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DIGITAL GRAFFITI WASHROOM DESIGN WINS UK DESIGN COMPETITION

Design students from De Montfort University (DMU) have won three of the top four prizes in a prestigious UK competition, The Formica® Design Award 2007/08, including first prize for a digital graffiti toilet door design.

Overall winner in the Formica Design Award went to Jade Horwood, 23, from Silverstone, Northamptonshire, who graduates from DMU in Leicester with a BA (Hons) Interior Design degree next month.

Her competition entry was described as "a vibrant and colourful washroom design with a youthful interactive element" which would bring a fun update for toilet doors in sports stadia.

Jade's bold winning design, along with the three category winning designs, is displayed online at the competition website, www.formicadesignaward.co.uk.

Jade will receive £1,000 prize money, a laptop computer, and four tickets to 100% Design Exhibition, Earl's Court in September, courtesy of Formica Limited.

The design brief was to create a specific element or an interior concept using Formica® products for either an entrance hall, retail area, washroom or VIP area, within a fictitious sports stadium.

Jade said: "My design is called Virtual Graffiti. It uses the graffiti concept in a fun and interactive way. In the wash area there would be a screen that the public can write comments or messages on which would then be projected on to the back of toilet doors."

The Formica Design Award was judged by Gary Brown, Head of Product Design and Development, Formica Europe, Ian Smeaton, Design Director, L&H Studio, and Duncan Macaulay, Director, SMC Alsop.

Gary Brown, of Formica Limited, said, "The overall winner's bold and playful use of digital laminate is a wonderful idea for a washroom environment. Washrooms are an important part of the stadium experience especially as these venues often house a variety of events. This design would certainly catch the user's attention. As Jade's designs show, cubicle doors don't have to be boring!"

Ian Smeaton, of L&H Studio, commented: "We felt that the overall winner challenged what can be an after thought in many design projects. We particularly liked the use of humour, the interactivity and the bold graphic design."

The three category winners are: Mia Wildgust, De Montfort University, for the Entrance Hall category; Alessia Bucci, London Metropolitan University, for a VIP Suite; and Alexander Hulse, De Montfort University, for the Retail Space category.

The BA (Hons) Interior Design course at De Montfort University covers all aspects of interior architecture and spatial design and encourages individual development and creativity. The course uses a cross-media approach to communication, visualisation and presentation.

Final projects by students on the BA (Hons) Interior Design will be showcased at New Designers Part 2 at the Business Design Centre in Islington 10-13 July. Formica Ltd continues to support New Designers with sponsorship for week 2.

Email: news@dmu.ac.uk