Auburn University student Meghan Wilson's design won the popular vote at the October High Point Market in the Groovystuff by Design: Connecting Education with Industry Challenge.
Wilson was one of 16 students in Auburn's Industrial Design program who participated in the collaboration between the school and Groovystuff during the fall semester.
A product board shows Meghan Wilson's Diverso Game Table design, which won the Groovystuff by Design: Connecting Education with Industry Challenge during the October High Point Market.
Under the guidance of professor Tin-Man Lau, with design direction from the Groovystuff staff via Facebook, students developed a residential home furnishings product using the reclaimed materials found in the Groovystuff product line.
At market, class creations were showcased in The University Hall of Innovation & Job Creation in the Suites at Market Square.
Wilson's creation, the Diverso Game Table was selected by a vote of trade professionals at market. She'll receive a cash prize and her design will go into quotation and production by Groovystuff.
"Literally just before classes started and right after summer studio, Tin-Man offered a furniture studio that collaborated with Groovystuff ," Wilson said. "At this point I had never designed anything, so I was a little intimidated but jumped at the opportunity to take the class. My minor is sustainability, so I was very happy that I would be designing for a company that had such a big emphasis on reclaimed material,"
"I had never expected to win the popular vote, because I was only a second year in the major and I was competing with some very talented designers, so I was very surprised when I won. Winning the popular vote at market means a lot to me because I realize I just did something that I never even imagined myself doing at this point in my education. I am very grateful for the opportunity to be able to accomplish something like this. I had a lot of fun doing the challenge and, if I have the opportunity, I will definitely do it again."
