Mexican Designers Use Red Oak in AHEC Contest
Last year's Mexico Furniture Design Contest was so successful that it was decided to continue and expand the
contest this year. Last year, there were 289 student entries, 5 conventions on using American hardwoods in design
preceding the event, and $70,000 in unpaid advertising in the months before and after the event. The expanded
event included both students and professionals, with a total of 311 students from 12 different universities, as well as
9 professionals participating. Participation was strong among students from Mexico City, Guadalajara, and
Monterrey, with participation jumping significantly in the latter two regions over last year.
Students submitted proposals for their pieces, and judges chose a group of finalists from these. The finalists then
worked with local businesses to build their pieces, and the final winners were chosen. The judges inculded
representatives from a prominent design magazine, design college, private industry, and AHEC staff. Write-ups of
the contest have already appeared in 12 prominent magazines and generated $39,692 in free advertising for the
industry; if last year's success is any indication, this figure should rise significantly throughout the year. However, the
greatest benefit of this contest for the American hardwood industry was the contest's emphasis on red oak.
Each project could use a variety of materials, but red oak was required to be a certain percentage of the project. As
you can see from the winners pictured on this page and the page that follows, the contestants often used far more
than the minimum amount and were able to create pieces that highlight the species's natural beauty. The
conferences preceding the event included information on working with red oak, so even those who attended the
conferences but did not participate in the contest were able to increase their knowledge of American hardwoods.
The next generation of designers are enabled, through this contest, to increase their level of comfort specifying and
using red oak to the eventual benefit of Mexican design and the American hardwood industry.
Click here to download a PDF with more information about the Mexico Red Oak Competition.
