Designing for Health – ForestOne Round Eight A&D Trade Competition Winners

Will Fernandez from Fernzide and Rebecca Vulic from X + O have won ForestOne’s November Specified Responsibly A&D Trade Program. Both designers have been entered into the 2023 Grand Prize to win a trip to Interzum in Cologne for the innovative use of EGGER’s wood-based décor products in each of their projects.

Combining self-care with sustainability, both November winners have reinvented retail spaces in which the public can find an escape from the everyday hustle. Aiming to deliver an impactful experience for visitors, the separate works of Will and Rebecca reimagine retail spaces for the future. By working with ForestOne representatives and specifying EGGER wood-based décor products, the finished designs positively contribute towards sustainable buildings in the public space.

By employing EGGER Apricot Nude and Caramel Nude décor laminates, Will was able to deliver a bold and calming retail space that effortlessly guides guests around the stores.

Collaborating with the client to establish a brand and create an interior space for two Lash and iBrow Tech stores, Will, Director at Fernzide, specified EGGER materials to honour the client’s aesthetic desires. Following the brief, Will set out to “re-use the existing retail space and retrofit a design that embodies exceptional service,” he explains. Inspired by Picasso’s 1927 painting of a female figure stretched beyond recognition, Will has recreated “organic forms and added a large abstract female figure mural to create a dramatic backdrop with subdued pastel colour tones.” Adding, “the interior also included a built-in bar and lounge chairs for guests to feel welcome.” By employing EGGER Apricot Nude and Caramel Nude décor laminates, Will was able to deliver a bold and calming retail space that effortlessly guides guests around the stores.

As a designer, Will explains that he remains “naturally curious about new materials” and that finding innovative ways to create and elevate his designs drives his passion. “I am especially interested in modern sustainable materials that are of high-quality, durable, provide value and have an authentic natural-looking finish,” he says. “We think it is important to integrate environmentally sustainable principles throughout our work.” After working with ForestOne representative Charles Elia, Will confidently specified the EGGER décor laminates for both stores due to the product’s durability, low-maintenance, aesthetics and negative carbon footprint. Additionally, the benefits of EGGER’s high-recycled content and recyclability was a key factor that helped Will finish his designs with a positive impact.

Engaged to reinvent the interior experience of a national retailer, Rebecca brought in professional researchers from The Growth Activists to conduct deep research into how to meet customer needs. “We uncovered significant customer insights around health and wellbeing,” Rebecca says, “and this largely shaped the store design strategy across material selections, colour palette and merchandising.” Selecting materials that promote health and wellbeing whilst also creating a feeling of escapism, Rebecca specified EGGER’s range of laminates in Apricot Nude and White Chromix, which “fit our new retail strategy and palette perfectly,” Rebecca says. The brief outlined the requirement of environmental, social and corporate governance, and Rebecca and X+O “responded to this through responsible specification of materials and by incorporating refill stations to reduce packaging in store,” Rebecca explains.

Whilst the clients requested a set of sustainability outcomes, Rebecca also aimed to meet her own requirements. “When specifying products, we look for materials that may have been produced through ethical practices,” Rebecca explains, “and do not pose a threat to human health and wellbeing.” Rebecca was confident that the EGGER laminates met the sustainability requirements of the brief after a consultation with ForestOne representative Annette Fanna, who also helped to source the materials in a specific shade of pink for the design. “Because we required a very durable material in a heavy traffic retail environment, we needed something that would last and not require replacement,” she reflects.

Rebecca was confident that the EGGER laminates met the sustainability requirements of the brief after a consultation with ForestOne representative Annette Fanna, who also helped to source the materials in a specific shade of pink for the design.

Answering the demand for a more sustainable approach towards the design of retail spaces, Will and Rebecca have both chosen to reimagine their separate projects by re-using elements of the established store. Recognised by ForestOne for their creative explorations of EGGER materials and finishes, Will and Rebecca will join the preceding winners for the Grand Prize of ForestOne’s Specified Responsibly A&D Trade Program.