The Foam by Émile Tessier (2026)
Formica Canada announces the opening of the 2027 FORM Student Innovation Competition. Now in its 10th 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 “Colour as the Main Character.
Inspired by increasingly bold and memorable colour stories told in modern designs, “Colour as the Main Character” reflects a shift toward colour as a defining design strategy rather than merely an accent.
To celebrate this, Formica Canada encourages students to make colour shine as the main character of their design and explore how colour can transform a space. 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.
“Colour is a powerful force in design, one that has the ability to influence emotion, guide interaction, and shape the way people experience spaces around them,” said Christelle Locas-Rainville, Canada marketing manager & Green Team leader. “We’re excited to see how students embrace colour by putting it at the center of their designs, using thoughtful, bold and unexpected choices to create pieces that are both meaningful and memorable.”
Each entrant will have the chance to win a cash prize and national recognition, including the opportunity to have their design showcased at NeoCon 2027, the leading design event in North America for commercial interiors.
The competition is open from Aug. 20, 2026, through Feb. 19, 2027, with winners announced in mid-May. A distinguished panel of industry leaders will judge the students’ entries.
The grand prizewinner will receive a $2,000 US cash prize and their design will be fabricated and displayed during NeoCon 2027 in Chicago. The second-place winner will be awarded $1,000 US and the third-place winner will receive $500 US. The top three winners will be invited to attend NeoCon as guests of Formica Corporation for the opportunity to network with industry professionals and gain exposure to the design community.
Inspired by design industry legends
The current iteration of FORM is inspired by a challenge Formica Corporation held in 2008, when the company invited design greats — including Jaime Velez, Zaha Hadid, Michael Graves, Bernard Tschumi and Massimo Vignelli, among others — to create works of art from Formica® Brand products. Their designs — which ranged from domestic pieces to conceptual sculptures — were then exhibited at the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati.
The 2027 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 now open
Entries will be accepted Aug. 20, 2026, through Feb. 19, 2027. This year, students will enter the competition at formica.com/en-CA/Campaigns/2026/form-competition where they can also find additional information including complete competition details, resources and rules.
