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SOFA CHICAGO ANNOUNCES SIX UNIVERSITIES TO COMPETE IN ANNUAL DESIGN COMPETITION -­ CONNECT Media Contacts: Maura Bruton 312.952.7897 maurabruton@comcast.net Sophia Weiss Lapat 212.203.6536 sophia@sophiaandco.com For Immediate Release SOFA CHICAGO ANNOUNCES SIX UNIVERSITIES TO COMPETE IN ANNUAL DESIGN COMPETITION – CONNECT CHICAGO (August 23, 2017) -­ SOFA CHICAGO, held November 2-­5 at Navy Pier, announces six of the top design universities in the country have been chosen to design unique installations for visitors to “connect” on the show floor at the annual CONNECT student design competition. Columbus College of Art + Design (Columbus, OH), Herron School of Art & Design at Indiana University (Indianapolis, IN), Metropolitan State University of Denver (Denver, CO), Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN), School of the Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago, IL), and University of California | Davis (Davis, CA) have been chosen to participate in the CONNECT competition, which will take place during the 24th annual SOFA CHICAGO fair. “We have an exciting roster of prestigious universities participating in CONNECT this year, including last year’s winner Purdue University,” said Donna Davies, Vice President, Art Group, Urban Expositions. “CONNECT is an incredible opportunity for these students to showcase their concepts in art and design, work cohesively as a team, and demonstrate the creativity of their respective university departments. We are always excited to see the CONNECT design environments come to life from their abstract proposals to their final spaces on the show floor.” Now in its fifth year, CONNECT highlights innovative design programs at universities throughout the country. Students, under the supervision of university faculty, have the opportunity to design environments that incorporate seating and lighting installations, with the intention of offering an intimate area on the show floor where attendees can sit, relax and CONNECT. Exhibits will be located throughout the show floor, offering the international audience that attends SOFA CHICAGO an opportunity to experience the innovation and creativity of future designers. Proposed concepts include: Columbus College of Art & Design, Futuristic Summer Nostalgia, a futuristic beach environment, centering around an apocalyptic, pseudo-­nostalgia set in a future where beaches no longer exist. Herron School of Art & Design, Indiana University, Floating House, a focus on how the traditions of craft and material studies have been augmented, enhanced and informed by the use of digital technology. Metropolitan State University of Denver, NEST, a place of rest and retreat that reflects Colorado’s connection to natural beauty, wildlife and a culture of ‘making.’ Purdue University, Nature or Nurture: A 3D Printed Space, focuses on the combination of technology and nature to create an inviting atmosphere for relaxation and interaction. School of the Art Institute of Chicago, GEOSCAPE, a space-­making project, creating interior environments using faceted geometric forms. University of California | Davis, BENEATH, offers a space of reflection regarding our relationship with Earth’s changing landscape. The winning installation will be chosen by a jury of design professionals before the SOFA CHICAGO Opening Preview and will be awarded $3000 by Chubb Personal Risk Services, which is a returning sponsor of the fair for the 13th consecutive year. SOFA CHICAGO began in 1994 and is one of the longest continuously running art fairs in the country. The 2016 edition welcomed 36,000 attendees, the highest attended art fair in the city of Chicago. CONNECT is generously supported by Chubb Personal Risk Services.