As part of the 2017 NEXT Student Design Competition sponsored by Steelcase, each student was given the same parameters; design a medical office in an industrial part of Seattle, incorporate nature-inspired spaces, consider employee engagement and productivity as well as needs to collaborate.<\/p>\n
Some visualized the healing power of nature, while others examined quality of light and color. Each design was unique. From more than 60 schools that participated, five finalists were flown to Steelcase headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan.<\/p>\n
While in Grand Rapids, the finalists presented their projects and defended their design decisions to the panel of judges. They met with a design leader from Steelcase Industrial Design, had portfolio reviews with the judges to receive feedback and prepare them for interviewing and had dinner at the Steelcase-owned Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Meyer May House. The students also toured Steelcase\u2019s wood manufacturing facility and received a hands on experience of the veneer selection process and toured Steelcase\u2019s Grand Rapids campus to see how Steelcase has adapted its workplace to give people more choice and control over where and how they get their work done.<\/p>\n
While only one could win, all of the finalists walked away with new insight into what it takes to be a professional designer, new lasting relationships and career momentum.<\/p>\n WINNER “The most impressive thing about Cathcart\u2019s design was that it was thorough, client focused, concise and well edited,” said judge Tom Marquardt, HOK Vice President, Director of Interiors for their Chicago office. “It would have been a solution that \u2013\u2013 had she worked for me \u2013\u2013 I would have been proud to see her present such a client driven solution that responds so clearly to an extremely rigorous brief.”<\/p>\n Cathcart\u2019s winning design blends color, pattern and circulation to achieve a space that prioritizes collaboration and creates a sense of connection and belonging. She tied the design to the community of Seattle. Cathcart says the assurance the competition gave her made the most impact. Receiving a cash prize for herself and her design program was an added bonus on top of a transformative experience.<\/p>\n “This opportunity helped me learn and grow tremendously as a designer while preparing me for my future,” Cathcart said. “The depth of this project pushed me to accomplish things I never had before.”<\/p>\n Cathcart is energized by her win, ready to pursue new design challenges. “This entire experience\u2014from designing, to being in Grand Rapids\u2014inspired me to be more curious and expand my mind,” she said. “Any chance that I get, I am going to start reading and researching things that will help continue my growth. I realize that I still have so much to learn and I am more than ready to start.”<\/p>\n Laura Morthland, Cathcart\u2019s professor, couldn’t be more proud of her student. “It was such an honor to have her represent SIU as a semifinalist, but to know that she had won the entire competition was amazing,” she said. “She has always been a talented designer, but she often lacked confidence in her own ability.\u202fTo see her walk through the competition and come out on the other end as the winner was one of the happiest moments I have had in teaching.” SIU has already decided to earmark its portion of the prize for a new scholarship called the \u201cNEXT Scholarship in Interior Design.\u201d<\/p>\n Cathcart\u2019s reception area welcomes patients with a bright, open and nature-inspired environment that provides a calming experience. <\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t Exam halls diminish the appearance of typical medical corridors taking some of the stress out of being in a medical clinic and comforting patients as they enter their room. <\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t Cathcart\u2019s open-office provides the opportunity for colleague interaction along the circulation path; a digital display wall and amphitheater-style seating allows the team to gather and share information with each other. <\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t The caf\u00e9 design provides an intimate, relaxed atmosphere that allows employees to take a break from the office, refresh their mind and strengthen their relationship with the community. <\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n FINALIST Kimberly Bracht\u2019s design drew from the seaport culture of Seattle.<\/p>\n “I was trying to get rid of the clinical feeling medical offices can have,” she explained. “I wanted it to be more approachable, edgy. I used shipping containers, inspired by the port of Seattle,” she continued. “A port of international trade, connecting the ocean to the interior. I used those containers to get rid of the medical feeling and connect the environment to the space.”<\/p>\n Of everything she experienced during the competition, the support her professor showed her along the way stood out.<\/p>\n “I have a mentor, my professor, Travis Hicks, who had a huge impact on this project,” Bracht said. “He walked through the project with me step-by-step. He sent it to other professors in the department to look at it,” she continued. “There was really a community aspect to it.”<\/p>\n A beverage kiosk and stations for technology welcome activity and socialization in Bracht\u2019s reception design. <\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t Bracht\u2019s design leverages Umami lounge seating and white boards to create a collaborative touchdown space. This is a crucial zone to allow for a work anywhere culture.