Coverings attendees admire Tiled Benches created by
Savannah College of Art and Design Students at last year’s show in Atlanta.
We are thrilled to announce that Coverings has partnered with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) School of Architecture, to develop a course that will investigate the use of tile as a medium for furniture design. After our successful collaboration with the Savannah College of Art and Design last year, we are excited to run this program again in a new city with a new institution.
Through a 13-week series of lectures and workshops, students enrolled in “Mediations on Making – Exploring Furniture Design” will learn about the factors involved in designing furniture, opportunities and constraints of tile, design visualization and presentation, construction and installation drawings, and fabrication processes. The course also will include a competition in which each student will design a conceptual drawing of a bench using tile and stone as its source material.  A jury will select six concepts for students to fabricate and display at Coverings 2014. 
“This is an excellent opportunity to create a dialogue between students and the tile industry as a working collaboration,” said Jonathon Anderson, course director and assistant professor at the UNLV School of Architecture. “It also will expose our talented students to the many usages of tile, enhance their knowledge of furniture design and fabrication, and gain real-world exposure to the exhibition of prototypes.” 
“Mediations on Making – Exploring Furniture Design” is supported by a number of leading manufacturers, which will be providing students with high-quality materials and real-world training. Arizona Tile will be providing tile for the program, Bonsal/Prospec and wedi will supply installation and structural materials, and Alpha Tools and Rubi will provide the necessary tools. The National Tile Contractors Association, as well as Bonsal/Prospec, will provide certified trainers to educate students on the fabrication and application processes. 

“This program highlights Coverings’ commitment to industry education and expanding the knowledge to emerging talent that tile and stone are surfaces with unbridled design potential.” said Karin Fendrich, Coverings show director. The six finalist benches will be displayed on the Coverings show floor for the duration of the exposition and conference for all attendees to enjoy. During the Coverings 25th Anniversary celebration on Wednesday, April 30, attendees will have the opportunity to bid on the benches in a silent auction that will benefit the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation and a charity of UNLV’s choice.