Table Design ContestNeoCon 2010

Local

The Contest F

urni

ture

Lab

.co

m 8

00

.44

9.8

67

7 •

2

FurnitureLabTM has been putting graphics on tables for close to twenty years. At our first tradeshow, we pitched the idea of creating completely custom designed tables for restaurants or any kind of project. The reaction wasn’t what we expected: “That’s nice, but do you have anything I can choose from?”

As artistic and creative people, this response never dawned on us, because we couldn’t imagine what would be better than a completely custom table! But we realized that not everyone can come up with table designs easily, so we slowly developed an extensive library of graphic designs customers could choose from. We created designs around popular themes like coffee, food, and sports. We also developed graphic patterns which, like all of our designs, can be adapted to any color scheme.

We have been passionate about custom tables since the day we started be-cause they let you make something that is truly unique. They can be anything you want them to be-colorful, artistic, commercial, or educational. The only limit to what they can be is imagination itself.

—

This contest has been such a great and inspiring process! It reminds us that tables can do more than just support plates and elbows, they can be a medium for expression, communication and a way to make a place special.

Gregory Rapp President FurnitureLab

Introduction

The Contest FurnitureLab

.com

80

0.4

49

.86

77

•

3

We put forth a simple design challenge: illustrate the idea of “local” and we got back close to a hundred completely unique interpretations of this concept. All of these designs would make attractive, meaningful tables that would certainly “speak” to those who would interact with them on a daily basis.

To judge the competition, we assigned each design a random identification number and put them before a team of nine judges who had no other informa-tion about who did the designs or where they came from. They ranked each design for the following qualities:

Concept: How well does this design illustrate the concept of “local”

Aesthetics: How aesthetically pleasing is the design

“Tableness”: How well would this design function as a table

In the pages that follow you will see the winning design, ten designs that received an Honorable Mention, followed by all of the other entrants displayed in no particular sequence.

Enjoy and let us know how this inspires YOU!

Fur

nitu

reLa

b.c

om

80

0.4

49

.86

77

•

4

First Place Design

FurnitureLab.co

m 8

00

.44

9.8

67

7 •

5

Todd Voss Indiana Wesleyan University Marion, IN

This table top design is full of intrigue and interest for the casual visitor. Knowing that the

second most popular use of the napkin is to doodle, make notes, or write information, we

have assembled a variety of interesting napkins with writings surrounding the word “local”.

It is a fun and serendipitous way to consider the depth of the word Local without making

it too obvious or overt.

Detail

Fur

nitu

reLa

b.c

om

80

0.4

49

.86

77

•

6

Honorable Mention

Meghan Perlow, LEED APPopulous Kansas City, MO

By bringing native plants and flowers into the graphic design of

these tables, the user can make an instant connection to their local

surroundings. Whether at the mall, in the office, or around town,

these table designs will remind you of the natural beauty in your

own backyard.

Meghan Perlow, LEED APPopulous Kansas City, MO

FurnitureLab.co

m 8

00

.44

9.8

67

7 •

7

Honorable Mention

Natalie Pennington, Art DirectorFueline Graphics Williamston, MI

John Downey & Liz ThurmondThe University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TX

Nopales: The Spanish word for cactus, a native plant of the region.

Fur

nitu

reLa

b.c

om

80

0.4

49

.86

77

•

8

Diana SwenssonATS&R Minneapolis, MN

This is my “LOCAL” my home town.

Diana SwenssonATS&R Minneapolis, MN

Chicago is a city of inspiration and design, making it my “local”

place of influence.

Honorable Mention

FurnitureLab.co

m 8

00

.44

9.8

67

7 •

9

Honorable Mention

Holly Meadows Baird, IIDA, LEED APPowell Design Studio Nashville, TN

Turn Right Past The Blue House

In the country, it doesn’t get any more “local” than landmark-based

directions! Sometimes that really is all you have to go by. So, my

wish for you is this: May you always have obvious landmarks,

daylight to find them, and a fully-charged cell phone, just in case.

