Welcome to Blinds Direct's Design Challenge 2022! In this year's competition, we asked undergraduate students to design once again a stylish printed fabric in a particular theme – they did not disappoint.
This year’s entrants channelled their creativity and sent in their entries exploring the topic 'visions for the future'. With entries from across the UK, the judging was very difficult but we finally found this year’s winning entry!
Curious to know more? Read on…
BD Design Challenge 2022 - Visions for the Future
This year's challenge focused on the future, what it might look like, and how it can be explored using interior design as the medium.
Few topics have captured our imaginations better than the future. From Nostradamus to Stephen Spielberg, thousands of people have imagined what the future might look like. For the BD Design Challenge 2022, we asked entrants to channel this inquisitiveness and unleash their imaginations to create a striking and innovative design that expresses a sense of wonder and excitement.
Future gazing opens a world of opportunity. When it investigates people or places, it's a space for creative thinkers to really showcase their creativity.
The designs we received were inspired by how we might move, live or interact in the future, and each one oozed with creativity, fantastic execution and individuality.
The
Brief
The brief for the 2022 challenge was very interesting and encouraged entrants to look at what changes might lay in wait for us in the future. For example, in a world where technology seems to revolutionise the ways we live every few months, what might life be like in 10, 100 or even 1,000 years?
Looking curiously into the mists of time has led to great works of music, literature and now unique and striking pattern design.
Our entrants were as creative and innovative as possible with their techniques and the subject’ included nature, technology, and love. You can see the winning design below from the very talented Tabitha Baker from Norwich University of the Arts!
The
Prize
We offered one lucky winner the opportunity to have their design printed and available for purchase on the Blinds Direct website. The design has been created as:
- Roman blinds
- Roller blinds
- Cushions
- Lampshades
- Curtains
Each product listing features a brief biography of the designer and their process.
The winning designer was also be presented with a £500 cash prize, and the top three entrants awarded a lampshade and cushion created from their very own design, made here - by hand - at Blinds Direct.
The Judging
Panel
An experienced panel of judges was drafted from Blinds Direct's talented design team. Our judges used their extensive experience and knowledge in design and textiles to pick a winner from what was another competitive field.
Submissions were judged fairly and ethically around two factors:
- Original Concept - - We wanted to see unique style inspiration through each design.
- Considered Market - Our customer base is broad, from affluent city-dwelling homeowners with high-status jobs and similar demographics in rural areas to those living in smaller agricultural communities, suburbia and younger homeowners looking to add character to their homes. Blinds Direct's customers tend to be 35-45 years old with a majority of purchases made by women.
Meet This Year's Winner
In our second student design challenge, we asked undergraduate students from across the UK to design a printed fabric exploring Visions of the Future. In a world where technology seems to revolutionise the ways we live every couple of months, what might life be like in 10, 100 or even 1,000 years?
That was the gauntlet laid down for our aspiring designers. The entries we received both surprised and enthralled us. After carefully reviewing each entry, we are delighted to announce Tabitha Baker from Norwich University of the Arts as the 2022 winner!
Selected from an extremely competitive field, Tabitha's design perfectly captured our theme with her exceptional use of colour, pattern, and overall creative accomplishment - we absolutely love it. See her beautiful design on a range of products here.
Meet Last Year's Winner
After reviewing last year's amazing entries, we were delighted to announce Marna Alberts, from Norwich University of the Arts, had won the Design Challenge 2021.
Selected from an extremely competitive field, Marna's design perfectly captured 2021's theme of “who am I?” with excellent use of colour, pattern and overall creative execution - we absolutely love it.
You can find inspiration from Marna's amazing design in the Marna Natural collection and who knows, you could be joining her in the BD Design Challenge Hall of Fame.
Social
Media
Check out our social media channels where we'll post regular updates about the competition and share our top picks after the competition closes.
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