Dalton—Durkan, Mohawk Group Hospitality is now accepting artwork submissions for its annual DSCVR Student Design Competition. DSCVR showcases the creative endeavors of student designers, while contributing toward the education of emerging designers that have an interest in the hospitality field. The contest is sponsored each year by the flooring manufacturer in partnership with NEWH, a leading networking organization for hospitality industry professionals.
“The entire reason this competition exists is to identify and exhibit the talents of the next generation in hospitality design,” said Arnavaz Barshan, director of design for Durkan. “Through this collaboration with NEWH, we hope to continue being able to mentor students, showing them the breadth of career opportunities available, especially as they relate to flooring design and space planning.”
DSCVR is open to college and university students who are members of NEWH, which offers student membership free of charge. For the competition, student designers will create fresh and innovative PDI (Precision Dye Injected) carpet designs for ballroom and pre-function spaces. Using provided floorplans, entrants are to view the floor spaces as two blank canvases that may or may not coordinate with each other.
Students at any level of proficiency in interior design, textiles or architecture are encouraged to enter their original designs. For several years now, interior design faculty at various schools around the U.S. have integrated the competition as part of their curricula.
“DSCVR keeps the industry moving with a fresh, young twist on design,” said Shelia Lohmiller, CEO of NEWH. “It also makes students think about the continuity of flooring design throughout a project. The Durkan and NEWH partnership is key because it molds together what students need most: opportunity, networking, experience and funds for college.”
Entries for DSCVR may be submitted through Friday, March 31, 2023. Submissions will be reviewed and narrowed down to the top 10 by a panel of Durkan associates, who will judge entries based on concept, presentation and market feasibility. The public will then be invited to vote on the competition’s top three designs. Winners will be announced in mid-April. One grand prize winner will receive a $2,500 cash prize from Durkan and a feature story in Hospitality Design magazine. The second-place winner will be awarded $1,500. Third place will receive $1,000. Each winning design from the competition will be promoted and cataloged by Durkan.
Corina Amarioarei of Carleton University was named the 2022 grand prize winner with her original design concept, “A Magical Dance.” Her flooring designs were inspired by fairy tales and ocean waves, illustrating the feeling of dancing on a cloud blended with the joy of twirling in the ocean. Amarioarei said she was inspired to enter DSCVR because she is passionate about creating unique and exciting designs.
All entrants must begin their DSCVR submission by using the form available on the program’s dedicated webpage. Professional carpet designers, including freelance designers commissioned by a carpet manufacturer or a staff designer for a carpet manufacturer, are not eligible to enter. Only one entry per person.
To submit a design, visit here.