Odegard Announces Rug Design Winners
The grand prize winning carpet will be offered in Odegard showrooms.
Mairi Beautyman -- Interior Design, 7/25/2007 12:00:00 AM
Three students take top honors in the Odegard Award For Excellence In Rug Design Competition. Presented by carpet manufacturer Odegard, the contest honors outstanding rug designs conceived by students.
Over 930 submissions from 37 states, Canada, Cyprus, Greece, India, and Turkey, poured in for the contest, which was conceived to "show student designers how combining modern designs with traditional hand knotting techniques can increase awareness and respect for the legacy of textile and carpet weaving." Winners were selected by a prestigious jury of industry professionals--Dr. Barbara Bloemink, Sherri Donghia, Matilda McQuaid, Jack Lenor Larsen, and Stephanie Odegard.
Gold prize goes to Laura Valentine of Virginia Tech. In addition to having her original design produced by Odegard as a 6 x 9 carpet and including in the Odegard collection, Valentine earns a $2,500 cash prize, royalties, and a three month paid internship at one of Odegard’s US showrooms.
Jason Neufeld of the Pratt Institute picked up Silver and a $2,000 cash prize and Bronze and a $1,500 cash prize was awarded to Beth Taylor of the University of Texas, School of Architecture.
Each of the three award winners received complimentary roundtrip airfare and two nights at luxury hotel Waldorf Astoria to attend a June awards ceremony in New York.
Honorable mentions were presented to: Justin Losego, Miami University, Laura Shirreff, Rhode Island School of Design, Johil Wiemann, Rhode Island School of Design, and Shannon Ireland, Mount Ida College.
The Barbara Bloemink Jurors Awards went to Kyle Coburn, Miami University and Kerra Killingsworth, Samford University. The Sherri Donghia Jurors Awards went to Ruth Bohn, Rhode Island School of Design and Lauren Paul, University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Matilda McQuaid Jurors Awards went to Katrina Mosher, Miami University and Frances Nelson, Rhode Island School of Design. The Jack Lenor Larsen Jurors Awards went to Randi Tanley, O'More College and Isabel Wilson, Rhode Island School of Design. The Stephanie Odegard Jurors Awards went to Lauren Gerdeman, Miami University and Jacqueline Williams, West Valley College.
All of the recognized designs will be included in a traveling exhibition, which will be scheduled at a later date.

























