Tanner W. Finalist in Cooper Hewitt Design Challenge
Source/Author: Raffi Darrow, Ebytes Editor
March 10, 2016
Senior Tanner W. is a Stage Two Finalist in The Cooper Hewitt Student Design Challenge!
The contest, open to teenagers in high school in the USA, challenged students to design an outdoor chair inspired by Cooper Hewitt’s world-renowned collection. Designs were meant to be functional, comfortable and unexpected.
Tanner first heard about the contest while skimming through college admissions emails. "Mrs. Gaglio (US Art Teacher) suggested that I take a look at a small, private college in New York - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Although I had no serious expectations for RPI, I actually ended up applying to this college. Like most colleges, they send out emails periodically, and one of the emails advertised this design contest. I asked Mrs. Gaglio if I could work on this contest during my independent study, and she said, "Go for it!""
Cooper Hewitt is featuring the designs of the five Round 2 Finalists and four regional honorable mentions in a special online exhibition celebrating the creativity of promising young designers. You can see Tanner's innovative design here.
As dictated by the contest rules, each designer had to choose from a selection of inspiration pieces. Tanner's inspiration came from a lamp housed in the museum. "The guidelines for the contest required us to use one of twelve pieces from the museum as our source of inspiration. The inspiration for my chair design came from Poul Henningsen's Artichoke Hanging Lamp." Tanner explains. "I loved the description of the design; 'He was determined to calm the harsh, but powerful light bulb, reshaping electric illumination to embody the soft beauty of gas lighting.' Likewise, my chair’s shape possesses a layering effect. It flows smoothly as its leaves unfold from a standard seating position. Also, the middle piece rotates 90° for an optional drop-down desk."
Tanner is clearly elated to be recognized in the contest. "To be honest, I've already won. This is an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me, and I've been told by my friends and family to be a sponge, soaking it all in and absorbing everything from this amazing learning opportunity."
The contest, open to teenagers in high school in the USA, challenged students to design an outdoor chair inspired by Cooper Hewitt’s world-renowned collection. Designs were meant to be functional, comfortable and unexpected.
Tanner first heard about the contest while skimming through college admissions emails. "Mrs. Gaglio (US Art Teacher) suggested that I take a look at a small, private college in New York - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Although I had no serious expectations for RPI, I actually ended up applying to this college. Like most colleges, they send out emails periodically, and one of the emails advertised this design contest. I asked Mrs. Gaglio if I could work on this contest during my independent study, and she said, "Go for it!""
Cooper Hewitt is featuring the designs of the five Round 2 Finalists and four regional honorable mentions in a special online exhibition celebrating the creativity of promising young designers. You can see Tanner's innovative design here.
As dictated by the contest rules, each designer had to choose from a selection of inspiration pieces. Tanner's inspiration came from a lamp housed in the museum. "The guidelines for the contest required us to use one of twelve pieces from the museum as our source of inspiration. The inspiration for my chair design came from Poul Henningsen's Artichoke Hanging Lamp." Tanner explains. "I loved the description of the design; 'He was determined to calm the harsh, but powerful light bulb, reshaping electric illumination to embody the soft beauty of gas lighting.' Likewise, my chair’s shape possesses a layering effect. It flows smoothly as its leaves unfold from a standard seating position. Also, the middle piece rotates 90° for an optional drop-down desk."
As a finalist, Tanner will speak with a leading Target designer via videoconference to answer questions about the design process, make helpful suggestions for each finalist’s chair design, and provide insight into the presentation stage of the challenge. He will then receive travel to and accommodations in New York City the weekend of April 1 (with his mother, US Math Teacher Beth Bartlett '85) for a workshop with Target designers. On Sunday, April 3, Tanner will present his design in person to the judges. They will be looking for a clear, inventive, and compelling design that combines beauty and functionality.
"I am incredibly excited to travel to NYC, mainly because I have never been. I'm nervous to present my chair design to the panel of judges, but I'm also confident in my design, given the fact that it has gotten me this far already." Tanner shared.
The winning design will be manufactured by Target in limited edition for exclusive use in Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum’s Arthur Ross Terrace and Garden. The winner will be announced online on April 4, 2016."I am incredibly excited to travel to NYC, mainly because I have never been. I'm nervous to present my chair design to the panel of judges, but I'm also confident in my design, given the fact that it has gotten me this far already." Tanner shared.
Tanner is clearly elated to be recognized in the contest. "To be honest, I've already won. This is an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me, and I've been told by my friends and family to be a sponge, soaking it all in and absorbing everything from this amazing learning opportunity."
