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IFDA creating Raymond Waites design scholarship

Fundraising event set for Oct. 19 in High Point

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, October 7, 2008

HIGH POINT — Plans are in the works at the International Furnishings and Design Assn. Educational Foundation for a nationwide Raymond Waites Design Competition Scholarship.

College students will be invited to design a living area based on modern interpretations of classic themes, in keeping with the noted designer's ideas about blending time periods and cultural influences.

An event taking place here Sunday, Oct. 19, will help build the new Raymond Waites Scholarship Fund. The designer is hosting a wine tasting and silent art auction from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at his New Vintage Gallery, 1313 N. Main St. Several of his original works will be offered at auction, with all proceeds going to the scholarship fund.

Waites, an industry style pioneer and artist, has created eclectic designs in licensed lines of furniture, lamps, area rugs, accessories and accent items.

In the coming months, the IFDA Educational Foundation will work with Waites in developing scholarship criteria and application requirements, which will be sent to colleges and universities and will be available on the foundation's Web site.

The design competition will be launched in the fall of 2009 and the scholarship winner will be announced at the April 2010 High Point Market. The event will highlight the 40th anniversary of the IFDA Educational Foundation, which says it offers more annual scholarships and grants than any other industry association.

"Our idea is to offer this design competition early in the school year so it can be used as a class project and become a valuable learning tool," said Waites. "Most design schools concentrate on contemporary styling, but the marketplace continues to dictate a blend of past and present in furniture, accessories and interiors."

One requirement will be for entrants to illustrate in detail a feature item of the design so it is applicable to "real life" production processes and marketing programs. Waites intends to select an item from the winning design to adapt for one of his collections, with the royalties going into the scholarship fund.

Current plans are to award a $5,000 scholarship to the winning entry and to allow the student to work as an intern with Waites, helping set up High Point Market showrooms. The Educational Foundation also plans to involve a shelter magazine in the project.

IFDA intends to add dining room and bedroom to the design competition in future years.

Anyone wishing to make a tax deductible contribution to the Raymond Waites Scholarship Fund will find a donation form on the foundation Web site at www.ifdaef.org.

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IFDA creating Waites design scholarship

Oct 12, 2008

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