet, finished, tension bent and locked together.

The motivation was to develop a piece of furniture from flat materials, but rendered in such a way as to impart 3 dimensional form by exploiting the inherent properties of wood using computer modeling and cutting to realize the final concept.

'Fatboy'

Design: Bryan Koehn, Grand Rapids, MI
Materials: baltic birch/fin ply, spring steel truck spring[re-use], aluminum, reclyced rubber.

An artistic and fun, flexible lounge chair for use indoor or out. the spring steel allows the lounge to flex. the back is adjustable to allow multiple postures- designed to move.

'Dezember Chair'

Design: Kuhncenti Design - Claas Kuhnen and Neil Seung Myung Vincenti, Grand Rapids, MI
Materials: Bent-plywood with walnut veneer. Stainless flat bar 3/1x 1-1/2. 4 rubber disc washers.

For people seeking a clean look in seating, the Dezember chair is a versatile option that allows for unencumbered views within a modern space via its low-profile back, which also encourages proper seating posture. A steel frame supports a bent-plywood shell laid with walnut veneer, and a handle for convenience and provides material break-up and visual accent.

'Chair X'

Design: Phil Kwai Sum Wong, Richmond, BC, Canada
Materials: Solid Birch Wood

By using simple and straight-forward design detail and color combination, a timeless chair is created that reduces material waste and works towards being environmentally friendly.

'Motley Cubes'

Design: Rebecca Lee, Milwaukee, WI
Materials: Cherry, Hickory, Ash, Maple, Aspen, Walnut, Pine, Yellow Pine, Oak, Poplar, and Alowood Brazilian Cherry.

'This sustainable furniture piece was built with scraps found in the wood shop and a few boards of Alowood, which is a plantation harvested, vacuum stain-infused wood product. Based on a play of geometries, colors, and textures; this piece represents the fusion of simple and complex. Complete with original designed support brackets, this coffee table brings a new twist to a traditional butcher block.

'Ovo Rocker'

Design: Joe Manus - Artthroughlabor Inc., Atlanta GA
Materials: Domestic birch plywood/ stain/ finish washers and screws.

This rocker is precision made in my shop in Atlanta. It is a two tone Ebony and Birch assembly. Very comfortable and with its modern curves, it will blend into a sophisticated decor. This makes a nice everyday chair for reading or conversation as well as nice accent to a nursery. This can even be your modern twist on the porch rocker as it is finished with 5 coats of lacquer it will survive well in a covered outdoor environment. All parts are cut on my in-house CNC router.'

'Gala'

Design: Miri Mizrahi, Tel Aviv, Israel
Materials: Bent wood, Sustainable Zebra wood veneer.

The Gala rocker was inspired with transforming 2-dimensional into 3-dimensional forms with little or no fittings. The intent was to design a chair that resembled a sheet of wood slit in such a way that the alternating strips would serve as a seat as well as the rockers. The strips of the seat and armrest are bent to conform to ergonomic standards to afford comfort. The strips are also extenuated with the use of Zebrawood veneer.

'Duet'

Design: Miri Mizrahi, Tel Aviv, Israel
Materials: Stainless steel frame, upholstered cushions.

Duet is a multifunctional rocking chair. It is inspired by See- Saw movement and playful interaction between the two players. Duet is a union of two identical rocking chairs facing each other. The two chairs join by sliding one chair's frame into the other in four points. Each chair is ergonomically designed for comfort and upholstered with dense padding for firm body support. It has a wide seat area (30") to allow for the dual seating and a swivel backrest. Duet's silhouette is minimal to accentuate the natural curvature and simplicity in function and use. It can be used in numerous ways such as dual rocking chair, bench, lounge rocking chair and two separate rocking chairs.

'Pieces'

Design: Derek Nevenzel, Holland MI
Materials: Framed with wood and finished in laminate. Shoulderbolts used to connect the pieces together.

'Its nice to be able to re-arrange a living room once and a while, but usually that's not an easy task for entertainment centers and couches are such large units. So Instead of making a large single piece of furniture with one function, I wanted to make a piece that consisted of multiple smaller parts that based on how they were arranged could make different pieces of furniture, therefore have multiple functions as well. With all the pieces together it forms an entertainment center. If you want to change, you could instead have two couches and a lounge chair; two shelving units and a lounge; a queen size bed; a coffee table or end table or four single lounges; also a dining table. Its a sculptural experience to be able to create whatever you want really.'

'Convertible Stool Table'

Design: Thomas J. Newhouse, Grand Rapids, MI
Materials: Injection molded plastics, cast aluminum, steel gas spring cylinder, various metal fasteners and hinges.

A unique hybrid furniture solution that instantly converts from a low stool,to a high stool,to a height adjustable mobile table. This compact convertible product supports the dynamic needs of the "collaborative office" workplace, various health care and educational environments...and the home office.

'Sepii'

Design: Kristian Lindhardt Norhave, Copenhagen, Denmark
Materials: Ash wood and rubber on the end of each of the legs.

