Kansas State University

Interior design student wins people's choice award at international convention

Submitted by College of Human Ecology

Meredith Verzino, senior in interior design, along with four other students from different universities, won the 2018 People's Choice Award for a project that was presented at an international conference in June.

Verzino competed in the IIDA Student Design Charette at the annual NeoCon conference along with Sarah Love, University of North Texas; Dawn Turner, Art Institute of Pittsburgh-Online; Stephanie McShane, New England Institute of Technology; and Esteffany Inzunza, San Diego Mesa College. Competitors in this challenge are nominated by their respective schools and then joined into teams at the conference.

The charette, which is an intense collaborative session in which a group of designers draft a solution to a design problem within a limited time frame for presentation, challenged teams of five with a design problem. The teams were given six hours to determine a design solution, develop a presentation and pitch their concept to a panel of judges. They were given specific deliverables that must be provided in the presentation along with a few supplies for visual representation.

"Meredith has set clear professional goals for herself and demonstrates a consistent commitment to work," said Migette Kaup and Michael Dudek, professors of interior design. "We were proud to have her represent the Kansas State University interior design program at the IIDA event this year. Her participation in NeoCon gave her a well-rounded professional practice experience."

"Competing in the IIDA Student Design Charette was exhilarating and one of the best learning experiences IIDA and NeoCon provides to future professional designers," Verzino said. "During the competition, we had to make quick decisions, play on people’s strengths and inspire creativity within a group which resulted in an excellent project."

Kaup further explained the importance of NeoCon for students.

"Every year, NeoCon provides a forum for the latest products and innovations as well as professional networking and continuing education," Kaup said. "This is a perfect place for emerging professionals and students to take advantage of the opportunity to network and engage with practitioners from across the U.S. and around the world."

"This was my second time at NeoCon and I am inspired by the design field improving each year in providing interior products that support human health and protect our natural environment," Verzino said. "As a future interior designer, NeoCon exposed me to the endless possibilities of interior products, career opportunities and social connections."

NeoCon is hosted every June at The Mart in Chicago. The event is the world's leading platform and most important event of the year for the commercial design industry. The show serves as a launching pad for the iconic brands and products in the commercial design world. NeoCon has evolved into an international design hub that brings together more than 50,000 industry professionals for networking opportunities as well as dynamic and diverse learning experiences.