Philadelphia University junior wins interior design award

Philadelphia University junior Caitlyn Bakofsky took third place in SurfaceSet 2016, a competition that encourages student innovation in design.

Bakofsky, who studies interior design at the university, submitted designs specifically intended as an ideal retail space for luggage. The third-place win nets Bakofsky $500 from the competition, which is sponsored by the international design and materials company Formica Corp.

Bakofsky’s creative design was to have the luggage retail space give the impression that the luggage on sale was floating in the air.

“One of the main obstacles while traveling has become heavy luggage, therefore I developed a concept that focuses on anti-gravity and weightlessness,” Bakofsky said. “Nothing is anchored to the ground, which enables the elements in the space to appear as though they defy gravity.”

The competition was set up to have students submit a commercial space design that used at least three products from Formica’s SurfaceSet 2016 line of laminates. The minimalist laminates are designed to give the feeling of natural materials.

For her project, Bakofsky decided to use various Formica laminates for most surfaces in the retail space. Formica was seen on the ceiling, columns, cash register and for the signature displays that appeared to be floating.

The competition was judged by a panel of designers, including noted designer Jonathan Adler.