AHEC Design Camp Recap: Indonesian Designers Take On Red Oak

Over the course of three months, 48 young designers, including 28 students and 20 young professionals, participated in American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC)’s The Use of Red Oak Timber For Furniture & Interior Space Design Camp 2022. In conjunction with HDII DKI Jakarta, the design program invited top professionals in Indonesia to mentor the chosen designers to ensure that their concepts were aesthetically-pleasing, practical, and marketable.

From January until the design camp’s culmination on March 31st, the young designers were introduced to American red oak as the main material for their designs and how they can integrate their craftsmanship inspired by Indonesian culture. As one of the fastest-growing species of oak, the designers learned about its unique properties, including its strength and versatility. The popular hardwood is seen by furniture makers as an excellent option for furniture, interior paneling, and ceilings.

During the closing ceremony, two students and two young professional winners of the two major categories of the design camp were also announced. Aryawan Mantra’s Fable Collection won the Best Design for Furniture (Young Professional) while Alouyxius Bertrand Cleviandro’s Kaleles High Stool emerged as the winner of the student category. For the Best Design Interior Space (Young Professional), Muhammad Abdurrahim got the top prize for his design Baluran National Park Safari Lodge and Margaretha scored the award for the student category for her design, Rumpi.

John Chan, AHEC’s regional director for Greater China and Southeast Asia, expressed his delight about how the design camp-inspired young Indonesian designers. “We saw so many good designs that choosing the winners was not an easy task for the judges. I have been personally inspired by the various pieces that are rooted in Indonesian culture and make use of American red oak, which is beautiful, durable, sustainable and legally harvested,” says Chan.

The winning furniture pieces exemplifying the distinctive characteristics of red oak will be produced for display. 

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