Zayed University and IKEA launch interior design initiative

The competition involves designing the interior of a campus student accommodation room at the university, with a pre-specified budget of Dhs. 8000.

There is also a minimum furniture requirement for the dormitory room, including a bed, dresser, wardrobe, study table and chair. Design experts from the global Swedish furniture retailer and professors from the interior design department of Zayed University judged the entries today at the university campus, and an awards ceremony scheduled for March 29.

Students of the university utilised the IKEA 2004 catalogue to choose furniture and accessories, and submitted their entries in the form of an A3 mood board showing the selections that best describe their personality. A 1:50 plan and elevations showing the location of furniture and accessories in the room was also necessary. The judges based their decisions on originality, practicality and creativity of the sample. The first three winning entries will receive gift vouchers from IKEA and the winning design will be displayed at the Zayed Free Zone and the IKEA showroom in Dubai.

Tarja Arvela, Marketing Manager, IKEA, explained the reasons behind the project: "We feel it is very important to support local initiatives such as the one Zayed Free Zone has organised, and to foster talent in budding interior designers. Interior design aims to make the best of any living or working space, making it not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing, an ideal that is directly aligned with IKEA philosophy."

"With this unique initiative, the interior design students of Zayed University will be challenged to use the skills that they have garnered and match them with their eye for beauty. Given the calibre we have seen, it is going to be a difficult decision," she concluded.

The IKEA interior design student competition was initiated by Mouza Ahmed Hamad Rashed Al Shamsi, who is an interior design major at the university, a member of the student council and head of the Art Zone.

Omid Rouhani, Professor, Art and Design Department, Zayed University, commented: "This competition exposes our students to a level of realism that they would not typically be exposed to until after they graduate. This experience will be a great asset for our future graduating interior design students. We are excited about the newly formed collaboration and look forward to its positive results and future potential."