BOSTON–Floor covering company Merida Meridian has announced the three student winners of its rug design contest, which it kicked off in October with Artists for Humanity, the organization that works with under-served youth. The winners—Kelsey Arbona, Massiel Grullon and Alland Torchon, who are also all youth apprentices in AFH’s graphic design program—will receive a 5-by-8 tufted area rug of their design. In addition, the winning designs will be developed and manufactured in Merida’s Fall River, Mass., weaving facility for launch early in 2010, and Merida will donate $5,000 to AFH to support their art apprenticeship programs.
The designs were judged based on sustainability, originality, color and style trends and marketability.
The winners and their designs will be on hand at For the Love of Art, AFH’s annual holiday open house on Dec. 15. The designs will then be for sale on Merida’s new e-commerce site, MeridaHome.com, early next year.
