Calhoun, Ga. -- Durkan, the hospitality flooring brand of Mohawk Group, in partnership with NEWH, a leading networking organization for hospitality industry professionals, announced that the dscvr18 Student Design Competition is now accepting artwork submissions for the annual hospitality design contest. The dscvr program exists to exhibit the talent of designers in the hospitality field and contribute toward the education of future designers within the industry.

“Dscvr18 is a way for us to make a greater impact on the industry and a way for us to mentor the designers that are coming up behind us,” said Elizabeth Bonner, creative design director for Durkan. “Designing carpet might be an avenue many students haven’t thought about and it’s always fun to see what the next generation of designers is looking at and responding to—and how that might translate to flooring design.”

Dscvr18 is open to students who are members of NEWH, with student membership offered free of charge. College faculty within interior design programs are encouraged to implement the competition as part of their curriculum.

“This competition keeps the industry moving with a fresh, young twist on design,” said Shelia Lohmiller, executive director of NEWH. “It also makes students think about the continuity of flooring design throughout a project. The Durkan and NEWH partnership is key because it molds together what students need most: opportunity, networking, experience and funds for college.”

Student designers will submit concepts for flooring in standard ballroom and pre-function settings that are created as separate components that coordinate with one another, with the number of colors not to exceed 12. Entrants are encouraged to view the floor spaces as blank canvases that become one large design. Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of Durkan associates that serve in a variety of capacities across different departments within the company. Entries will be judged based on concept, presentation, and market feasibility.

“We receive entries from students at all levels of graphic design,” added Bonner. “We’re looking for designers who can utilize their tools in the best way possible at the level they find themselves—it really doesn’t have to be complex to be a viable entry.”

The top two submissions will be awarded trips to Las Vegas for the Hospitality Design Expo, where one grand prize winner will be announced on-site as the recipient of the competition’s first place award and a $2,500 NEWH scholarship from Durkan on May 2, 2018. A second-place winner will also be recognized with an award and $1,000. Designs from the top five finalists will be on display in the Durkan booth at the trade show. Additionally, Durkan will promote and catalog all winning designs.

“The dscvr competition has really opened my eyes to the carpet field and with Durkan and newer technologies like Definity, it’s made me pay more attention to flooring and designers in the carpet industry,” said Megan Cook Turner, 2017 grand prize winner. “It has been a huge resume builder and has helped round out my portfolio. Designing specifically for carpet is a completely different challenge and I’m really enjoying it.”

Turner, who has since graduated from Utah State University with an interior design degree, is currently working with Durkan on a new carpet collection for hospitality.

The submission window for dscvr18 is open now through Friday, March 23, 2018. Only one entry per person is allowed and entries cannot be returned. Additionally, professional carpet designers including freelance designers commissioned by a carpet manufacturer or a staff designer for a carpet manufacturer are not eligible.

For more information, visit durkan.com.