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DSCVR STUDENT DESIGN COMPETITION - DEADLINE MARCH 22, 2024

Durkan Hospitality's DSCVR student design competition has been established to exhibit the talent of designers in the hospitality design field and contribute toward the education of future designers, in partnership with NEWH.

Students are encouraged to participate and be discovered! Durkan has partnered with NEWH to bring a unique member only opportunity. In lieu of entry fees, you simply must be a student member of NEWH.

Durkan is the leading US manufacturer of custom designed carpet to the hospitality industry. Specializing in durable public space, corridor and guest room carpet, Durkan Hospitality offers solutions to any custom design need. As design leaders, we offer the largest selection of archived patterns in the USA or we can make your custom design vision a reality.

NEWH, The Network of the Hospitality Industry, is the premier networking resource for the hospitality industry, providing scholarships, education, leadership development, recognition of excellence, and business development opportunities. Members of NEWH, Inc. are professionals actively engaged in development, management/ operations, architecture, communications, design, distribution, education, manufacturing, production, purchasing, and sales of the Hospitality, Foodservice, Senior Living and related industries. For more information go to www.newh.org.

ELIGIBILITY

  • Entrants must be enrolled and active students in a college/university majoring in a commercial interiors discipline (i.e., interior design, textiles, architecture, etc.)
  • College/university staff members, interior design professionals, or recent college/university graduates do not qualify to participate.
  • Student membership in NEWH is required (membership fee is waived for students)
  • BECOME A MEMBER NOW

DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

The Challenge: Create a fresh and innovative design for a public space of a hotel with the provided floorplans and design restrictions below. Be creative, only the walls are your limits!
Using the CAD file (provided in PCX format) of a standard Ballroom & Pre-function, Create a design solution of your choice considering the following:

  • Create a story/mood board based on a theme of your choice. Include a one paragraph write up about your story and why it inspired your designs. Note: you must also include 3-5 high-resolution and royalty-free inspiration images as attachments. 
  • Select a color palette using a maximum of 12 colors that connects with your story board. You must use only colors from Durkan Hospitality`s pom color selection. You can download that here.
  • Create a design package based on your story/mood board for the area listed below:
    1. Public Space: Design a ballroom and coordinating pre-function space

Submissions should include the following:

  • Story board on an 11x17 PDF.
  • A one paragraph writeup on your design and why you decided on the story.
  • Designs in the provided CAD space saved as a TIFF.
  • Your design file(s) without the CAD/floorplan on top, saved as a PSD: entrynumber_design1.psd; entrynumber_design2.psd Please think of each area as your blank canvas, designs confined only by the walls, the most innovative approach would be to avoid using surface patterns with an obvious repeat, with the exception of textural elements used to add detail and layering. We'd like to see how the entire floor space could become one large design.

Submit final patterns with photos or visuals, concept boards, sketches, write up, or other inspiration for PDI (Precision Dye Injected) carpets. Completed package to be sent to Durkan for judging.

PRIZES

Grand Prize: $2,500
Second Place: $1,500
Third Place: $1,000

See "Contest Rules" for specifications and requirements of your design submittal.

Meet All of Our Winners

 

Take a look at winners from past years. 

 

Read More

ELIGIBILITY

  • Entrants must be enrolled and active students in a college/university majoring in a commercial interiors discipline (i.e., interior design, textiles, architecture, etc.) ​
  • College/university staff members, interior design professionals, or recent college/university graduates do not qualify to participate.
  • Student Membership in NEWH is required (membership fee waived for students)
  • BECOME A MEMBER NOW

DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

The Challenge: Create a fresh and innovative design for a public space of a hotel with the provided floorplans and design restrictions below. Be creative, only the walls are your limits!
Using the CAD file (provided in PCX format) of a standard Ballroom & Pre-function, Create a design solution of your choice considering the following:

  • Create a story/mood board based on a theme of your choice. Include a one paragraph write up about your story and why it inspired your designs. Note: you must also include 3-5 high-resolution and royalty-free inspiration images as attachments. 
  • Select a color palette using a maximum of 12 colors that connects with your story board. You must use only colors from Durkan Hospitality`s pom color selection. You can download that here.

