Recent interior design technology (IDT) graduates Meghan King and Mamie Granger will travel to an international design show in Las Vegas as part of their prize for placing in the National Kitchen and Bath Association's (NKBA) student design competition.
Left to right: Dave King, dean of trades and technology, Meghan King, third place winner in the kitchen category, Mamie Granger, third place winner in the bathroom category, and Curtis Cassibo, chair of trades and technology.
"There's no one else I'd rather go to Vegas with then Meghan," says Granger, who placed third in the NKBA's bathroom category. Granger has only ever flown once before, when her IDT class went to Toronto for a design show last year.
The prize is part the package both Granger and King received for placing in the competition. The package will be presented at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Las Vegas in February 2025. The entire package consists of:
- A $1,000 scholarship and a trophy presented at KBIS 2025
- Roundtrip airfare and hotel accommodations near the Las Vegas Convention Center from Feb. 24-27, 2025
- Admission for themselves and a guest to the Design + Industry Awards at KBIS 2025 in Las Vegas
- A KBIS expo pass with access to the Voices from the Industry conference
- Tickets to the exclusive 21+ BASH event during KBIS
- Recognition at the KBIS student/educator event
- Feature of the winning designs in an NKBA|KBIS magazine.
"It's really surprising to place in the competition," says King, who placed third in the kitchen category. "You always hope you win, but it's never a guarantee that you'll even be in the top 100. To place third overall of 250 entries is so inspiring. I am very excited to go to Vegas and see what else is going on in the design industry."
Her desire to provide solutions to people looking to solve issues in their spaces is what inspired King's design. The competition had provided a client profile of a busy family who needed their kitchen to be more spacious, functional and help them stay organized and on track with their schedules.
Granger had only submitted her designs to the competition at the urging of her instructors and classmates.
"I submitted without expecting anything and when I got the email saying I'd placed, I screamed and went into shock. I am so happy and so proud of myself."
Her design incorporated mid-century modern design elements, which her client profile family preferred, in a contrasting colour to the rest of the house.
Over the summer, the IDT program was recognized by the NKBA for Excellence in Education for the ninth time. The prestigious award honours programs that excel in nurturing student talent and fostering industry-ready skills. Winners are selected based on student submissions to the annual NKBA student design competition. Entries are evaluated on criteria such as visual appeal, creativity, and adherence to design principles.
"We are very proud of Meghan and Mamie's designs," says Rochelle Horne, program head for interior design technology at Lakeland. "Being recognized by a prestigious organization like the NKBA is confirmation for us that our students are receiving the very best in interior design education, benefitting from the small classes, hands-on philosophies, and studio atmosphere they experience in our program."
Lakeland's IDT program, located at the Vermilion campus, is a two-year diploma program emphasizing experiential learning. It covers design fundamentals, drafting, and space planning, all conducted within a studio setting. Small class sizes foster ample opportunities for mentorship, while the program also prioritizes networking and forging industry connections both locally and internationally, complemented by practicum placements.
In 1999, Lakeland became the first Canadian post-secondary institution accredited by the NKBA, and the college maintains founding member status. Lakeland students have consistently excelled in the NKBA's student design competition, placing for 18 years. Lakeland was named College of the Year by the NKBA in 2017 and 2019, the last year the designation was awarded.
For more information about Lakeland's IDT program, visit lakelandcollege.ca/design.
