BCIT students win big at IDEC Student Design Competition

BCIT Interior Design students Jessica Tarumoto, Saebom Kim, and David Kim took home the top prize at the 2021 Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) Student Design Competition.

The IDEC Student Design Competition asked students to combine the educational structure of a vertical studio with the practice of service learning. The students were thrilled to learn their submission Swell Veteran Living Community, or Swell, was awarded first place in the undergraduate category.

The winning design, inspired by the outward swells of a ripple, is a socially sustainable space for veterans in which they can grow and progress comfortably.

“Providing open, rounded, spaces that allow for maximum visibility is vital for Veterans to feel at ease…this is why Swell uses the form created by a ripple along water; a circle.”

The award is a testament to the bright talent of BCIT Interior Design students, with the support of dedicated faculty and staff. Tiia Manson, Program Head for the Bachelor of Interior Design, and Manon Pace, Program Head for the Diploma in Interior Design both praised the winning students’ work ethic and achievement.

“The students were a great team,” said Tiia and Manon. “They used their collaborative and technical skills, combined with extensive research and design knowledge to achieve a creative, functional, and unified project. We are so proud of them!”

The competition saw 86 entries in all, from a total of 29 schools; 81 were from undergraduate programs, and five were graduate submissions. The top three undergraduate entries and top graduate entries from each region were then further evaluated to determine the overall winners.

A second group from BCIT tied for third place in the Pacific West region with their design, Inner City, however they were unfortunately not selected as an overall winner.

The winning teams were invited to attend a virtual awards ceremony on February 24, in lieu of a live announcement which would typically take place on the final day of the IDEC Annual Conference.

A big congratulations to Jessica, Saebom, and David, and to all students who participated in the 2021 IDEC Student Design Competition.

Have you subscribed? Sign-up to receive the latest news on BCIT.

2 thoughts on “BCIT students win big at IDEC Student Design Competition”

  1. Well Alhamdullilah it’s really impressive news to see BCIT students winning, why not, with such amazing teachers with great ability to create the worst to the best.
    The teachers are well trained and knowledgeable to understand each and every student.
    I have a suggestion, let interior students work with the BCIT affiliated companies as we study, particle experience is as important as theory.
    Thanks to the entire team of teachers interior design.

    Reply

Leave a comment