Design – SCAD

2026 Furniture Design Competition – Savannah College of Art & Design

Designs Show Beauty, Function Of Solid Hardwood At SCAD

SAVANNAH, GA (May 27, 2026) – Solid American hardwood species were crafted into functional works of art at the 2026 Student Furniture Design Competition at Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD).

Students from one of the country’s largest furniture design programs showcased Cherry, Walnut, White Oak, Hard Maple and Red Oak in the year-long design and build contest. The entries included lamps, chairs, cabinets, and benches.

The competition was a joint effort by Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, Inc. (AHMI), a High Point, NC-based trade association of lumber producers and distributors, and the Real American Hardwood Coalition (RAHC), a national organization of hardwood lumber trade groups. AHMI President Tom Inman served as contest director and said the designs ranged from contemporary to modern.

“SCAD is internationally known for design across a variety of media but especially for furniture,” Inman said. “That is a reason we held the competition there – we believed it would generate the exceptional pieces that it did.”

The contest winner was Sophia Hicks of St. Petersburg, FL, with a four-sided lamp made of American Cherry. It was inspired by Shoji and Kumiko designs with six rotating doors, one with an open knot, and one full panel covered with mulberry paper.

The doors adjusted the light from full intensity to softer tones and the floor lamp had an extended base constructed from solid Cherry.

Second place was the Loxo Chair, designed and built by Heechan Kim of Savannah, GA. It was designed to evoke the experience of leaning against an elephant’s trunk and drew inspiration from Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan.

The chair was crafted from select Walnut and used leather for the upholstered cushion, seat and strap. Judges noted the comfort of the chair.

Honorable mention went to Jade Wells of Savannah, GA, for the Marlow Entryway table. The design created a balance between sculptural presence and functional clarity using Walnut and Hard Maple solid lumber.

It highlighted the natural variation of the materials and contrasted the simplicity of surrounding form. The result was a visually distinctive yet practical entryway table for both residential and commercial settings.

Judges included Dan Cox of Peach State Lumber in Kennesaw, GA, whose company contributed lumber. He recognized the students for their attention to the grain and beauty of the hardwood species. Other judges were Ashley Johnson and Brennah Hutchinson of the National Hardwood Lumber Association and Real American Hardwood; Paul McGroary, SCAD professor of Industrial Design; and Inman.

Another lumber contributor was Beasley Forest Products of Hazlehurst, GA, who also welcomed the faculty on a tour of the facility.

The winners are encouraged to enter the Student Furniture Design competition at the IWF in Atlanta in August and the ISFD Pinnacle Awards in High Point in October. The top two received a cash prize and all received plaques.

“This competition proved that young designers are inspired by the beauty and versatility of fine Appalachian hardwood lumber,” Inman said. “Each of the entries emphasized that with crafted pieces that can be produced in a manufacturing plant.”