11TH ANNUAL WILSONART CHALLENGES Student Chair Design Competition

1 11th Annual Wilsonart Challenges Student Chair Design Competition

The one common flora trend we see all over the

Appalachian region is the beautiful, blooming Dogwood

tree, the North Carolina state flower.

I wanted to showcase Wilsonart® Laminate in a way it has

never before been seen, so I incorporated marquetry into

my chair. Persian Cherry and Antique White Laminate was

laser cut and inlaid onto the wood substrate. I utilized the

maximum surface area, allowing the laminate to shine

while maintaining a light, airy feel.

With my chair, I want to bring you back to childhood

when a typical day consisted of getting lost in the woods,

playing make believe amongst the magical flowers and

trees. Blossom invites you to join in a fairytale.

“ Nature has always been a major part of my life and my greatest inspiration.”

Samantha LillyW

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B L O S S O M

2 11th Annual Wilsonart Challenges Student Chair Design Competition

Samantha Lilly B L O S S O MW

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Wilsonart® Laminate in Antique White & Persian Cherry

3 11th Annual Wilsonart Challenges Student Chair Design Competition

“Hem” as a noun means the border, edge or margin

of anything, while used as a verb means to confine

or enclose. A structure that helped inspire my chair

sits on the hem of Boone, North Carolina.

This little old house is perched on the corner of 300

acres of farmland. The details of the siding and the

contrasting colors of the house against the countryside

painted a crumbling picture of isolation and age.

Growing up in Guatemala, I developed a wide world

view of design, experiencing the impact of simple

solutions on daily life. Witnessing humanity at its best

and worst has given me an admiration for the value

of existing materials, sustaining resources and natural

problem solving.

RU

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UP “ I believe in deliberately improving quality of life using empathetic and intuitive design.”

Lyndsie White H E M C H A I R

4 11th Annual Wilsonart Challenges Student Chair Design Competition

Lyndsie White H E M C H A I RR

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Wilsonart® Laminate in Ebony Recon

5 11th Annual Wilsonart Challenges Student Chair Design Competition

When I was a child, my father and I would visit the

mountains as part of the Indian Guides program at the

local YMCA. We learned about the land and the people

not only living on it, but with it.

For my chair, I focused on one facet of Cherokee

spirituality: the connection to the land and how Mother

Earth cradles human life in relation to all she harbors.

Using words from this Cherokee ideology like “balance,”

“connection,” “energy” and “harmony,” I experimented

with flowing forms. Creating a chair that rocked added

sense of connection, for whoever sits in it must feel the

structure in relation to his or her balance, and harness

its energy.

“ Sequoyah represents Mother Earth cradling her children, and how we must become one with the land.”

Alexander Ravan S E Q U O Y A H

6 11th Annual Wilsonart Challenges Student Chair Design Competition

Alexander Ravan S E Q U O Y A H

Wilsonart® Laminate in Palisades Oak & Black

7 11th Annual Wilsonart Challenges Student Chair Design Competition

My chair focuses on the industrial textile loom. The

textiles and furniture industries have historically provided

North Carolina with economic relevance; however, due

to outsourcing, many abandoned textile mills and

furniture factories are littered throughout the region.

The form of my chair is inspired by the grandeur of fabric

flowing through a loom. The loom is significant because

it draws a connection between laminate (synthetic),

the substrate (natural) and textiles (natural) within

manufacturing.

The dynamic aspects of Looming are inspired by the

splitting and weaving of rolls of textiles and paper,

while the beams encasing the chair are inspired by the

shuttle that sends weft threads through warp threads

to weave fabric.

“ Looming is a tribute to economic relevance in North Carolina and showcases laminate in the context of furniture and textiles.”

Byron Dollar L O O M I N G

8 11th Annual Wilsonart Challenges Student Chair Design Competition

Byron Dollar L O O M I N G

Wilsonart® Laminate in Crisp Linen & Natural Recon

9 11th Annual Wilsonart Challenges Student Chair Design Competition

Not only is it a consistent tourist attraction, it is a favorite

pastime for many. Camping fashions the type of family

bond that lasts for generations, creating stories the

grandkids will want to hear for decades.

I created for the backpack and its supporting gear a

new place to rest. With Trek, no longer is the backpack

a relic of past adventures, but an avenue to incite the

next outing. This chair sports two small arms positioned

on the backside to support the backpack’s weight, both

directly after getting in from your latest excursion, as

well as once it has been cleaned and unpacked.

“ My chair draws inspiration from camping, which has been a big part of the history of Appalachia due to the natural beauty encompassing the region.”

John Walters T R E K

10 11th Annual Wilsonart Challenges Student Chair Design Competition

John Walters T R E K

Wilsonart® Laminate in Pasadena Oak & Designer White

11 11th Annual Wilsonart Challenges Student Chair Design Competition

Old Salem was one of the first Moravian settlements in America in 1768. The Moravians migrated from Germany and the Czech Republic to Pennsylvania, and then further south to North Carolina.

I have a special connection to Old Salem because my ancestors built and founded the community. Moravians are deeply rooted in their traditions. Some traditions change and adapt over time, but one that never will is Christmas.

The Moravian star is the inspiration for this chair, with its many points and angles, and how it plays with light and shadows. The first Moravian Star was created for a boys’ geometry class around 1850, but soon after was used as decoration during the Advent season. What began as a children’s lesson became a sign for everyone that the season of Christmas had begun.

“ The Moravian star is the inspiration

for this chair, with its many points

and angles, and how it plays with

light and shadows.”

Bailey Williams A D V E N T

12 11th Annual Wilsonart Challenges Student Chair Design Competition

Bailey Williams A D V E N T

Wilsonart® Laminate in Asian Sand, Black, Brittany Blue, Atlantis & Indigo

13 11th Annual Wilsonart Challenges Student Chair Design Competition

The Triad Chair uses triangles and hexagons to form a

sling-like seat supported by a stainless steel rod frame.

“ These shapes come together to form the state of North Carolina.”

Rider Evans T R I A D

14 11th Annual Wilsonart Challenges Student Chair Design Competition

Rider Evans T R I A D

Wilsonart® Laminate in Montana Walnut, Regimental Red & Fusion Maple

For more information, images or interviews please contact: Nikki Parrotte • (703) 894-5460

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