Each year, the International Interior Design Association’s New York Chapter (IIDA NY) hosts the Student Design Awards, which celebrate students whose original interior design projects demonstrate consistent, creative principles.

This year, at an awards ceremony on April 8, 2014, NYSID student Yuan Yuan Ma, a fourth year BFA student, received one of the five first place awards of $3,000 and an IIDA Student Membership.  Applicants were asked to submit a maximum of two individual projects and a stated philosophy of design.  Yuan Yuan’s winning project was for the WeWOOD Watch Flagship Store.  

Yuan Yuan’s design concept was inspired by WeWood’s wooden watches. “The concept is a tree ring.  By bringing the tree ring pattern to the retail space, as well as creating a four dimensional space, people will experience both nature and time when walking through the store.”

Project judge Annie Lee said, “Excellent execution of the wonderful wood concept, which could easily have been too overwhelming if not done just right. Constant attention to the function of space while truly maintaining the core concept shows good design discipline.”