News release - Students' wining designs for Ikea
1 May 2009
Four Southampton Solent University art and design students will have the chance to see their work in the city's new IKEA store, having won an exciting challenge organised by the iconic store's construction managers, confluencepcm.
Launched to celebrate the opening of the Southampton store earlier this year, students in Solent University's School of Visual and Interactive Art (Fine Art, Illustration, Photography) and School of Design (Interior Design - Decoration; Product Design; Graphics) rose to the challenge of following a specific brief that incorporated IKEA's brand and values.
The Judges - Des Odwyer from Black Architecture; Ian Lacon from confluencepcm (construction management); Rob Cooper from IKEA; Ian Murray, Editor of the Southern Daily Echo; and Royston Smith, Southampton City Council (Cabinet member for Economic Development) – were impressed with the high standard of work on display.
The Product Design and Interior Design brief was to look at micro-organisms found in nature and develop a series of 2D patterns and forms to be cut from sheet material and then inter-connected to make simple but effective three-dimensional products.
Winner of the Product Design category was second-year student Andrew Homan, 22, who impressed the judges with his cost effective and aesthetically pleasing 'OrbOptic' light and occasional table.
Kat Meider, BA (Hons) Interior Design (Decoration), was awarded first place for her interior designs – including material swatches, wall paper and ceramics - for a conservatory.
The Visual Art brief was to produce a piece which the public could interact with, or artwork that could be reproduced and sold within the store.
Second year BA (Hons) Illustration student Katie Allen, 21, won over the judges with her illustration entitled, 'positive future' – a series of fun postcards with positive mantras.
The Graphic Design brief was to find a designer quote to fit with the kind of 'modern design classic' products IKEA are famous for. Entrants had to use typography to create a poster reinforcing the design themes before showing how the poster could be turned into a series.
Final-year BA (Hons) Graphic Design student Kamran Akram, 21, won with his imaginative incorporation of IKEA products in the typography of his chosen quote from 20th century furniture designer Charles Eames - "Who ever said that pleasure wasn't functional".
As well as showcasing the winning pieces of work in its Southampton store later this year, IKEA is offering work placements to the winning Interior Design (decoration) and Product Design students. Winners were also presented with hundreds of pounds worth of IKEA vouchers.
Southampton Solent University's Academic Leader for External Development (School of Design), Mark Jones, said: "We were delighted to work on this creative project with IKEA. It has given our students the opportunity to showcase their work within the store, and to gain valuable work experience."
Members of the public will have the opportunity to view more of the students' work during this year's art and design graduate show (12-18 June) at the University.
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