Formica Canada has announced the opening of the 2027 FORM Student Innovation Competition.
Now in its 10th year, the annual furniture design competition invites students studying architecture, industrial design and interior design in Canada, the United States and Mexico to design original furniture pieces using Formica Brand and FENIX products reflecting this year’s theme of “Colour as the Main Character.”
Inspired by bold colour stories told in modern designs, “Colour as the Main Character” reflects a shift toward colour as a design strategy rather than an accent. To celebrate this, Formica Canada is encouraging students to make colour shine as the main character of their design and explore how colour can transform a space. Students entering the competition will provide a project statement and colour rendering of their furniture design. Each entry must include at least three Formica Brand and/or FENIX products.
“Colour is a powerful force in design, one that has the ability to influence emotion, guide interaction, and shape the way people experience spaces around them,” said Christelle Locas-Rainville, Canada marketing manager and green team leader. “We’re excited to see how students embrace colour by putting it at the center of their designs, using thoughtful, bold and unexpected choices to create pieces that are both meaningful and memorable.”
Each entrant will have the chance to win a cash prize and national recognition, including the opportunity to have their design showcased at NeoCon 2027.
The grand prize winner will receive a $2,000 USD cash prize and their design will be fabricated and displayed during NeoCon 2027 in Chicago. The second-place winner will be awarded $1,000 USD and the third-place winner will receive $500 USD. The top three winners will be invited to attend NeoCon as guests of Formica Corporation for the opportunity to network with industry professionals and gain exposure to the design community.
The current iteration of FORM is inspired by a challenge Formica Corporation held in 2008, when the company invited design greats, including Jaime Velez, Zaha Hadid, Michael Graves, Bernard Tschumi and Massimo Vignelli, among others, to create works of art from Formica Brand products. Their designs, which ranged from domestic pieces to conceptual sculptures, were then exhibited at the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati.
The 2027 FORM Student Innovation Competition has evolved over the years to engage students by challenging them to create original furniture designs and spotlight their unique design perspectives as the next generation of the industry.
Entries will be accepted until February 19, 2027. Winners will be announced in mid-May of 2027.
For more information, click here.