Appalachian State Studio Competition

January 31, 2023

Davis Furniture recently sponsored a ten-week studio competition with Appalachian State University's Department of Applied Design. This Furniture 1 Studio project focused students on creating designs for Davis' Elements line of interior accessories which current spans from coat hooks, coat racks, umbrella stands, planters and side tables. Twelve students were separated into groups and asked to create possibilities within four categories – Planters, Occasional Tables + LaptopTables, Wall Hooks + Coat Racks and Screens + Acoustical Panels. The project started with a kick-off meeting at Davis' Headquarters and factories in HighPoint, NC. While visiting, students were given presentations by Rob Easton, VP of Design and Development, and Joseph Namyst, Creative Director, focusing on Davis' current Elements offering and changes being made to the Elements brand for 2023. Students were also given tours of Davis' factories highlighting the company's capabilities and attention to high-quality manufacturing and design.

Appalachian State's Furniture 1 Studio touring a Davis Factory.

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Davis Furniture’s team and Appalachian State’s Director of Furniture Design, Professor Richard Prisco used this competition to help guide students through design development, including research, sketching and drawing to give them insight into furniture +accessory types, design elements and construction. This awareness was then utilized to help students focus on further market research and design, culminating in construction documents, renderings, rapid prototypes and a final client presentation.

Throughout the project, Rob Easton visited the students at their studio at Appalachian State to help mentor them through the design process.

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"At App State Furniture Design, I give students real-world experience, including exposure to design, manufacturing, and craft. Graduating students leave with a practical foundation and skill set preparing them to enter the industry. Working with Davis Furniture and Rob Easton was an exceptional experience for this Junior I Furniture Studio. The level of attention and generosity given to the students was phenomenal. I am looking forward to future collaborations with Davis Furniture."

– Professor Richard Prisco, Director of Furniture Design, Appalachian State University

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As the project came to a close, Davis Furniture generously awarded scholarships for the top three students of $3K, $2K and $1K. The top three designs included an occasional table + laptop table by Jon Kanapell, wall hooks by Lucas Thompson and a planter series by Aiden Gough.

From initial sketches to full-scale prototypes, these occasional + laptop tables by Jon Kanapell won first place in the competition.

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"This project pushed me in so many ways as a young designer: building my ability to communicate and develop my designs with a client, reading and understanding the Davis design language, and learning how to present my concepts in ways that appeal to the appropriate audiences."

– 1st place winner, Jon Kanapell, Industrial Design Major: Furniture Design Concentration

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For 2023, Davis Furniture plans to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the accessories collection by releasing an updated color story as well adding several new designs.

"This collaborative project was the perfect way to kick off our 10th Anniversary with the Elements collection. Working with App's students on this project was just as inspirational to our company as it was to their studio. We're really looking forward to keeping this momentum going in 2023 with our Elements line."

– Rob Easton, VP of Design and Development, Davis Furniture

Appalachian State University's Department of Applied Design's Furniture 1 Studio visiting Davis Furniture's Corporate Headquarters in High Point, NC.

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