AMAZING Projects from Kids
George VondriskaDescription
It seems like we’re constantly hearing about the lack of young people in woodworking. This video disproves that. Young people are doing incredible work, as shown here.
About the contest
The International Woodworking Fair (IWF) hosted the Design Emphasis Showcase at the 2022 show in Atlanta. Entrants are college and university students, and over $10,000 in prize money is awarded.
Students submit slides and a written description of their work in May for a pre-judging session. Select finalists are invited to attend IWF and ship their projects to the show. Winners are announced on the first day of the show.
Contest categories
There are five competition categories; seating, case goods, commercial/office/hospitality furniture, accent furniture and tables and design creativity.
Another student competition
Another large woodworking show, Association of Woodworking and Furnishings Suppliers (AWFS) also hosts a student competition called the Fresh Wood competition. Entrants come from high schools and postsecondary schools.
Getting kids involved
If you’re interested in getting kids you know excited about woodworking have a look at our live stream with Chris Lyons. Chris used his many years of Tech Ed teaching to provide advice on getting kids in the shop, and even provided three great kid-oriented project plans.
One of the laments that we hear about woodworking all the time is that young people don't seem to wanna get involved with it. One of the things that's great about these shows is that they have student competitions, and this is an opportunity for young people to submit their work, and the work here is absolutely amazing. Now, let me give you a little of my background. When I was a kid, I was working with my hands from a very, very young age, and at the age of 10 or 11, I decided I wanted to be a shop teacher, and I pursued that path very aggressively to get my Tech. Ed. degree, and really this is all part of where I ended up today. So let's have a look at what young people have submitted to this competition. It is absolutely amazing, come on. I hope you were just as impressed as I've been with the projects that these young people have submitted. Right here, we have Best In Show. One of the things I really like about this is it uses thermally modified ash. This is an amazing, relatively new wood product, not that ash is new, but this manner of treating it to get this look, and it also adds other great characteristics to the wood, is really, really, really cool. When I have a look at projects like this, it really helps remove doubt about the future of the woodworking industry, 'cause you can see young people are coming in fast and furious, making amazing stuff.
FANTASTIC looking work. I am in awe of the ability of these young folks. I may be "Over the hill" but I could learn a few things from these young adults.
Some fantastic work on display by those young craftsman. I think new technology associated with laser and CNC equipment and the computer/programming factor involved have helped with the interest shown.
Would have been great to see some of the students telling there story on the master pieces of furniture they built WOW great job.