Yue Dai wins Groovystuff design challenge

Home Accents Today Staff -- Home Accents Today, 8/22/2012 9:25:18 AM

Design challenge winner Yue Dai presented this product board along with a model of her design in the Groovystuff showroom at the summer Las Vegas Market.

Groovystuff dedicated a wall of its Las Vegas market showroom to display design challenge contestants' design models and product boards.

DALLAS -- Yue Dai, a student from the Industrial Design Department at Purdue University, has won Groovystuff's By Design: Connecting Education and Industry design challenge at the summer Las Vegas Market by popular vote, the company announced.

"I'm so exciting that my design was chosen as the popular vote winner. I'm very happy that my ‘RiSe' won approval of professionals," Dai said.

Dai's "RiSe" table and wall lamp was voted Most Versatile and Most Likely to Show a Profit by retailers, interior designers and trade professionals attending Las Vegas market.

"RiSe" lamp takes inspiration from a half wagon wheel, with curvy teak ornaments coming out from the body, meant to emulate the rising sun. Light bulbs are situated within the lamp's half wagon wheel base, directing light out toward the sun ray ornaments.

Groovystuff, a producer of reclaimed teak home furnishings, also announced Dai will receive a $250 cash prize and will be a finalist in the ongoing Groovystuff Challenge. Dai's design will compete against other popular vote winning entries at the winter Las Vegas Market, held Jan. 28 to Feb. 1, 2013. The grand prize winner will receive a $500 cash prize and her design will be included in the Dick Idol Legends line from which she'll receive permanent royalties.

Dai competed against 17 other Industrial Design students at Purdue University, under the leadership of Professor Laura Drake, to design an environmentally friendly lighting product. The design had to reflect the Dick Idol brand, a Groovystuff license, and be produced using sustainable manufacturing practices.

Contestants created miniature models and product display boards, which were showcased in Groovystuff's showroom for market attendees to vote on.