Rebecca-Sue SmithEoE Services Werribee, Australia

The leaf is a symbol of growth – both new and old life. Here in Australia, we have a mixture of very ancient and the very new. The leaf is superimposed on a “granny rug”. My grandmother, who was famous for knitting them, was born in Australia in the time of the White Australia policy. Now, like the colours of autumn, Australia is a melting pot of different cultures. The leaf floating in the water is like Australia’s place in the world’s nations. It shows Australia moving into the future, a nation of many cultures that live in harmony with the original people of this land, The Aboriginals.

Fur

nitu

reLa

b.c

om

80

0.4

49

.86

77

•

10

Honorable Mention

Sheila SookramEakes Office Plus Fremont, NE

All Roads Lead to Fremont

The concept would be to create a table that incorporates the “local”

theme of Fremont by merging both the “Fremont-opoly” game

board and the cartoon map of Fremont into one table top. It would

be functional to play the monopoly game and also promote area

“buy local” Fremont businesses.

Marta BasezMarta Basez Interiors Austin, TX

FurnitureLab.co

m 8

00

.44

9.8

67

7 •

11

Des

ign

Ent

ries

Elizabeth Tobias-HanadelNavy Federal Credit Union Washington, DC

Edward ChampionStanley Beaman & Sears Atlanta, GA

Whitney FeussnerTVS Design Atlanta, GA

Paul LaBrantParkhill, Smith & Cooper Lubbock, TX

Fur

nitu

reLa

b.c

om

80

0.4

49

.86

77

•

12

Des

ign

Ent

ries

Liz Thurmond-BengtsonThe University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TX

Liz Thurmond-Bengtson The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TX

Guillermo OrtizHermes Architects Houston, TX

Mia DiazInterior Office Solutions Irvine, CA

FurnitureLab.co

m 8

00

.44

9.8

67

7 •

13

Cookie Carmack Arrington Commercial Interiors Virginia Beach, VA

Liliana Corona PatiñoConceptos Corporativos Mexico, DF

Ian PfeilSmithGroup Washington, DC

Jacqueline JohnsonFacility Planners Inc. Nashville, TN

Fur

nitu

reLa

b.c

om

80

0.4

49

.86

77

•

14

Des

ign

Ent

ries

Christie KratzerReztark design Studio Cincinnati, OH

Esra Ozmeral, Interior DesignerWSA Studio Columbus, OH

Jennifer EscuderoHKS Architects, Inc.Beverly Hills, CA

Bud PerryGreat Lakes Design Collaborative Cleveland, OH

FurnitureLab.co

m 8

00

.44

9.8

67

7 •

15

Amberlee IsabellaGensler Atlanta, GA

Alexis PearlPage Southerland Page Dallas, TX

Edward NietoNieto Design Group, Inc. Miami, FL

Brigita StavrevaURS Corporation Washington, DC

Fur

nitu

reLa

b.c

om

80

0.4

49

.86

77

•

16

Des

ign

Ent

ries

Liz Thurmond-Bengston The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TX

Liz Thurmond-BengstonThe University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TX

Jessica MeachamBlack and Veatch Overland Park, KS

Brigita StavrevaURS Corporation Washington, DC

FurnitureLab.co

m 8

00

.44

9.8

67

7 •

17

Edna J. VIllarrealChesney Morales & Associates, Inc. San Antonio, TX

Cookie CarmackArrington Commercial Interiors Virginia Beach, VA

Edward NietoNieto Design Group, Inc. Miami, FL

Edward NietoNieto Design Group, Inc. Miami, FL

Fur

nitu

reLa

b.c

om

80

0.4

49

.86

77

•

18

Des

ign

Ent

ries

Robert StockhamGreat Lakes Design Collaborative Cleveland, OH

Maureen Arndt720 Design Inc, Dallas, TX

Tamara McLeanIcon Group Inc. De Pere, WI

Michal Malovany TannenbaumHKS Architects Beverly Hills, CA

FurnitureLab.co

m 8

00

.44

9.8

67

7 •

19

Lauren McDonaldNational Restaurant Designers Durham, NC

Janis JohnsonJ’Image Design Cleveland, OH

Cookie CarmackArrington Commercial Interiors Virginia Beach, VA

Chris SoderlindS&T Office Products Vadnais Heigths, MN

Fur

nitu

reLa

b.c

om

80

0.4

49

.86

77

•

20

Des

ign

Ent

ries

Liz Thurmond-BengstonThe University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TX

