Interior Design Students Compete in Fashion Fundraiser

OGDEN, Utah – In an effort to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, four Weber State University interior design students are competing at the 2014 International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Fashion Remix in Salt Lake City on Oct. 16.

The public is invited to the semi-annual event at The Rail Event Center (235 N. 500 W., Salt Lake City) at 6 p.m. The challenge for interior designers is to create a couture-style dress made of industrial materials commonly used to finish building interiors. Manufacturing vendors supply the assortment of products designers must use.
 
Each team consists of up to five members with at least one manufacturer representative. A panel will judge criteria including creativity, craftsmanship, use of manufacturer’s materials and the model’s performance on the runway. Twenty teams will compete for awards in five categories, including best of show, most innovative use of soft material, most innovative use of hard material, people’s choice and two honorable mentions.
 
“This show gives students a great opportunity to network with vendors and other professionals in the design industry,” said WSU assistant interior design professor Kristen Arnold. “That’s very important for the students. It’s a good cause, and we try to encourage service as part of the curriculum. The students are doing this on their own time; it’s not required of them.”

Weber State’s team is partnered with Teknion, a leading international designer, manufacturer and marketer of high-end office systems and furniture products. Although final products remain a secret until the day of the competition, WSU’s team is designing a dress that includes chair parts, wall coverings and interior edge banding, which is used to create trim edges in finish carpentry.

This year marks the first time that IIDA has permitted teams composed entirely of college students. In years past, one student worked with a team of professional designers and architects.

“We’ve definitely had some trials, but we have a great team so far,” said WSU student and team captain Sabrina Overman. “In the beginning, I wanted students to be involved with networking opportunities,  but it’s been so amazing that we’ve been able to handle this on our own, not having architects and designers looking over our shoulder the whole time. We work together every day and are able to prove ourselves as students, designers and creative thinkers. I hope students from other teams and schools are feeling the same passion as we are with this.”

The 2014 competition also will feature work from more than a half-dozen WSU interior design alumni who are competing on other professional design teams from around the state. Tickets for the Fashion Remix are $35 for IIDA members, $45 for non-members and $20 for students with a school ID. No tickets will be sold after Oct. 14 or at the event. To purchase tickets, visit fashionremixslc.wordpress.com.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University. 
Author:
Matthew Gerrish, Marketing & Communications
801-626-7581 • matthewgerrish@weber.edu
Contact:
Kristen Arnold, assistant professor interior design
801-395-3423 kristenarnold@weber.edu