Six HPU Students Get Scholarships from Fine Furniture Design

September 30, 2016  by Jane Chero in Community / Charitable Support, Industry   

The competition challenged students working toward their bachelor’s degree in visual merchandising design to develop mood boards, which visually represent the demographics, psychographics and overall lifestyle of consumers likely to furnish their homes with the new Meritage collection, which being introduced at the October High Point Market.

The winners are: Gabi Berger from Cheshire, Conn., for her creative use of rustic, abstract and modern graphics to form an inspiring visual of a Millennial’s travels across the U.S.; Alexandra Cote from Chatham, N.J., for her polished and sophisticated, yet soft and feminine representation of a professional Gen X working mom; Alana Isbell from Charlotte, N.C., for a striking depiction of a retired Baby Boomer with a passion for volunteering and expressing her authentic sense of style; Emily Kurek from Columbus, Ohio, for her mood board that embodies a hard working Gen X female trying to balance her hectic work and family lives, while expressing herself through her furniture and home accents; Hayley Mitchell from Columbus, Ohio, who captured the essence of the Meritage Collection with a clean aesthetic, combined with energetic and spunky accessories to match the Baby Boomer’s consumer profile; and Katie Switow from Louisville, Ky., whose mood board conveys an adventurous Millennial with strong family values and a creative, yet practical and classic sense of style.

“The students did a tremendous job conveying realistic lifestyles of the Millennial, Generation X and Baby Boomer consumer profiles for the Meritage collection,” said Eric Graham, president of Fine Furniture Design. “The mood boards creatively demonstrate the broad consumer appeal of the group, and our retailers will benefit from a student point of view. These visuals have inspired us, and we believe they will also inspire our retailers to develop in-store displays, which appeal to these consumers.”

The students will be on hand for the kickoff party in the Fine Furniture Design showroom, 305 S. Hamilton St. on Oct. 21, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The winning entries will be on exhibit throughout the High Point Market.