USU Interior Design Students Takes Student Prize in National Competition

Katie Fotheringham, a junior majoring in interior design at Utah State University, took first place in a national kitchen design competition sponsored by Sub-Zero, Inc. and Wolf Appliance, Inc.

Fotheringham earned a cash award and an expense-paid trip to the award ceremony in Arizona. The Interior Design program at USU received a cash award as well.

 

“Since the inaugural competition in 1993, our Kitchen Design Contest has become one of the highest-regarded awards in the industry,” said Paul Leuthe, corporate marketing manager of Sub-Zero and Wolf Appliance. “With each contest, we gain insight into kitchen design trends and learn how designers incorporate our appliances into their projects.”

 

A panel of seven professionals judged the competition. Fotheringham took the top prize in the student category in the specialty winners category. She was among five winners in the specialty area.

 

The judges choose winners based on superior and unique use of space, beautiful kitchen design and integration of Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances. They evaluated more than 1,600 entries in the competition and identified kitchen design movements represented throughout the world. Three top winners were named, five specialty winners and three international winners.

 

Fotheringham completed her design as part of a class assignment at USU with instructor Darrin Brooks during her junior design studio.

 

An emphasis in Fotheringham’s design is sustainability. All her product choices and finishes are eco-friendly products. She was also required to incorporate the contest sponsor’s products into the design.

 

Fotheringham was involved in interior design as a student at Taylorsville High School in the Salt Lake area. After a tour of the USU program, she decided to enroll at the Logan campus. She credits the USU program and her professors with her success.

 

“The classes have definitely prepared me,” she said. “The professors do push us, but they truly prepare us for ‘real life’ experience.”

 

Fotheringham will complete a summer internship with Mitchell Mauk in San Francisco. She eventually hopes to work in commercial design.