ITMA Announces 2008 Virginia Jackson Design Winners 

HIGH POINT, N.C. — Design students from three universities swept the award categories in the annual Virginia Jackson Design Competition, sponsored by the International Textile Market Association (ITMA).

The awards recognize college students in textile design whose submitted work is evaluated for aesthetic form, ability to be manufactured and applicability to furniture products. Each winner receives a monetary prize, and each first-place winner’s school also receives $1,000. The first-place winner in each category will be flown to Showtime and honored Sunday evening, June 1.

The winning designs will be displayed in the Suites at Market Square during Showtime, June 1-4, in High Point.

“The submittals this year surpassed previous competitions in terms of quantity and quality of designs, especially in the dobby and jacquard categories,” said ITMA Director Catherine Morsell. “Part of our mission is to encourage creative individuals to enter the home furnishings textile field, and it is inspiring to see the depth of talent and interest in this industry.”

The judges were Sara Gray, Design Consultant Sourcing; Kim Grimsley and Allison Hocker, Tietex Interiors; Laura Levinson, Valdese Weavers; and Wesley Mancini, owner of Wesley Mancini Collection.

Of the 64 total entries received from six colleges, these are the 2008 winners in each category:

Dobby:

1st Place, Carmen Keck, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)

2nd Place, Saera Lee, RISD

Honorable Mention (tie), Lindsey Baker, Philadelphia University; Soo-Hyun Lee, RISD; Alice Youngblood, Kansas City Art Institute; Melissa Hoffman, Kansas City Art Institute

Jacquards:

1st Place, Regina A Cuce, Philadelphia University

2nd Place, Amy Helfant, RISD

Honorable Mention (tie), Lindsey B. Baker, Philadelphia University; Hyunjin Shin, Philadelphia University

Prints:

1st Place, Chanell Riley, Philadelphia University

2nd Place, Hyunjin Shin, Philadelphia University

Honorable Mention, Carin Sauerwein, Philadelphia University

The design competition is named for the late Virginia Jackson, a longtime industry veteran who was instrumental in launching the contest in 1995.

Founded in 1990, the ITMA is a non-profit trade association that produces Showtime for its member companies, mostly home furnishings textile manufacturers. Held twice a year, Showtime is recognized as the largest textile show in the Western Hemisphere.

For more information on the ITMA or the annual Virginia Jackson Design competition, visit the Web site at www.itma-showtime.com, or call the ITMA at 336-885-6842. 

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