Looking at the winners vs. the honorable mentions makes me wonder about the judges' criteria. Sure, it's their contest and they can pick whom they like as winners.

The winning entries show why "Design" is such an arbitrary criterion. Certainly many of the chairs are every bit as modern and artistic as the winng entries.

Some of the style and craftsmanship that went into the "honorable mentions" is just astounding.

How is the grand prize winner even a chair? It's one piece shoved into the other in a "V" shape, nothing else. Scaled up, I'm not even sure how a person would sit in it comfortably.

IMO, it looks like the kind of ridiculously overpriced "art furniture" some people buy. (maybe that's the whole point).

If you were the judge which would you pick, Eric, and why?

Mr. Freen, I have no quarrel with the judges' selection of the grand prize winner, which by virtue of its sheer simplicity meets my definition of good design. A scaled-up version would probably require a slacker angle in order to be truly "sittable," but there's a compelling creativity in slicing a cork in half and fitting it in this way to make a chair.

You're right, of course; many of the others show great craftsmanship, which is not necessarily the same as creativity but is equally admirable.

I also liked the Cork Wiggler and the Spiral Chair. Many of the others were too literal for my tastes.

Would I buy any of them in full-sized version? Not on a bet. ;-)

I'm with you, simplicity rules. After looking at all the others (some really quite amazing), this year's winner was truly more "design" conscious, as opposed to imitative. I think it should be called "Stick a Cork in It." ;-)

I think it should be called "Stick a Cork in It."

Well, that's scary. I came this close to using that as the post title.

Great minds think alike...don't let it scare you.

It's that whole dual meaning thing...it speaks not only to the physical nature of the chair but also to the observer who questions its value as the winner (just kidding, Mr. Freen, just kidding!). ;-)