Jake's seat design shows street appeal

Rotorua Lakes High School student Jake Krebs' seat design depicting a silver fern is the overall winner of the Rotorua District Council's Woodfirst Product Design competition.

The council and Waiariki Institute of Technology launched the competition in February inviting local secondary schools to design seating to be placed at intersections in the CBD.

Twenty-two students submitted ideas and six finalists were selected. Jake and fellow Lakes High students Fenella Richards, Matthew Whitby, Tatiana Daniels, Alex Gaunt, and Joel Hickey each received highly commended awards. Fenella received a special merit award while Jake won the overall prize.

Council business marketing manager Renee Nathan said judges interviewed the young designers to get an understanding of their design thinking, personality and areas of passion.

"Judges were specifically looking for a practical, affordable and durable seating design that used wood in a creative and distinct way. The designs were of an exceptional quality and the students demonstrated a sound ability to interpret and fulfil the criteria."

Waiariki School of Forestry head and judge John Kelly said Jake impressed judges with his simple, yet effective, silver fern representation and his ability to consider his design as part of a broader street composition.

"His flexible concept and passion to see his design through to completion placed him clearly as the winner."

Jake was awarded a mini iPad courtesy of Waiariki and will have the opportunity to work alongside competition partners to take his design from concept through to development and installation stage.

Council economic projects manager Nick Dallimore, who is driving the CBD Revitalisation Strategy - Urban Design Framework, said he is looking forward to working with Jake and all the sponsors to make Jake's concept come to fruition.

"Inviting our youth to be part of key developments within Rotorua has been invaluable and is something that we and other partners will continue to support and encourage.

"The first CBD intersection trial is Pukuatua and Tutanekai St and we should see the new wooden designed seats installed later this year."