Judged by West Elm president Alex Bellos and West Elm Contract Furniture’s design director Paul Galli, this year’s HD/West Elm Student Product Design Competition tasked students with designing a family of lighting products that are aesthetically neutral and able to work within multiple environments. In addition to receiving a $5,000 prize, the winning student will work with West Elm to refine and produce a selection of their design.
The winner of the third annual competition is Archana Menon of Savannah College of Art and Design for her Bloom collection.
The series includes an integrated dimmable floor lamp with sensorial and gestural features that switches on through the central brass disc that acts as a touch sensor. Its accordion paper screen can be adjusted at various angles and doubles as a secondary dimmer.
Archana Menon’s winning Bloom collection
“We were struck by the expressiveness of Archana’s lamp and its elegant use of mixed materials,” says Galli. “Both are often hallmarks of successful West Elm designs. We can envision the design working well in a number of commercial and residential settings.”
Michela Staker of Utah State University is this year’s finalist for her Matisse collection, which is inspired by Henri Matisse’s abstract paintings, as well as the feminine form.
Michela Staker’s Matisse collection
Both Menon and Staker were honored at the 17th annual HD Awards ceremony on September 21, 2021 at Cipriani South Street in New York.
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