DESIGN FOR IMPACT
Challenge Brief
Everything you need to design Carlos' kitchen. The goal, the deliverables, and how to submit.
DESIGN FOR IMPACT - CHALLENGE BRIEF
One kitchen. One meaningful challenge. Three creative deliverables.
Design a mood board concept with timeless beauty, craftsmanship, warmth, and durability. Briefly describe how thoughtful design can enhance independence without compromising style.
Consider how cabinetry, storage, lighting, appliances, ergonomics, and materials can work together to create a kitchen that is beautiful, functional, and easier for Carlos to navigate and enjoy every day.
Design Direction
The Tosado family’s aesthetic preferences include warm neutral tones, dark wood cabinetry, light countertops, and a traditional or transitional sensibility.
Tosado's existing kitchen:
Accessibility & Functionality Consideration
Describe solutions that reduce bending your back and knees, reaching deep into cabinetry, lifting, and prolonged standing.
Tosado suffered back injuries during an Afghanistan deployment. He has had multiple surgeries. He is NOT wheelchair-bound. Arching his back and bending his knees could be painful. He loves cooking and gathering with his friends and family around the kitchen, but standing for a long time could be uncomfortable. He is an average male height (a bit under 6' tall). Prepping meals and reaching items are preferred using surfaces slightly above standard countertop height. Reaching for items in front of or above him is preferred as long as it doesn't require a stepping stool.
The height of a work surface, the placement of a heavy pot, the reach to a cabinet, and the lighting above a prep area play a more important part in Tosado's life. Those details have a direct physical impact. Low storage can be painful to access, extended periods of chopping and washing dishes aggravate his back, and the island serves as the center of his daily kitchen routine.
The Impact
For Tosado, this kitchen is not just about beauty; its flow and functionality represent independence, comfort, and dignity.
These days, with so many kitchen accessories available, accessibility can be seamlessly integrated into beautiful, inspiring design, while creating a space that allows Tosado to cook, gather, and live with less physical strain and greater independence.
Design with purpose. Design for Impact.
Existing Layout
Existing Condition
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WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO SUBMIT
Curated Moodboard
Start with a Cabinet Couture door of your choice and assemble a moodboard using any of the following samples: countertop, fixture finish, flooring, tile, paint, decorative materials, and/or hardware. You could source samples from our sponsoring vendors and/or supplement with any others of your preference.
Please schedule a time to come by Cabinet Couture to select your door and for us to video-capture your beautiful Moodboard creation. Contact Nikita at (737) 420-7983 to schedule a visit. Moodboards are due by 4:00 p.m. on October 16th.
One Simple Concept Illustration
Represent how your moodboard comes together in a kitchen elevation - any kitchen, not necessarily Carlos' kitchen. This can be a hand sketch, elevation, perspective, collage, visualization, or digital rendering. Professional rendering skills are not required.
Short Design Narrative (Up to 250 words)
Briefly describe your design philosophy, material selections, and accessibility considerations.
Describe what functional features, solutions, or accessories you would implement to improve Carlos' daily life.