Andrea Cornwell, ASIDiSpace Fayetteville, AR

Edward NietoNieto Design Group, Inc. Miami, FL

Christie KratzerReztark Design Studio Cincinnati, OH

FurnitureLab.co

m 8

00

.44

9.8

67

7 •

21

Julius EllisDepartment of Veteran Affairs Salem, VA

Edward NietoNieto Design Group, Inc. Miami, FL

Sharon SegalSharonSegalArt Davie, FL

Meghan PerlowPopulous Kansas City, MO

Fur

nitu

reLa

b.c

om

80

0.4

49

.86

77

•

22

Des

ign

Ent

ries

Lizzy CohenMissouri State University Fenton, MO

Heidi BeckerDouron Inc. Owings Mills, MD

Robert StockhamGreat Lakes Design Collaborative Cleveland, OH

Andrea Cornwell, ASIDiSpace Fayetteville, AR

FurnitureLab.co

m 8

00

.44

9.8

67

7 •

23

Bethany LeaProperties Plus Tulsa, OK

Amanda DickensCapitol Business Interiors Charleston, WV

Liz Thurmond-Bengtson The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TX

Bethany LeaProperties Plus Tulsa, OK

Fur

nitu

reLa

b.c

om

80

0.4

49

.86

77

•

24

Des

ign

Ent

ries

Meghan PerlowPopulous Kansas City, MO

Rozanna AlexandrianDesign Matters Madison, WI

Rozanna AlexandrianDesign Matters Madison, WI

Roger GarciaTri-Space International Los Angeles, CA

FurnitureLab.co

m 8

00

.44

9.8

67

7 •

25

Andrea Cornwell, ASIDiSpace Fayetteville, AR

Randall KorteDEMCO Library Interiors Chico, CA

Roger GarciaTri-Space International Los Angeles, CA

Rozanna AlexandrianDesign Matters Madison, WI

Fur

nitu

reLa

b.c

om

80

0.4

49

.86

77

•

26

Des

ign

Ent

ries

Yer HangICCS, Inc. Lansing, MI

Celia RidleyAbles Land, Inc. Tyler, TX

Liliana Corona PatiñoConceptos Corporativos Mexico, DF

Celia RidleyAbles Land, Inc. Tyler, TX

FurnitureLab.co

m 8

00

.44

9.8

67

7 •

27

Bethany LeaProperties Plus Tulsa, OK

Taneen CarvellTLC Productions Arlington, VA

Michal Malovany TannenbaumHKS Architects Beverly Hills, CA

Idit DeutschArtissimo Cupertino, CA

Fur

nitu

reLa

b.c

om

80

0.4

49

.86

77

•

28

Des

ign

Ent

ries

Guillermo OrtizHermes Architects Houston, TX

Celia RidleyAbles Land, Inc. Tyler, TX

Andrea Cornwell, ASIDiSpace Fayetteville, AR

Rozanna AlexandrianDesign Matters Madison, WI

FurnitureLab.co

m 8

00

.44

9.8

67

7 •

29

Tamra KayTamra Kay Interior Design Consulting Irvine, CA

Ann Young / Kay StegemanABY Interior Design/ Kay Stegeman Interior Design Manchester, MO

Randall KorteDEMCO Library Interiors Chico, CA

Commercial Dining Tables • Seating • Booths • Outdoor

Printed 5.2010

FurnitureLab.com • 800.449.8677