Loewenstein Partners with Unbranded Designs to Issue Open-Source Design Challenge
Challenge: Design furniture that fully supports the third-space space concept by combining individual and group functions, and work and social activities
Loewenstein, an OFS Brands company and leading provider of progressive crossover furniture products for a wide range of commercial interiors, today launched the company’s first-ever open-source design challenge aimed at bringing forth new design talent to create commercially viable designs. Partnering with Unbranded Designs, Loewenstein issued an open design brief titled “Designing the Future: Third Space Lounge” which challenges designers to create a design a piece or collection of pieces that support a more flexible, relaxed work style that functionally and physically blends the ideas of “work” and “home.” Designers are asked to create a research-based design that visually and technically addresses the proposed problem, and also aligns with Loewenstein’s brand and product offering.
“At Loewenstein and OFS Brands, we have a long history of partnering with a broad and diverse range of design talent. And we’re delighted to team up with Unbranded Designs because their unique, open-source platform allows us to connect with an even wider creative network that will bring new energy and excitement to our design team,” said Stan Gray, director of marketing for Loewenstein.
Designers have until September 2nd to submit their initial product designs. A juried panel of Loewenstein design experts will review the submissions and select the semi-finalists. Semi-finalists will be provided feedback on their entry and given the opportunity to refine their design concepts.
Designers selected to advance to the finals will be flown to Loewenstein headquarters to review their submissions with the Loewenstein design team, and winners will be selected following the in-person meetings.
The winning designer receives $5,000 cash, and Loewenstein will evaluate the design’s potential for further development and production. If the winning product goes to market, the designer will receive additional compensation that is consistent with Loewenstein’s typical royalty arrangements.
Non-winning finalists will receive prizes, recognition throughout the process, and feedback from a juried panel of design experts and advocates, to ensure that they also find value in the process.
Designers will maintain complete ownership and rights to their design upon submission to this challenge. In the event that a design is selected as a finalist, the designer will have the opportunity to enter into a separate agreement directly with Loewenstein, which addresses intellectual property ownership and royalty compensation.
“The Unbranded Designs open-source challenge platform is aimed at empowering a diverse creative community by providing opportunities to the many talented, thoughtful designers all over the world who simply lack the connections or the resources required to be successful,” said Samer Saab, co-founder, Unbranded Designs. “Unbranded Designs is simply an avenue to connect undiscovered designers and their amazing ideas with product manufacturers that can help turn those ideas into real products.”
Please visit www.unbrandeddesigns.com/challenges/Third-Space to read the full design brief and the official terms and conditions of the design challenge.
About Loewenstein
Hank Loewenstein founded his eponymous company in 1966 to bring diverse, global designs to the North American contract market. For many years Loewenstein dominated the market with unique and progressive designs, and is now a leading manufacturer of crossover furniture products for office, private spaces and public areas, meeting rooms and social gathering areas. Loewenstein is an OFS Brands company.
About Unbranded Designs
Based in Chicago, Unbranded Designs is a company dedicated to engaging the global design community to create innovative, purposeful products that empower people where they work and live. Through Unbranded Designs’ proprietary open-source platform, designers everywhere have the opportunity to respond to design challenges from leading product manufacturers and be a part of a global design community whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver the most innovative furniture products.
