A Shoe-In, Ample Sample 2009 Winner Annouced

“Cut, Clip and Hang.” These instructions and a clever idea for storing shoes made Wuthichai Leelavoravong our winner in the 2009 Ample Sample Design competition. Now in its third year, Ample Sample challenges designers to rethink waste—as creative fuel rather than a by-product of the design process.

Wuthichai’s design will be featured in Tricycle’s booth this month at NeoCon 2009, North America’s largest contract and commercial interiors trade show. If you won’t be in Chicago for the show you can view all the designs on the Ample Sample website. Finalists in the competition included a pendant light fixture from Heather Wright and Christina Jih, a mailbox from Sean Miller and an inviting-looking eco-hammock from Jake Tompkins.

Unfortunately there was no judging category for it, but Alix Bulleit and Ashley Helton of the University of Texas at Austin had us considering an award for Most Fun submission. Their use of carpet samples for an assortment of lawn games (Tufted Twister anyone?) resulted in a photo shoot that looked like the best fun since some visionary combined beer and ping pong balls.

Thanks to everyone who accepted the challenge to turn carpet sample waste into useful objects. Creative thinking has the ability to move us closer to solutions in unexpected ways. Perhaps Ample Sample will inspire even more ideas for redefining what we consider waste.