IWF Selects Design Emphasis Winners

The IWF announced six winners of its 2024 Design Emphasis student furniture competition, led by Best of Show pick Orko Sen of Appalachian State University.

The top three in the six competition categories were:

Accent furniture/tables

• Winner – Michael Aehle (Kansas State University)

• Merit – Toryn Black (Haywood Community College)

• Honorable Mention – Haley Grimbeek (Appalachian State University)

Case Goods

• Winner – Jen Schmidt (Haywood Community College)

• Merit – Meredith Metz (Haywood Community College)

• Honorable Mention – Allen Kromer (Haywood Community College)

Commercial / Office / Hospitality Furniture

• Winner – Grayson Hall (Purdue University)

• Merit – Vic Stocker (Appalachian State University)

• Honorable Mention – Kyle Haggerty (Georgia Institute of Technology)

Design Creativity

• Winner – Orko Sen (Appalachian State University)

• Merit – Katherine Semler (Auburn University)

• Honorable Mention – Genevieve Smith (SUNY Buffalo State University)

Seating

• Winner – Katie Sturm (Appalachian State University)

• Merit – Vic Stocker (Appalachian State University)

• Honorable Mention – Jen Schmidt (Haywood Community College)