We've been waiting a while since we declared our support for The Box Project - but we can now announce the winner!

Interior Design student, Karen Smart, from the University of Central Lancashire has been unveiled as the winner of The Box Project. The competition, created by Northwest designers and Partnership members, Nochintz and backed by 100% Design, challenged the region’s creative community to think inside the box!

Karen, 22, from Formby, Liverpool has claimed the top prize and will get the chance to see her unique design made up and showcased at the world renowned 100% design exhibition in London. Karen answered the design challenge by creating a concept that impressed the panel of industry experts. The brief asked for creatively-minded folk to design the interior of a 2x2x2 micro building.

Karen responded to the brief by designing a box that could use its own form to furnish the space with sections of the walls folding down to make shelves, tables and seating with its function suited to many interior uses.
 
A panel of leading industry experts that included Janet Dunnett from the Piccadilly Partnership, Martin Stockley from Stockley Associates, David Partridge of Argent Group PLC, Tom Fenton at Urban Splash and Rachel Haugh from Ian Simpson Architects all came together to make the final decision.
The Piccadilly Partnership gave its full backing to the project and Argent Group PLC, currently developing The Hive in the Northern Quarter, donated sponsorship money to help kick-start the project.

Martin Stockley commented on the design; “[it was] strong on budget thinking and created a space for people to think about design. The use of sustainable materials, in particular, to fulfil its objective, was impressive. Karen followed the brief well and the design is feasible to build and assemble, which was a major strength of the entry."

Karen is now looking forward to the 100% Design show and seeing her entry come to life; “I can’t wait to see my vision for the box be built and to have it displayed at the show. 100% Design is one of the most prestigious design shows in the country and to have my work displayed there will be amazing and a fantastic addition to my portfolio!” 

The Partnership hopes to bring the winning design to Piccadilly, to showcase its strengths to those passing through the area – we’ll be sure to let you know when that happens!

100% design takes place in London on the 24th-27th September. All details of the wining entry will soon be online at www.theboxproject.co.uk