The Crafted Convergence carpet collection from Durkan, the hospitality brand of Mohawk Group, has been recognized with the IIDA/HD Expo Product Design Award in the flooring category for carpet and rugs. The honor was presented in Las Vegas at HD Expo. For more than two decades, the IIDA/HD Expo Product Design Awards program has recognized innovation, function and aesthetic advancements in the hospitality industry.
“Product design plays a crucial role in the functionality and aesthetics of hospitality environments,” said Cheryl S. Durst, IIDA executive vice president and CEO. “Winners of this year’s competition found innovative ways to leverage product design to craft a hospitality experience that offers travelers a place to escape while maintaining elements that feel like home.”
Crafted Convergence was inspired by Durkan’s collaboration with the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture and the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, N.M. Within this collection, everyday utilitarian articles handmade by talented artisans from diverse cultures are translated into engaging patterns for broadloom, carpet plank and Durkan’s innovative Definity manufacturing technology. The design team was mindful to honor the original materials rather than replicate them. Crafted Convergence celebrates the skillful use of negative and positive space that is so elegantly rendered in the handmade originals from cultures continents apart. Portions of the proceeds from the collection’s sales will be given back to the museum system to help preserve the stories and source materials that inspired the collection. Crafted Convergence is a sustainable soft flooring option for hospitality spaces, down to its fiber and backing systems, and all styles contain recycled content.
“It is a real honor to be recognized by esteemed industry colleagues and leaders for our work on such a meaningful project,” said Elizabeth Bonner, creative design director for Durkan. “In telling the Crafted Convergence story, we not only wanted to push the envelope by bringing a different approach to hospitality flooring design and innovation, but also use it as a platform to honor the cultures represented within this incredible partnership.”
The IIDA/HD Expo Product Design Awards program entries were judged by a jury of design professionals, including Christopher Evans, associate principal, Rottet Studio; Michelle Reichert, director of strategic sourcing, FF and E, MGM Resorts International; and Patricia Rotondo, IIDA, senior principal and director of interior design, Antunovich Associates.
“The submissions we received this year demonstrated the strong impact that great product design can have on a space,” said Rotondo, on behalf of the jury. “It was exciting to select winners whose product innovations offer incredible technical advancements and reflect a commitment to environmental responsibility.”
For more information, visit www.mohawkgroup.com.
