Why it matters: New Corgan and ASID Foundation research reveals how educators’ physical, sensory, and cognitive needs can expose accessibility gaps—and offer broader lessons for more inclusive commercial interiors.

The project payoff: Bringing interior architects into the earliest planning stages can improve coordination, space planning, user experience, and long-term value—while reducing costly redesigns later.

Enter by tonight: Strong submissions show judges not only what a product is, but what problem it solves, what makes it distinct, and what evidence supports its performance and value.

On the program: September sessions will tackle neurodivergent accessibility, AI as a practical design tool, color rendering, visual comfort, museum lighting, and more.

What Lauren loves: WVH combines wood, lava stone, obsidian, and copper in three acoustic designs that bring material honesty and narrative depth to interior surfaces.

Why it stands out: Designed by David Oakey, Forest Within uses sculptural texture, organic pattern, and seasonal color to give designers a more expressive take on biophilic carpet tile.

Built to adjust: Okamura and Foster + Partners combine a refined, ribbon-like frame with customizable support and recycled-content materials for evolving workplace needs.

Design potential: Nuanced glazes, tonal variation, mixed finishes, and flexible formats give commercial and hospitality interiors more freedom to build warmth, texture, and pattern.