Four BYU students recently won first-place at a national furniture design competition in Anaheim, Calif.

Eighteen colleges and universities submitted 80 pieces of original furniture for juried exhibition, and 30 pieces were then selected for the competition that took place last Wednesday in Californai. Ten of the 30 competition pieces selected were from BYU students.

"Though we're pleased to have four first-place wins, to have one-third of the post-secondary finalists be from BYU speaks to the quality of work coming from these students," said Kip Christensen, a BYU professor of industrial design teaching the furniture design course.

He said this is the first time in almost 20 years that the furniture design course has been offered at BYU.

Winners include Brittany Davis for her piece Zhe Table, John Donely for Flip-top Table, Jon Plummer for Japanese Q/K Convertible Bed and Brian Sanderson for Tambour Chair. Katie Richardson won an honorable mention award for her table design entitled Fiora.

The winners received $1,000 cash and all 30 finalists will have their work featured in a book called "Fresh Wood - New Designers 2003."

Sanderson said his professors helped him to push the limits of his abilities.

"I've learned to never leave well enough alone, and when a concept or idea is seemingly unbuildable, the words 'no,' 'can't,' 'won't,' and 'never' are all unacceptable," Sanderson said.

He said the technical instruction he has received at BYU is incredible and beyond his previous expectations.

The pieces at the competition were judged on their ingenuity. Sanderson's entry rolls up for storage and can also be used with a flat piece of glass as an end table.

"When I showed up at the conference center in Anaheim and saw the work of the other students, I realized that the competition was stiffer than I expected," Sanderson said. "So it's great to have won."

The other finalists from BYU include: Ryan Dart's for Corner Bench, Matthew Gardner for Arch Nightstand, Andrew Housley for Spansive Arch Coffee Table, Drew Soderborg for Grand Dad Clock and Jason Tippetts for Ribbon Coffee Table.



Copyright Brigham Young University 11 Aug 2003