Formica Canada has announced the opening of the 2026 FORM Student Innovation Competition.
Now in its ninth year, the annual furniture design competition invites students studying architecture, industrial design and interior design in Canada, the United States and Mexico to design original furniture pieces using Formica Brand and FENIX products reflecting this year’s theme of “Mood-Boosting Design.”
A natural extension of the ongoing focus on designing for well being, “Mood-Boosting Design” reflects the pursuit of joy at the heart of recent design trends. Formica Canada encourages students to play with expressive elements like color and texture to create pieces that inspire, spark joy in and emotionally uplift both themselves and the end user. Students entering the competition will provide a project statement and colour rendering of their furniture design. Each entry must include at least three Formica Brand and/or FENIX products.
“The last edition of the competition drew an outstanding group of Canadian students, who stood out not only through their strong participation but also with the creativity and quality of their designs,” said Christelle Locat-Rainville, Canada marketing manager & Green Team leader. “We were especially proud to see two teams of Canadian students place in the top three. We’re excited to see how participants in the 2026 competition will bring the theme ‘Mood-Boosting Design’ to life and to discover their creations.
Each entrant will have the chance to win cash prizes and national recognition, including the opportunity to have their design showcased at Neocene 2026, the leading design event in America for commercial interiors.
The 2026 FORM Student Innovation Competition has evolved over the years to engage students by challenging them to create original furniture designs and spotlight their unique design perspectives as the next generation of the industry.
Entries are accepted through Feb. 27, 2026.
