Mannington Names Finalists in Design Challenge

Salem, NJ, March 19, 2009-–Mannington Commercial has named six finalists in its Tx:style Design Challenge.

Open to registered interior designers with less than seven years of work experience, the challenge drew more than 440 entries, along with 5,700 registrants who cast more than 200,000 votes for their favorite designs.

“Response to the competition has been overwhelming in all the best ways,” says Natalie Jones, vice president of commercial brand development and creative product.

“The numbers of people engaging Tx:style are thrilling, but we are even more delighted with the quality of entries. Many of the submissions were amazing, but in the end six stood out as exciting, original and strongly positioned to meet real-world needs of commercial projects.”

The finalists are Amberlee Isabella of Atlanta, Ga., Claire Weiss of Orlando, Fla., Danielle Tipton of Greensboro, N.C., Heather Miller of Charlotte, N.C., Meagan Webb of Nashville, Tenn., and Megan Blaine of Pasadena, Calif.

This weekend, the finalists will join Mannington’s design development team in Calhoun, Ga. to translate their creations into carpet. The grand prize winner will be chosen by the design public on a voting website that will be launched in late April, and will receive a grand prize of $7,500 and a full launch of her product line at NeoCon 2009.

“This economy has been difficult for many in the A&D community, but among the hardest hit are junior designers,” says Jones.

“For many younger designers, opportunities are being limited just at the time when they are full of fresh ideas and ready to accomplish great things. We are so excited to showcase these new talents and give the winner the launch of a lifetime at the industry’s biggest trade show.”

(This competition is the subject of today's interview on FloorDaily.net.)