Teaching Tomorrow’s Leaders the Importance of Design Integrity

For the past twenty years furniture importer and distributor M2L has been dedicated to finding and sourcing truly iconic pieces that define the classic modern aesthetic. In addition to promoting and protecting design authenticity through its sister site, GenuineDesign.com, M2L will also give away $8,500 in scholarships through the second annual Genuine Design Competition. Developed in conjunction with Ruth Lynford, founder of New York Eleven, to educate students about knockoffs and their harmful impact on the design industry, the 2010 Genuine Design Competition is now open to design students across the country.

Michael Manes, the founder of M2L, developed the Genuine Design campaign to serve as a design industry watchdog. According to Manes, “Intellectual property isn’t protected in the realm of furniture and design like it is in other industries.” Adding, “It is up to the next generation of designers to continue the fight for equal rights.” Whether informing consumers how to avoid fraud or teaching designers the difference between inspiration and imitation, M2L believes it all begins with education.

Fittingly, the 2010 M2L Genuine Design Competition is based around the concept of a Public Service Announcement. Students are asked to create a video, up to four minutes long, on the topic of genuine design and why furniture designers deserve the right to protect their work against knockoffs. Entrants must currently be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at an accredited university in the U.S. and pursuing a degree in a design-related field. Additional background information and digital entry form are available on website. The deadline for submission is March 15, 2010.

Student entries will be reviewed by a jury of top design journalists and professionals including: Sarah Rich, senior editor, Dwell; Laurel Petriello, web editor, Interior Design; Nicole Haddad, design editor, New York Spaces; Karen Shalett, editor in chief, DC Modern Luxury; and David McFadden, chief curator, Museum of Arts and Design. Judging will be based on originality, quality of content and impact of message. Four students will be selected to receive scholarships of $3500, $2500, $1500 and $1000, respectively.  The winners will be announced at the end of March and honored at an event in M2L’s new Manhattan showroom. The winners’ videos will also be featured on the Genuine Design website.

M2L
Founded in 1992, the M2L Collection imports authorized and licensed modern design from Europe and features iconic designers that include: Josef Hoffmann, Eileen Gray, Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer and Pierre Paulin, as well as today's design stars like Paolo Piva, Patrik Norguet, Norman Foster, Eoos, Pearson-Lloyd, Jeff Miller and more.   The M2L Collection is available through the website as well as three stunning showrooms.  

New York Eleven
Founded by Ruth Lynford, New York Eleven is a collaboration of New York State educational institutions offering four-year programs in interior design. Its goal is to raise awareness of the complexity and responsibility of the Interior Design profession. Each year, participating schools exhibit their thesis projects at the Legislative Building in Albany, New York as well as in New York City, which provides an opportunity for industry partners, designers and future designers to meet.