Contact: Jocelyn Pysarchuk, Senior Director, Communications & Marketing, 312.467.1950 jpysarchuk@iida.org

2008 WINNING DESIGN PROJECTS ANNOUNCED FIRMS TO BE RECOGNIZED AT COOL, IIDA'S NEOCON GALA

March 10, 2008, Chicago, IL –The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) is pleased to announce the winners of its prestigious 2008 interior design competitions: the 35th Annual Interior Design Competition and the 16th Annual Will Ching Design Competition. Awards may not be given every year. Truly international in scope, this year’s slate of winners demonstrates that great design is a universal goal.

The five winners in the 35th Annual Interior Design Competition were chosen from over three hundred projects submitted in the following practice areas: Commercial, Education/Institutional, Government, Healthcare, Hospitality, Residential and Retail.

1. Project: Haus im Haus- Hamburg, GERMANY
   Firm: Behnisch Architekten- Stuttgart, GERMANY
2. Project: Lehrer Office- Los Angeles, CA
   Firm: Lehrer Architects- Los Angeles, CA
3. Project: C_42:Citroën Flagship Showroom- Paris, FRANCE
   Firm: Manuelle Gautrand Architect- Paris, FRANCE
4. Project: Novelty Hill Januik Winery- Woodinville, WA
   Firm: Mithun- Seattle, WA
5. Project: MX Quarry Bay- Hong Kong, CHINA
   Firm: Steve Leung Designers Ltd.- Hong Kong, CHINA

In addition, The Landmark, a supermarket and food court in the Landmark Department Store in Manila, Philippines designed by Hugh A. Boyd Architects of Montclair, NJ was chosen as the winner of the 16th Annual Will Ching Design Competition, which honors outstanding commercial design by firms of five or fewer individuals.

"These winners exemplify the best in design today," stated Brian Thornton, IIDA, AIA, IIDA's Vice President of Communications and director of design for MGM Mirage Design Group. "Our global community of design is clearly thriving in all practice areas. We are particularly pleased to have over three hundred entries from multiple continents this year."

Judges for the distinguished competition included Peter Conant, IIDA, AIA, LEED AP –Principal/ Design Principal, Conant Architects; Bill Grant – President and Creative Director, Grant Design Collaborative; Mark Harbick, IIDA, AIA – Design Principal and Vice President, Huntsman Architectural Group; and Elva Rubio – Executive Vice President and Creative Director, Bruce Mau Design. The judging took place March 1, 2008 in Chicago.

All winning projects will be featured in the NeoCon issue of Interior Design Magazine, the publishing partner for the competitions. The judges selection for Best of Competition will be officially revealed and all winners will be celebrated at COOL, IIDA’s NeoCon Gala to be held Sunday, June 8 in the Grand Ballroom at the Westin Chicago River North. For table purchases or ticket information, please contact Kassondra Granger at 888.799.4432, kgranger@iida.org or visit www.iida.org.

# # #

The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) works to enhance quality of life through excellence in interior design and to advance interior design through knowledge, value and community.

IIDA is a professional networking and educational association of 13,000 Members in nine specialty Forums in 30 Chapters around the world. Additional information is available on IIDA’s website www.iida.org.