Crossville, Tenn.—Crossville is hosting four students from the University of Tennessee College of Architecture and Design to NeoCon 2018 in Chicago. These students earned the trip by creating winning, tile-focused projects as part of Crossville’s sponsorship of a semester-long design studio held in partnership with the university.

The studio, “IARC 372—design development and construction detailing documentation for interior architecture,” provided the company a direct opportunity to educate the next generation of design professionals on the specification of tile products, as well as working with tile in real-world interior design scenarios. As part of the studio experience, students completed project concepts in which tile is an essential design element. The course provided students six credit hours.

“In this course of study, students are exposed to tile and challenged to think and create differently with tile as a surfacing solution,” explained Robin Rhea, Crossville’s director of brand marketing. “This practical approach is the best way to equip future specifiers with knowledge about tile’s technical and design benefits. In turn, we at Crossville get firsthand insights into students’ perspectives, questions and needs.”

To take the experience further, Crossville held a competition to identify the four top projects created during the studio. Judges from Crossville’s corporate office chose honorees based on the merits of the projects they designed.

The following student projects took top honors: Grace Octdiek; Brianna Willis; Anaya Kabasu; Makenna Wood.

The winners are enjoying their reward this week on the all-expense paid trip to NeoCon 2018 in Chicago.

“Many of these students are soon to be product specifiers for new design projects out in the real world,” said Rhea. “We hope this early education deepens their preference for and confidence in tile specification and design throughout their careers.”