The Kentwood Design Challenge
Always on the lookout for innovative ways to showcase their products, at IDS 2016 in Toronto, Canada, Metropolitan Hardwood Floors departed from the traditional trade show booth concept. Instead of a run-of-the-mill booth with endless flooring displays, the company hosted a competition in which students from OCAD University and Ryerson School of Interior Design designed and built innovative installations using Kentwood flooring.
Besides drawing eyeballs to Kentwood's display area, the competition met several other objectives, according to Brady Page, Metropolitan's VP of Sales and Marketing. "It provided an opportunity to develop and expose new and upcoming design talent, helped reinforce our connection with the design community, and stressed how central design is in our whole product development philosophy."
The contestants created their installations using one of six selected styles of Kentwood flooring in a 10' x 10' design space. "The finalists' designs varied widely, from a fairly traditional room setting to some really wild sculptural concepts to one interesting hybrid of the two," Page said.
Products chosen for the competition were all hot new looks in the Kentwood collection. Several of the teams chose Brushed Birch 'Oyster Point', a textured white-on-white floor from the European Plank collection. One used Brushed Oak 'Black Tusk', another European Plank product with a frosted finish over a dramatic black stain. And another used Acacia 'Grayfield', an engineered flooring that combines the natural grain and color variations of acacia with a soft gray stain.
Frequently asked questions
What was Metropolitan Hardwood Floors' approach at IDS 2016 in Toronto?+
Instead of a traditional trade show booth with flooring displays, Metropolitan Hardwood Floors hosted a design competition. Students from OCAD University and Ryerson School of Interior Design created innovative installations using Kentwood flooring.
What were the objectives of the Kentwood Design Challenge?+
According to Brady Page, Metropolitan's VP of Sales and Marketing, the competition helped draw attention to Kentwood's display area, develop and expose new design talent, reinforce the company's connection with the design community, and emphasize the central role of design in their product development philosophy.
What were the rules of the Kentwood Design Challenge?+
Contestants created installations within a 10' x 10' design space using one of six selected styles of Kentwood flooring. Designs ranged from traditional room settings to wild sculptural concepts and hybrid approaches.
Which Kentwood flooring products were featured in the competition?+
Featured products included Brushed Birch 'Oyster Point', a textured white-on-white floor from the European Plank collection; Brushed Oak 'Black Tusk', with a frosted finish over a dramatic black stain; and Acacia 'Grayfield', an engineered flooring combining natural acacia grain with a soft gray stain.
Which schools participated in the Kentwood Design Challenge?+
Students from OCAD University and Ryerson School of Interior Design participated in the competition, designing and building installations using Kentwood flooring.