Article by Kathi Panos & Terri Barczak | Owl Staff
Let the competition begin! The Maryland Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) sponsors an annual student design competition. Entrants vie for first place in over 10 categories including Pattern (textile, architectural elements, tile, etc.), Sustainability “LEED”, “Green”, environmentally responsible), Kitchen/ Bath/Utility, Commercial, Residential, or Historical. In 2011, Harford Community College ASID Student Chapter had three award-winning projects submitted by its students-two winning first place in specific categories and one winning Best in Competition.
Terri Barczak, Miriam Heckel, and Carol Nowakowski won first place in the Show House category. The students collaborated on a design for a foyer at the 2011 Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Decorators’ Show House. Kathi Panos’ “More Than Just a Laundry Room” design won first place in Kitchen/Bath/ Utility category and Best in Competition.
“It was great to get written feedback from the judges to know where I really hit the mark, as well as where there was room for improvement,” shares Panos and continues, “The public recognition is priceless – connecting with industry professionals at the awards dinner at the Hyatt, being prominently featured at ASID’s display at NeoCon (a commercial trade show and seminar venue), having your name published in Chesapeake Home + Living magazine you can’t buy that kind of press. It all makes for a great story to tell when selling yourself during a job interview!”
“It was great to get written feedback from the judges to know where I
really hit the mark…”
Terri Barczak was recognized as a finalist in the student category of Hickory Chair’s Centennial Celebration National Competition for a submission of her modern secretary design. This competition, facilitated through Facebook, was the first of its kind for the company. Over 50 designs were submitted in the student design category. Barczak states that “being selected as one of the eight finalists was a great honor, especially considering the quality of the other submissions.”
For information about participating in the 2012 ASID Maryland Chapter Student Design Competition, contact Betty Reeves, HCC ASID Student Chapter advisor, at breeves@harford.edu, or visit http://www.asid.org.
To view the HCC student collaborative “A Gallery Entrance” and other Show House rooms, visit the Ritz Carlton Residences website, http://www.rcr-baltimore.com.