The winner of the seventh annual HD/West Elm Student Product Design Competition is Calvin Ma of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona for his design of the Martin dining chair. (Ma also won in 2023 for the Sill dining chair.)
Blending midcentury-inspired design with modern sensibilities, the Martin chair features an angular frame softened by curving details and thoughtful proportions in either wood and metal finishes.
Judged by Frank Harker, director for Williams-Sonoma Business to Business; senior designer Sam Jones; and executive vice president Josie Driscoll, this year’s contest tasked students to design a dining chair conceived for hospitality and commercial spaces. In addition to a $5,000 prize, the winner will also have their product produced by West Elm.
“The Martin chair by Calvin Ma stood out for its modern simplicity and strong execution from all angles,” says Harker. “It’s a beautiful design that takes into consideration not just the form of the chair itself, but also how it might complement the spaces it lives within. We especially loved the metal back detail that adds interest, sophistication, and durability—perfectly in tune with the West Elm aesthetic.”
For the second year in a row, Francesca Melillo of the Savannah School of Art and Design was named this year’s finalist for her Nook chair, which balances elegance and comfort with clean lines and a gently curving back.
Francesca Melillo’s Nook chair is the 2025 HD/West Elm Student Product Design Competition finalist
Ma and Melillo will be honored at the 21st annual HD Awards ceremony on May 6th at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas during HD Expo + Conference. Purchase tickets today!
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