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t The splashes of yellow in Bracht\u2019s office design seeks to stimulate optimism and spark creativity. The space includes both tables and height-adjustable desks to accommodate different work styles. <\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t Brody WorkLounge seating and open workspaces converge to give people places to be productive and focus, or to rejuvenate and reenergize. <\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n FINALIST Evergreen trees inspired Jessie Bean’s concept. Bean used biophilia as the linchpin of her design \u2014 accentuating shared spaces with earthy tones and fun patterns.<\/p>\n “Nature was one of the biggest inspirations for my design,” Bean said. “I looked to the evergreens surrounding Seattle and used their density and hierarchy to inform my concept and space planning. I considered how plants are resilient in the ways in which they tolerate conditions of adversity and related that to how people are resilient in how they use clinical services such as our competition project, the NEXT Medical Office.”<\/p>\n Relationships are what Bean values most about the competition experience. “I wanted to be sure to make strong connections with people \u2014 other participants, judges and Steelcase,” Bean said. “I’ll be keeping and utilizing those connections for the rest of my career.”<\/p>\n Evergreens inspired Bean\u2019s overall design and come through in the natural colors, patterns and textures in her reception space. <\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t Education space is dedicated to employees to create breakout areas that promote focused, heads down work and provide a relief from the hectic workday.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t Bean\u2019s design provides open-office elements while allowing privacy with a geometric partition that separates the work space from the adjacent work caf\u00e9 area.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t Bean\u2019s caf\u00e9 is not just a great dining area but also one that promotes collaboration and enhances productivity. Designed with the employee and visitors wellbeing in mind, this multi-functional work area creates a space for connection.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n FINALIST Kopcho\u2019s design experimented with topography and layers, giving each space a unique, but cohesive feel.<\/p>\n “I did a lot of research,” she said. “I connected Seattle to mountains and outdoor activities. Looking at topographical maps, layers, and curves became the main inspiration for the design.”<\/p>\n More than anything, Kopcho left knowing the importance of being able to tell the story about how and why she developed her design. experience. “I\u2019ve learned so much,” Kopcho said. “The biggest thing I heard is every design needs a purpose and story behind it. It\u2019s something I\u2019ll think about with every design decision.”<\/p>\n Kopcho's design features curved forms and layered ceiling elements inspired by topographical maps as seen in the reception. <\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t Thoughtful lighting decisions give Kopcho\u2019s design a unique feel. Shared desking and adjacent whiteboards encourage teamwork and collaboration. <\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/steelcase-res.cloudinary.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1520863876\/www.steelcase.com\/2018\/03\/12\/18-0101826.jpg\")
\nCaitlyn Cathcart | Southern Illinois University <\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,dpr_auto,q_70,h_656,w_1166\/v1520864018\/www.steelcase.com\/2018\/03\/12\/18-0101507.jpg\")
Caitlyn Cathcart\u2019s Design<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Caitlyn Cathcart\u2019s Design<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Caitlyn Cathcart\u2019s Design<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Caitlyn Cathcart\u2019s Design<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\nKimberly Bracht | UNC Greensboro <\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,dpr_auto,q_70,h_656,w_1166\/v1520866580\/www.steelcase.com\/2018\/03\/12\/18-0101500.jpg\")
Kimberly Bracht\u2019s Design<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Kimberly Bracht\u2019s Design<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Kimberly Bracht\u2019s Design<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Kimberly Bracht\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Design<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\nJessie Bean | Virginia Tech <\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,dpr_auto,q_70,h_656,w_1166\/v1520867495\/www.steelcase.com\/2018\/03\/12\/18-0101505.jpg\")
Jessie Bean\u2019s Design<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Jessie Bean\u2019s Design<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Jessie Bean\u2019s Design<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Jessie Bean\u2019s Design<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\nMikaila Kopcho | University of Minnesota <\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,dpr_auto,q_70,h_656,w_1166\/v1520867961\/www.steelcase.com\/2018\/03\/12\/18-0101512.jpg\")
Mikaila Kopcho<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Mikaila Kopcho<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,dpr_auto,q_70,h_656,w_1166\/v1520868251\/www.steelcase.com\/2018\/03\/12\/18-0101514.jpg\")