Submissions should include the following:

  1. Story board on an 11x17 PDF.
  2. A one paragraph writeup on your design and why you decided on the story
  3. Designs in the provided CAD space (public or private) saved as a TIFF
  4. Your design file(s) without the CAD/floorplan on top, saved as a PSD

Please think of each area as your blank canvas, designs confined only by the walls, the most innovative approach would be to avoid using surface patterns with an obvious repeat, with the exception of textural elements used to add detail and layering. We'd like to see how the entire floor space could become one large design.

Submit final patterns with photos or visuals, concept boards, sketches, write up, or other inspiration for PDI (Precision Dye Injected) carpets. Completed package to be sent to Durkan for judging.

Download files:

JUDGING CRITERIA

Please keep these elements in mind by which your entry will be judged.

  • Concept
  • Presentation
  • Market Feasibility

QUESTIONS

If you have any questions, please refer to our FAQ section. If you cannot find your answer there, email us at dscover@rsvpcomm.com.

TERMS & CONDITIONS
  1. Student membership in NEWH is required (membership fee waived for students).Contest is intended for currently enrolled college students only.
  2. One entry per person.
  3. Entries cannot be returned. Entry uploads can be revised/replaced up until the deadline of March 22, 2024.
  4. Entrants warrant that the submissions are their own original work and do not infringe the work of any third party.
  5. All submissions shall become the property of Durkan and/or its affiliates and Durkan and/or its affiliates shall own all copyrights and other proprietary rights created, including the creation of derivative works of such submissions. If requested by Durkan, entrants agree to sign any documents necessary to confirm Durkan’s ownership of the submission.
  6. Durkan reserves the right to use winning entries for promotion or display. All designs will always be credited with creator's name for the life of the pattern when used for promotional purposes.
  7. Winner must provide a publication quality headshot.
  8. By entering this competition and accepting the Prize, you grant Durkan the right to edit, publish, promote, and otherwise use your entry either as submitted or in edited form without further permission, notice, or compensation, including but not limited to Durkan product catalog, website, and other media outlets.
  9. All entrants must complete all questions on the online Entry Form. Finalists who do not provide contact information will be eliminated from the competition.
  10. Professional carpet designers such as free lance designers commissioned by a carpet manufacturer or a staff designer for a carpet manufacturer are not eligible.

 

Cross the t’s and dot the eyes. It’s time to show us what you’ve got. Create your designs and fill out the form.

HOW TO ENTER

  1. Fill out form to register. Click on this link to the registration form: http://durkan.rsvpcomm.com/access/registration. Once the registration is completed and an account created with a password, the user will be able to then login, check their status, update contact info, add comments and upload design files and required documents.
  2. Submittal Package to Include: 
    1. Story board on an 11x17 PDF saved in the following format: entrynumber_storyboard.pdf
    2. A one paragraph writeup on your design and why you decided on the story (8.5x11) in the following format: entrynumber_writeup.pdf
    3. Designs in the provided CAD space saved as a TIFF in the following format: entrynumber_designpublic.tiff
    4. Your design file(s) without the CAD/floorplan on top, saved as a PSD: entrynumber_design1.psd; entrynumber_design2.psd
  3. Only one entry per person
  4. Entries must be dated no later than midnight (EST) Friday, March 22nd, 2024.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Please keep these elements in mind by which your entry will be judged.

  • Concept
  • Presentation
  • Market Feasibility

Entries must be dated no later than midnight (EST) Friday, March 22, 2024. Entries dated after this date & time will not be eligible for judging.

  • Can I get an extension on the deadline?
    No. Entries must be received by the deadline (Friday, March 22nd, 2024).
  • Will you confirm receipt of my submission?
    When you register and create an account you will be able to check the status of your registration, update contact information, add comments and upload design files and required documents. You will also receive reminder e-mails to log-in and finalize entries.
  • I have already sent in my submission, can I still make a change?
    Yes. Due to the new digital format you can now make changes as long as it is before the final submission date of March 22, 2024.
  • When will we know if our entry was chosen?
    Winners will be contacted confidentially no later than the beginning of April, 2024. Official announcement of winners will be communicated via email by mid April 2024. Because of the number of entries we receive, we can only notify people whose work is accepted.
  • Do the patterns have to relate or coordinate to each other?
    This is up to your discretion and you are free to design how you think the two patterns work best. Most often in this type of application there is a link between the designs. This could be with color, or technique, or design element etc.
  • Can partners or groups submit a design?
    No. Entries are to be designed and submitted individually.

Deadline Friday, March 22, 2024