NCSU College of Textiles graduate students JiHyun Bae and Maria Herring were awarded first place and second place, respectively, in the print division of the Virginia Jackson Design Competition. The award was initiated to recognize the most talented students in the field of textile design and to create a vehicle to bring new talent to the industry. The competition is sponsored by the International Textile Market Association (ITMA) which is in High Point, North Carolina. The students’ award winning designs were selected from among entries submitted by students at nine different universities across the United States.

Print design by JiHyun Bae

For the competition, textile designs were to be created for application in residential home furnishing upholstery and were to be suitable for one of four furniture styles provided. Entries were accepted in three categories: a single major print pattern, flat woven dobby, and flat woven jacquard. In the print category, designs were limited to twelve colors maximum. Entries were judged by a team of designers from major mills, converters, and private studios.

The ITMA Design Award, established in 1995, was named for the late Virginia Jackson in 1997. Jackson spent more than a quarter of a century with the Celanese Corporation (which later became Hoechst Celanese) where she pioneered a new industry in color forecasting. She became known as one of the most knowledgeable and respected trend experts in the industry.

Print design by Maria Herring