ASFD Student Scholarship Winners

ASFD names winner of 2016 scholarship

SCAD senior, Joel Ax, win Touching Lives by Design Scholarship.

Furniture Today Staff — Furniture Today, April 19, 2016

AT THE MARKET — At its annual spring event featuring keynote speaker, ASFD member and award winning designer, Alexander Julian, the American Society of Furniture Designers Board of Directors announced the winner of the ASFD 2016 Touching Lives by DesignScholarship.

Joel AxThe recipient of this year’s scholarship is Joel Ax, a senior at Savannah College of Art and Design. A dean’s list student every year at SCAD and national NAIA swimming champion, Ax will receive the $2,500 scholarship in support of his continued study in furniture design. In training for gaining a place on the German Olympic swim team, Ax was not available to accept the award, and ASFD board member and member of the SCAD faculty, Fred Spector accepted on his behalf.

Created to reward college students majoring in furniture design who have achieved academic excellence in the classroom, the scholarship continues the association’s mission to support, motivate and inspire the designers of tomorrow through mentorship and scholarship programs.

“Joel was the unanimous selection by the scholarship committee from an impressive group of candidates,” said Richard Schroeder, ASFD chairman. “We are pleased to award this scholarship to him and look forward to following his future successes in our industry.”

“I am extremely honored to be the winner of the 2016 ASFD scholarship,” Ax said. “When I applied for this scholarship, I didn’t think my chances to win were very good. English is my second language, and the only way to convince the judges was through a 500-word essay about myself.

“I really wanted to put in words why furniture design was the path that I choose over so many other paths out there. As a passionate sportsman, I know everything comes from hard work, discipline and determination. In sport however, there is very little space for creativity and self-expression. I am glad that I found something that fills my life with joy and gives me the freedom that I need.

“I am grateful that organizations like the American Society of Furniture Designers exists and recognizes these values and supports young artists like me.”