On Monday night we joined the New York design elite to toast the next generation of vanguard designers at the Award Ceremony for the Odegard Award for Excellence in Rug Design. Held at the Museum of Arts and Design, NYC’s go-to institution for the best in the design world, the award ceremony brought together the talented pool of student winners with design names such as Amy Lau, Calvin Tsao, Stephen Burks, and David McFadden. Presiding over the ceremony as emcee, Odegard Inc. Founder Stephanie Odegard announced the three Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners. Additionally, each competition judge recognized his/her favorite design with a Jury Award.

Among the 11 awards handed out to students that night, an astonishing 6 winners came from Utah State University, which made us think, could Utah be the next rug design capital of the US?

Designer Amy Lau with, from left to right: Abby Savage, Holly hotchner Jury Award winner, Martha Rex, Calvin Tsao Jury Award winner, and Rebecca Hardman, Silver winner. photo courtesy of Katherine Kostreva, Head and Hand PR

Gold winner Alice Serres, with Stephanie Odegard. photo courtesy of Katherine Kostreva, Head and Hand PR

Finalists and Juror Award Designs. photo courtesy of Katherine Kostreva, Head and Hand PR.

The Odegard Award Trophies, cast in precious metals in Nepal from yarnballs. photo courtesy of Katherine Kostreva, Head and Hand PR

Nicole Martin accepts her Jury award from artist Michele Oka Doner. photo courtesy of Katherine Kostreva, Head and Hand PR

Lindsey Brown, Bronze winner. photo courtesy of Katherine Kostreva, Head and Hand PR.

Odegard Inc. staff. photo courtesy of Katherine Kostreva, Head and Hand PR