Student Design Competitions – Nord Arin Announces Winners
On March 1st, Nord Arin launched its first design competitions, dedicated to students of the Faculty of Visual Arts and Design, within the academic cooperation with the George Enescu National University of Arts, Iași. The 69 projects submitted to both contests - Product Design and Furniture Decorations -, by students from different majors and years of study, were evaluated by a jury including the Nord Arin General Manager and the head of the Design, R&D, and Marketing departments.
To students, the most valuable outcome of winning such a contest is the opportunity to collaborate with Nord Arin in the product development of the project submitted to the competition. This way, students not only get to be observed by top industry professionals, and receive real feedback on their work, but also learn from experienced designers and woodworking engineers in the development process of a furniture piece that can become part of the brand’s permanent portfolio.
Given the fact that Nord Arin exhibits several times a year at the world’s largest design fairs, students can also gain valuable experience and international recognition among industry professionals.
In the evaluation of the 47 projects submitted to the Product Design Competition, Nord Arin judged based on several criteria: originality of the concept, compatibility with the Nord Arin design portfolio, the degree of innovation and relevance in the current context of product design, product functionality, production feasibility, as well as the visual presentation of the projects.
1st prize - Blend Collection, designed by Medan Radu and Nevschi Andrei, Product Design students
2nd prize - Spindle, designed by Dilă Andrei and Aromanesei Cezar, students of Product Design and Graphic Design
3rd prize - Eterna Collection, designed by Barat Ovidiu, Product Design student
1st Prize winner
Blend Collection draws attention with its contemporary character, promoting design lines that can be easily declined and extended to other areas of the home - living room or bedroom. Embodying the minimalist essence representative of the Nord Arin brand, Blend embraces organic silhouettes and harmonious proportions, while exploring the interplay of form and matter. In the design of the Blend collection, wood harmoniously coexists with glass and marble, subtly blending contrasting elements while remaining true to the principles of "less is more." Blend received the highest score thanks to its minimalist, organic design, to the balanced mix of materials, and the customizable nature of the collection.
2nd Prize winner
Books and collectibles will find in Spindle a special place to be displayed. Rooted in one of the brand's established collections – Beams – the Spindle bookcase weaves its own narrative, by adding to the design story a stylized approach of a well-known traditional Romanian object belonging to the realm of the Romanian village – the spindle – as both an aesthetic and structural element. Spindle was appreciated by the jury for its original concept, cohesive design, aesthetic congruency with the Nord Arin design language, and the powerful story it evokes.
3rd Prize winner
Eterna promotes a sculptural design, in which the raw beauty of materials is expressed through shape. The table socles are reminiscent of the marble blocks extracted from the quarry, giving the Eterna pieces the preciousness of sculptures, right in your living room. Wood, presented in various sizes and finishes, is featured as an element of art, accessible to contemporary homes through a functional design, with timeless aesthetics. The distinctive robustness of the Eterna tables, the ingenious combination of wood, marble, and metal, as well as the clear reference to the Brancusi aesthetics were the main arguments in judging the collection.
Special prize winners
For the Product Design competition, Nord Arin decided to award an additional prize for perseverance to the team Medan Radu & Nevschi Andrei, for submitting a total of four projects. The team came up with valuable ideas and well-researched concepts, presented in a professional layout, proving not only creativity and professionalism but also commitment and consistency.
In evaluating the projects submitted to the Furniture Decoration Competition, Nord Arin judged based on the creativity and expressiveness of the decorations, their applicability to existing Nord Arin furniture pieces, the materials and technique used, production feasibility, as well as the graphic presentation of the project.
1st prize - Sirius C Dining Table with mosaic inserts, designed by Stavarache Roberta, Interior Design student
2nd prize - Inia Dining Table with granite inserts, designed by Sacară Mădălina, Interior Design student
3rd prize - Sirius C Dining Table with inserts inspired by Brancusi’s Endless Column, designed by Mitriu Alis-Georgiana, Interior Design student
1st Prize winner
The mosaic insert on the Sirius C dining table represents a creative proposal for a minimalist wood furniture piece. The gradient mosaic has the effect of enhancing the table curvature, directing the eye to the main feature of the object – the hourglass-shaped leg, inspired by Brancusi’s Silent Table chairs. The option to integrate ceramic mosaic on this dining table can become an additional purchasing argument for special furnishing projects or for customers who seek a handcrafted piece of furniture, that remains faithful to contemporary, timeless design.
2nd Prize winner
Inia Dining Table can earn new aesthetic values by integrating natural stone inserts. In line with the Nord Arin brand's design direction regarding the integration of new materials into wooden furniture, Inia with stone decorations can rewrite the aesthetics of the collection through subtle, organic inserts inspired by trees’ annual growth rings. The granite decorations that hug the cone-shaped leg towards the base add texture and preciousness, and can alternatively be replaced by other types of natural stone.
3rd Prize winner
The minimalist design of the Sirius C Dining Table becomes a canvas for a decoration inspired by the geometry of the Endless Column. Depending on the context, the decoration can partially or fully cover the table leg and can be applied through different decorative techniques, so that the piece of furniture can act as artwork and enliven a minimalist environment through shape and pattern.
All prizes will be awarded at a special gathering that will take place at the Nord Arin factory, on the 6th of June. Winning students will meet with the company’s top management to further analyze the projects and establish future cooperation perspectives based on the submitted designs.
Through student competitions, factory visits, and research projects, Nord Arin supports students and fresh graduates interested in pursuing a career in furniture design and wood engineering. Those interested in learning more about the internships and job vacancies available at Nord Arin are welcome to write to ru@nordarin.com and book a visit and a factory tour.