The competition saw a pool of 50 students from the University of Johannesburg and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology competing for first prize in this student design competition. It was the Western Cape, however, that walked away with all the prizes, with first, second and third place being awarded to Cape Peninsula University of Technology students.
The winner, Altus van Zjil, was presented with his passport to an all expenses paid trip to the Milan Furniture Fair in 2008 while the two runners-up, Theron Burger and Grattan Coetzer, received R10 000 and R5 000 respectively for their entries.
With modern workspace evolving at a rapid rate, working environments play a pivotal role in the ability to function at an optimal level. CN Business Furniture therefore challenged the industrial design students at the two tertiary institutions, to conceptualise a workstation that encapsulates the ever-changing office of the future. The essence of tomorrow's business environment was a major contributor to their inspiration as the students designed furniture to suit the office of the future.
"The students from both faculties produced some great work and went to great lengths to design the modern-day answer to a home office workstation," says Robbie Bergh, the sponsor's Group MD.
The competitors were required to develop a blueprint, as well as an actual workstation during the six months lead-time provided to them in the competition brief.
Bergh, also one of the five judges, says: "People purchase with emotion. They come to work to connect with their colleagues. The modern workspace is all about collaboration and interactive workstations."
