{"id":17813,"date":"2026-02-20T09:11:43","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T15:11:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maryville.edu\/mpress\/?p=17813"},"modified":"2026-03-23T13:03:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T18:03:23","slug":"maryville-student-semifinalist-steelcase-design-competition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.maryville.edu\/mpress\/maryville-student-semifinalist-steelcase-design-competition\/","title":{"rendered":"Maryville Student Named Top 5 Semifinalist in Prestigious Steelcase Design Competition"},"content":{"rendered":"

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91ÖÆƬ³§\u00a0Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design\u00a0student, Lilly\u00a0Vezino, has been named a Top 5 semifinalist in the 2025 Steelcase Student Design Competition<\/a> \u2013 NEXT, one of the most prestigious competitions in the field of interior design\u00a0education. This year marks the 13th year of the competition, which saw a record-breaking 1,700 students from 86 programs across the country\u00a0participate, supported by 119 professors.\u00a0<\/span>Lilly was supported by Lindsey Buening, full-time faculty\u00a0in\u00a0Maryville\u2019s Interior Design Program.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Steelcase NEXT competition challenges students to design innovative, human-centered spaces that reflect the evolving needs of work, education, and social environments.\u00a0Vezino\u2019s\u00a0project stood out among hundreds of submissions for its creativity, functionality, and forward-thinking approach.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As a Top 5 semifinalist,\u00a0Vezino\u00a0will travel to the Steelcase headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this February to present her design to a panel of judges that includes leading designers from top national firms. These judges will select the overall winner of the competition, making this an incredible opportunity for\u00a0Vezino\u00a0to\u00a0showcase\u00a0her talent on a national stage.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“The Steelcase NEXT project pushed me to explore how thoughtful, human-centered design can shape the way people work, while also being unique and creative. Making it to the Top 5 in the competition is extremely motivating and a great representation of the knowledge I’ve learned from Maryville\u2019s interior design faculty, Vezino said. “Presenting at Steelcase\u2019s headquarters in Grand Rapids will be an amazing opportunity to engage with designers in the field and continue growing as a designer myself. I am proud of the work I\u2019ve done and cannot wait to see where this takes me!”<\/span><\/p>\n

This achievement underscores the strength of Maryville\u2019s interior design program. All four of Maryville\u2019s submissions this year advanced to the top 68 (top 4%), with two moving on to the top 29,\u00a0with\u00a0Vezino\u00a0representing\u00a0Maryville in the final 5. Remarkably, this marks the\u00a0<\/span>third time in five years<\/span><\/b>\u00a0a Maryville student has reached the Top 5, with Elliot Beach winning the competition in 2021.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI am continually impressed by the caliber of work that our students deliver,\u201d\u00a0says Kirsten\u00a0Kohm, Program Director of Maryville\u2019s Interior Design Program.\u00a0\u201cOur program\u00a0emphasizes\u00a0the importance of\u00a0developing\u00a0research-informed\u00a0concepts, design thinking throughout the process,\u00a0and\u00a0supporting that work\u00a0through\u00a0studio critiques, both by our faculty and\u00a0industry professionals. We are proud of\u00a0Lilly and\u00a0are excited about the opportunities this competition will afford her.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Steelcase NEXT competition is considered the largest and most competitive design event in higher education. Vezino\u2019s impressive journey highlights the exceptional talent and dedication of Maryville students and faculty. View Vezino’s submission here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n

<\/i>Love<\/span>0<\/span><\/span><\/a> <\/i> <\/i>