The Sepii chair, with its ten legs, tip and dance around like a cuttlefish, allowing only three legs to touch the ground at the same time. The name comes from the cuttlefish order Sepiidae. Sepii combines playfulness and elegancy, with a modern touch of the rocking chair, so the user are able to tip around, making it imitate the sepiidae cuttlefish in the water.

'Live Seating'

Design: Will Oltman and Bruce Sienkowski, Ada MI
Materials: Wire mesh understructure, geotextile fabric, dirt, plant seeds, compression molded pc/abs recycled plastic seats and backs.

This is a line of outdoor seating products which utilize natural materials to create unique furniture elements. Mesh understructures are covered in a mound of soil and are then planted with a grass or equivalent seed. A geotextile fabric draped over the wire mesh helps to distribute water throughout the seating hill and helps to prevent soil erosion. The hole in the seats allow water to drain throughout the mound.

'Cantilevered Classic'

Design: Curt Pieper, Hamilton, MI
Materials: Concrete and Glass.

The asymmetrically designed concrete table with a cantilevered glass shelf. modernistic The top, with our recognizable glass insert, rests on a three-sided, cutout concrete base that supports a cantilevered glass shelf as well. The concrete is diamond grinder polished and hand sealed for a marble-like finish. This structurally interesting piece looks different from each side and would be a unique addition to any contemporary space.

'Cobra Lounge'

Design: Facundo Poj, Miami, FL
Materials: Bamboo Ply, oak dowels, non-toxic glue, water based finish.

The Cobra Lounge is built using bamboo ply, oak dowels and non-toxic glue. No nails, screws, metals or plastics of any kind are used to produce this piece. The ribs are CNC cut and everything else is handcrafted.

'Canyon Table'

Design: Hayley Porst, Terrace Park, OH
Materials: Solid maple Wood

The 'Canyon Table' is a solid maple coffee table finished with a water-based polyurethane. The canyon was inspired by the need to showcase coffee table magazines and books. Colorful literature can be used as additional color and texture and a contrast to the maple grain.

'SPARE Table'

Design: Progressive AE - Dan Tyrer, Grand Rapid, MI
Materials: Reclaimed bowling alley lane, reclaimed bicycles, reclaimed cardboard tubes, Baltic Birch plywood, painted steel.

An exploration in employing reclaimed materials in a new way to create an artistic and functional expression.

'Static Dynamic'

Design: David Rozek, Madison, CT
Materials: 200 sheets of 4'x7'x1/4" Birch Plywood, Plexiglas for the top surfaces, 1/4 Threaded rod for alignment, Wood Glue.

The aesthetic of my furniture design is a combination of several natural precedents in which certain characteristics from each were abstracted and merged together to create completely unique, flowing forms which incorporate the actions of the verbs erode, grow, and stack. By incorporating these verbs into my design, I was able to develop a language that appears to be active and evolving which establishes the fourth degree in each piece - Time. Each piece of furniture is composed of stacked pieces of quarter inch birch plywood which are then laminated together using wood glue.

'Tufted Sofa'

Design: Joey Ruiter, Grand Rapids, MI
Materials: Laser cut steel, formed and welded, powder coated.

Tufted button sofa Outdoor seating ready for all weather conditions. This sofa traces tradition tufted seams, cracks, and buttons, in powder coated steel. Water, dirt, and grime, won't find their home here.

'Uni'

Design: Brad Salmon, Dublin, OH
Materials: Maple Bending Plywood, Poplar Bending Plywood, White Ash, Closed Cell Foam Mat.

This is a piece in my motion series. The Inspiration for this piece was forced interaction. The piece isn't stable without a user to interact with it and create a stable seating device.

'Heiss Desk'

Design: Andre Sandifer and Abir Ali, Chicago, IL
Materials: Solid Walnut

Our furniture experience began in Michigan in 2003 when we converted an old storefront into a consolidated studio, workshop, and sales floor. Our love of design and full scale prototyping started here and continues to be the way we approach our work. We moved to Chicago in 2006 and continue to take pride in hand-producing our furniture in house. This intimacy and knowledge of craft is essential to the way we design.

'Packing Peanut'

Design: Bruce Sykes, Brookville, PA
Materials: Plasti Dip and rigid foam.

These benches were inspired by the foam peanuts first introduced in 1965 by Dow Chemical for cushioning material in shipping. They are created by gluing 2" rigid foam boards together, sculpting their shape using various tools and then covering with several layers of Plasti Dip.

'Papillon'

Design: Megan Vaeth, Overland Park, KS
Materials: 7/17" cold rolled steel frame is finished with a clear, protective resin coating; seat and seat back are woven out of a transparent lacing.

Papillon is as much a functional and comfortable seating element as it is a sculptural piece.

'Hammock Chair'

Design: Chase Wills, South Pasadena, CA
Materials: 100% American Cherry

Designed to push the boundaries of what of how we perceive and produce wooden chairs, the Hammock Chair is a fusion of the most current technology and traditional wood working.