La-Z-Boy Young Designer Contest 2024 : The judges' opinions on the project

The La-Z-Boy Young Designer Contest 2024, under the theme "Comfort Function and Space Design Creativity: Inspired by La-Z-Boy" has officially concluded. This competition was organized by Globiz Venture Co., Ltd., the official distributor of La-Z-Boy reclining sofas from the USA, in collaboration with the Thailand Interior Designers' Association (TIDA). Contestants competed for La-Z-Boy reclining chairs and cash prizes, totaling over 170,000 baht. Applications were open from August 13, 2024, and the results were announced on October 5, 2024.

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Throughout various aspects of the contest, from the competition process, the theme, and promotional efforts to university engagement, scoring criteria, personnel, and coordination with universities, La-Z-Boy received significant guidance from the Thailand Interior Designers' Association (TIDA). The association also helped select judges to evaluate over 200 entries and invited special guest speakers—successful professionals in the field of interior design—to offer insights and guidance to the participating students.

Here are interviews with notable members of TIDA who had the opportunity to collaborate with La-Z-Boy:

♦ Ms. Korakoth Kunalungkarn (Ped), President of the Thailand Interior Designers' Association
♦ Mr. Paluch Painupong (Ith), Managing Director of That's Ith Interior and TIDA Committee Member
♦ Ms. Sopit Sucharitkul (Gift), Managing Director of CGD and TIDA Committee Member
♦ Mr. Worapong Manupipatpong (Ton), Co-Founder of Atelier 2+ and Design Director of Cane Collection by Podium
♦ Mr. Bodin Plangkur (Ton), Founder of Context Studio

Mr. Paluch: "This project is truly interesting and highly beneficial. As a TIDA judge, we are keen on supporting students to have a platform to express their opinions and skills early on. We've seen the potential in these new-generation students, which can be further developed in the industry."

Mr. Worapong: "From my perspective, it benefits both the students and La-Z-Boy as they gain new insights from young designers."

Ms. Korakoth: "I'm excited for the students. Bringing the top 30 contestants and announcing the top 8 who get to present their work live is a fun experience. Even those who didn't present had a chance for a Popular Vote, which was adorable. It's a beneficial program for students and La-Z-Boy alike, as they get to see fresh perspectives from young designers. I was pleasantly surprised by how creative the students were—sometimes beyond what we would expect. This program helps foster more creative thinking in the students."

Ms. Sopit (on the winning work by Mr. Piyapat): "He really did his homework, arranging the sizing of the train and the products in the layout with precise dimensions, ensuring that the placement of the chairs was realistic. I'm impressed with how much he accomplished in such a short time."

Mr. Bodin (on the second runner-up Ms. Natthita's work): "Personally, I think this piece applied La-Z-Boy furniture in a way that opened up new opportunities. It showed that La-Z-Boy chairs can be placed in public spaces, not just in living rooms. I really liked that."

Mr. Worapong (on the honorable mention Ms. Poonita's work): "I really liked the project because it presented a fresh image of La-Z-Boy. It contrasts with the usual perception of the product, but she made it work, and it was very interesting."

 Perspectives on La-Z-Boy products: 

Mr. Bodin: "At first, we thought of La-Z-Boy as furniture for adults, but through this competition, we see that La-Z-Boy chairs can fit into any space—not just homes but also stores and offices."

Mr. Worapong: "It's genuinely a very comfortable chair. I believe that anyone who tries it will feel like they're being absorbed into it."

Mr. Paluch: "La-Z-Boy products have maintained their quality consistently over time, and they've only gotten better. We're keen to support the combination of design and comfort. Today, we emphasize Living Design, ensuring home functionality and comfort."

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