Students and Schools Recognized for Excellence in Design by Acclaimed Designers Cynthia Rowley and Vern Yip
CLEVELAND (June 12, 2017) — Sherwin-Williams announced the winners of its seventh annual Student Design Challenge, which includes three winning parties in the residential and commercial categories out of the hundreds of original designs that were submitted, as well as two Facebook fan favorites. In addition to national recognition, contest winners are receiving cash prizes up to $2,500. New this year, $1,000 will also be awarded to the design school that first place winners attend. Celebrity designers Cynthia Rowley and Vern Yip, along with Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams, selected the winners of this year’s contest.
“We continue to be impressed with the caliber of work that these up-and-coming designers create,” said Wadden. “The winners stood out this year because of the risks that they took to bring color to life in unexpected ways.”
Residential Category
Regan Adair, a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), won first place in residential design for a modern residence inspired by a carved Asian lacquered box, which incorporated jeweled and earthy tones. Nia Gibbs from Ringling College of Art & Design received second place. Third place went to Sarah Hansen from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design.
Sherwin-Williams Student Design Challenge First Place Residential Category winner: Modern Asian-Inspired Residence by Regan Adair, Fashion Institute of Technology.
Commercial Category
Courtney Christensen, a student from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, won first place in the commercial design category for her re-imagined e-commerce center that combined organic elements with bright colors. Coming in second place was Kate Sadler from Fanshawe College in Ontario. Mariela Ortiz from the University of Cincinnati received third place.
“This year’s commercial entries were both breathtaking and incredibly innovative, demonstrating the power of color to positively impact the quality of our everyday experiences within our built environments,” said commercial judge Vern Yip, award-winning HGTV designer and author. “Tackling a wide range of spaces that broadly affect all of our lives, the winning projects brilliantly underscore how smart color use can dramatically enhance everything that we do in a way no other design tool can.”
Sherwin-Williams Student Design Challenge First Place Commercial Category winner: University of Wisconsin Credit Union E-Commerce Center by Courtney Christensen, University of Wisconsin, Madison.
As part of the first-place award, both Adair and Christensen are recipients of a cash prize of $2,500 and will be featured in an upcoming issue of Sherwin-Williams STIR Magazine, in the STIR eExtra email newsletter, on Sherwin-Williams Facebook page for design professionals and at sherwin-williams.com. Schools of the winning design, FIT and University of Wisconsin at Madison, will each received $1,000 toward design programs. Second-place winners received $1,000 and third-place winners $500.
The Facebook fan favorite for the residential category went to Elizabeth Bixenman from Iowa State University for her mountain-inspired home designed for a balanced lifestyle. The design generated nearly 600 “Likes.”
Sherwin-Williams Student Design Challenge Fan-Favorite Residential Category winner: Mountain Home by Elizabeth Bixenman, Iowa State University.
At more than 300 “Likes,” Ellen Straub from the University of Florida won the Facebook fan favorite in the commercial category for her vibrant high-end eyeglass store. Each fan favorite winner will receive $500.
Sherwin-Williams Student Design Challenge Fan-Favorite Commercial Category winner: Spec Eyeglass Store by Ellen Straub, University of Florida.
Students were challenged to design an individual room or area in a home, or an entire home and/or commercial property such as a restaurant, hotel, museum, office or retail store. They could work individually or in teams and were required to use a minimum of three Sherwin-Williams paint colors in their designs. Entries were accepted at swstudentdesign.com from March 1 through April 15, 2017.
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS STUDENT DESIGN CHALLENGE 2017 WINNERS:
Residential Design
| First Place | Regan Adair | Fashion Institute of Technology |
| Second Place | Nia Gibbs | Ringling College of Art & Design |
| Third Place | Sarah Hansen | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design |
| Facebook Fan Favorite | Elizabeth Bixenman | Iowa State University |
Sherwin-Williams Student Design Challenge Third Place Residential Category winner: Creative Loft for Working Artist by Sarah Hansen, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design.
Commercial Design
| First Place | Courtney Christensen | University of Wisconsin – Madison |
| Second Place | Katherine (Kate) Sadler | Fanshawe College |
| Third Place | Mariela Oritz | University of Cincinnati |
| Facebook Fan Favorite | Ellen Straub | University of Florida |
Sherwin-Williams Student Design Challenge Second Place Commercial Category winner: Fireside Lodge Mental Health Wellness Center by Katherine (Kate) Sadler, Fanshawe College.
Ask Sherwin-Williams™
For more than 150 years, Sherwin-Williams has been an industry leader in the development of technologically advanced paint and coatings. As the nation’s largest specialty retailer of paint and painting supplies, Sherwin-Williams is dedicated to supporting both do-it-yourselfers and painting professionals with exceptional and exclusive products, resources to make confident color selections and expert, personalized service at its more than 4,200 neighborhood stores across North America. For more information, visit sherwin-williams.com. Join Sherwin-Williams on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.
