2010

AUG. 5


LOCAL INTERIOR DESIGNER WINS INTERNATIONAL AWARDS FOR BOUTIQUE

With more than 250 entries, including 50 of the largest design firms in the world, Charlotte interior design firm CU Interiors received two awards in Shaw Contract Group's “Design Is...” contest.

Cynthia Urbanik received one of the five judges' awards and the people's choice award for her pro bono work on Dress for Success Charlotte's new boutique.

Judges praised Urbanik's use of bold colors and elegant finishes to make women using the boutique feel beautiful, elegant and empowered, Shaw Contract Group said in a news release. (Click here for a look at the other award winners.)

CU Interiors also received the People’s Choice Award. Voting for the People’s Choice Award was conducted at shawcontractgroup.com where 12 finalists were profiled. More than 350,000 votes were cast during June and July.

“The Design Is… Award program asks one simple question that requires a thought-provoking answer: how do you define design?” says John Stephens, vice president of marketing for Shaw Contract Group. “Every project is unique except for the uniting factor of how design can impact people working, people healing, people learning, and people creating. After five years and nearly 1,000 entries from 21 countries, the Design Is… Award continues to champion design excellence across market segments and around the world.”

Urbanik stepped out of the typical “closed-door” design process and asked friends, colleagues and community members to donate time, resources and materials to transform the former flooring business showroom into a boutique.

In almost no time, volunteers and materials flowed in. Urbanik's design continuously evolved based on donations she received.

“Dress for Success’ new boutique was a great opportunity to use my skills as a designer to better the lives of those around me and a chance to design a space that would empower the women in my community," says Urbanik. "These women deserve to walk through the door and feel a sense of dignity and pride."

A $2,000 student scholarship will be awarded in the name of CU Interiors. Urbanik's other work can be viewed at www.cu-interiors.com.

 

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Dress for Success Charlotte Launches New Boutique and Career Transformation Center in March

2009

SIMON FASHION NOW™ BRINGS FREE FASHION SHOWS, INTERACTIVE EVENTS AND RETAILER DEMONSTRATIONS TO SOUTHPARK OCTOBER 23 & 24