KINGSPORT, Tenn.—Twelve talented furniture design students from Appalachian State University recently competed for prizes and shared their work on a national stage at High Point Market after being chosen finalists in the Perennial Wood Appalachian State Design Studio sponsored by Eastman Chemical Company. This week, two students received top honors as winners of the Grand Prize and the People’s Choice award. These students, along with several of the other finalists, will display their furniture at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York, May 19-22.
Michael DeMarco from Charlotte won the grand prize in Perennial Wood Appalachian State University Design Studio competition for his furniture piece titled the Strangler Floor Lamp. (Photo by Angela Hensley)
Derek Elliott from Cary won the People’s Choice Award in the Perennial Wood Appalachian State University Design Studio competition for his furniture piece titled the Patio Chaise. (Photo by Angela Hensley) 
Michael DeMarco from Charlotte won the Grand Prize for his furniture piece titled the Strangler Floor Lamp. Chosen by a panel of experts from Eastman and Appalachian, DeMarco’s lamp was chosen for exemplary design approach, use of medium (Perennial Wood and other materials), and its purpose, usefulness and aesthetics. According to DeMarco, “The most valuable part of this design studio experience was everything – from learning about and designing with a new material, to learning the process of designing and building.”
As the Grand Prize winner, DeMarco will receive a professionally produced video of his furniture project for inclusion in his portfolio and on the Eastman Innovation Lab website, a resource for industrial designers and marketers featuring success stories about using materials to differentiate products for better results.
The People’s Choice award was earned by Derek Elliott from Cary for his furniture piece titled the Patio Chaise, which garnered the most crowd-sourced public votes via Facebook likes, Twitter and Pinterest. “I enjoyed being a part of the launch of Perennial Wood, and watching a groundbreaking new product hit the market.”
In acknowledgement of the People’s Choice award, Elliott’s Patio Chaise will receive public recognition online at the design studio’s official webpage and via social media, in addition to being displayed at ICFF in May.
“These furniture design students were instrumental in contributing to an important product launch for us,” said Brant Mitchell, market development manager for Eastman and Perennial Wood. “Through the design studio, they were among the first to integrate Perennial Wood into outdoor furniture pieces, proving themselves as designers and skilled craftsman. We are delighted with the results of their creativity and hard work.”
Speaking on behalf of faculty and staff at Appalachian, professors Kern Maass and Richard Prisco extended congratulations to the two prize winners and the finalists, as well as recognized all the students who participated in the design studio. “These students are the future of furniture design in our country,” Prisco said. “The design studio with Perennial Wood gave our students many opportunities to push their personal boundaries and discover first-hand what’s possible when given a new material and a challenge.”
The students used Perennial Wood in their designs – a new material being introduced to the outdoor furniture market this spring. Sourced and manufactured in the U.S., Perennial Wood is real wood that has been modified on the molecular level to protect against rot, decay and movement. Withstanding moisture and outdoor elements for decades, it competes with hardwoods, rivaling teak in both beauty and performance. Eastman, the manufacturer of Perennial Wood, sponsored the design studio.
Eastman is accepting inquiries from furniture manufacturers interested in incorporating Perennial Wood into their offerings. Inquiries may be directed to info@PerennialWood.com. Perennial Wood offers furniture manufacturers a long-lasting attractive, U.S.-sourced wood for their furniture lines.
About Eastman
Perennial Wood is made and manufactured by Eastman Chemical Company, a global company with more than 80 years of history in acetylating wood pulp and 2011 sales exceeding $7.2 billion. Headquartered in Kingsport, Tenn., Eastman is committed to finding sustainable business opportunities within the diverse markets and geographies it serves. For more information on Perennial Wood, visit http://PerennialWood.com or call 800-530-7495.
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