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HD/West Elm Student Product Design Competition

West Elm has partnered with Hospitality Design (HD) magazine for the seventh annual Student Product Design Competition. This year, West Elm is seeking a dining chair designed for durability and style in high-traffic hospitality and commercial spaces. The deadline for submissions has been extended to March 21st, 2025.

The dining chair should reflect the West Elm brand aesthetic while remaining aesthetic versatility to complement various environments, including restaurants, bistros, lobbies, and guestrooms.

Additional design requirements include:

The dining chair should make use of mixed materials suitable for high-traffic environments.
The seat must be upholstered, with optional upholstery on the seat back
The entry should include both an armless and armed version of the design.
The dining chair should have a comfortable supportive back.
The dining chair should make use of stretchers to ensure durability
The dining chair should be structurally sound enough to support 300 lbs. and 12 hours of continuous use
The design must be original, and unique in the market.

All entries must be submitted online—we will not be accepting hard copies of entries.

Step 1. Read the rules page before getting started with your entry

The rules page explains how to enter, cost of entry, and the categories for this competition.

Step 2. Create a login that will save all your entry information

Once you create a login, you can begin uploading your entry info. You will be able to save it and come back at a later time to finish the process if necessary. To access the entry form you must first create a login. Once you create a login, you will arrive on part one of the entry form—the rules page. You will be required to certify that you have read and understood the rules document before you move on to the entry form.

Create your login now

Step 3. Fill out the entry form

The entry form is split into three parts. The first part is to read and certify the rules page. On the second part, you will input the project description, project details, etc. The third part you will upload all project images to the system.

Begin your submission

Step 4. Pay for your entry

Entry fees are $40. Payment is accepted with a Paypal account, or with a credit/debit card (through Paypal's website).

Contest judges include members from the West Elm team.

The winning designer will receive a $5,000 prize and have their product produced by West Elm. In addition, they will be featured in the May/June 2025 issue of Hospitality Design magazine and honored at the HD Awards ceremony on May 6th at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino during HD Expo + Conference in Las Vegas.