Astek x ArtCenter College of Design
Astek has collaborated with ArtCenter College of Design to create a special project for ICFF 2023.
Astek, an industry leader in design, wallcovering, and digital printing, is also a collective of innovators and creatives and has long been a home for talented young designers entering the industry. With that spirit, our Creative Director, Sarah LaVoie and Brand Strategist, Sean Zingelewicz, both former alumni of ArtCenter, saw an opportunity to partner with their alma mater, lending our established platform and technical expertise to a new generation of designers.
Working with students in the Surface Design track of the Illustration Department alongside their track leader, Jeannie Winston, the goal was to develop and execute a series of wallcovering designs inspired by interlocking, overlapping, and maze-inspired patterns. Through weekly critiques at ArtCenter and onsite visits to Astek, the students were guided through the creation of a product, from establishing the initial concept and mood board to the technical development of the final wallcoverings. Encouraging them to work in both analog and digital techniques, students created out-of-the-box textures and motifs using paint, stamping, burned paper, and surface rubbings, among other methods. Finally, using our resources and knowledge at Astek, details such as finessing the scale and choosing the right substrate allowed the student designers to consider every detail involved in creating a wallcovering for the market.
This creative and technically-driven collaboration helped to grant students real-world industry experience outside of the classroom setting. Particularly in the wallcovering industry, our team found it crucial to expose undergraduates to an environment where innovative thinking and technical savvy are paramount.
To bring this partnership full circle, students will have the chance to see their final wallcoverings on display at ICFF in our booth #709. This is a unique opportunity to showcase their work at a design-driven event where young creatives and industry veterans gather to see the latest in contemporary furnishings. We’re pleased to present their wallcoverings at this fair and give these ArtCenter students an opportunity to break into the design world.
