Close
Nancy Fire and Vanessa Deleon are this year’s fabulous judges. They tell us what makes their design minds tick.
All designers understand their work has to be evaluated (and often!) by clients, but sometimes designers get to be the ones doing the evaluating. Case in point: Meet our two fabulous judges for the 2018 Sherwin-Williams Student Design Challenge, Nancy Fire and Vanessa Deleon.
Nancy Fire, our residential-design judge, is the co-founder and creative director of Design Works International and design director of HGTV HOME. Vanessa Deleon, our commercial-design judge, is the owner of Vanessa Deleon Associates, featured designer on NBC, HGTV, Bravo and more. But before they review our pool of students’ design work this year, we wanted to put them in the hot seat:
STIR: Tell us about a color trend in the design marketplace you’re currently excited about.
Nancy Fire (NF): I’m so excited for the Sherwin-Williams Color of the Year, Oceanside SW 6496. This beautiful color was a favorite in Paris, especially in retail stores — it’s exuberant and classic, plus easy to use in any space.
Vanessa Deleon (VD): I love the bold, bright and beautiful primary colors used in both interior and the exterior of commercial spaces. They liven up the space, adding a happy and playful atmosphere to any building whether a boutique hotel, a small-business space, a wellness center or even a medical office. Color is vital to the venues’ brand identity.
STIR: What’s your favorite color rule — and what’s your favorite color rule to break?
NF: My favorite rule is that I love to incorporate black and white in my palettes because they are awesome neutrals when working with color, or on their own a great color combination. But there are plenty of fun color rules to break, depending on the space, budget and client.
VD: My favorite color rule: Use Sherwin-Williams ColorSnap® Visualizer tool. And as for my favorite color rule to break — I have broken the rules by using the color black in a formal dining room. These colors are daring, often adding a mysterious flair to the space.
STIR: Where do you find inspiration for design and color?
NF: I travel constantly and find color inspiration everywhere — sunsets, sunrises, museums, graffiti and photography.
VD: The streets of Manhattan inspire me. I find inspiration everywhere: colorful billboards in Times Square, artifacts in museums and art galleries full of abstract work.
STIR: Tell us about a new or upcoming design project of your own that you’re excited about.
NF: My husband and I are starting to update a room in our city home, as well as a room in our country house in East Quogue [Southampton, New York]. I’m excited about both!
VD: The XV project, my new home — I’m so excited and I am looking forward to using my favorite Sherwin-Williams paint for my space: Aged White SW 9180, Pearl Gray SW 0052 and Acacia Haze SW 9132.
STIR: You’re a judge for the 2018 Sherwin-Williams Student Design Challenge — what excites you most about the contest? What are you looking forward to seeing from the students?
NF: What excites me most is seeing design passion from students — you need to love what you do in the design work and I look forward to getting inspired by their designs myself.
VD: I’m excited to see students’ forward vision, and especially how they bring their designs alive using color.
STIR: If you could give your student designer-self some advice from your professional designer-self, what would it be?
NF: Keep creating and never stop.
VD: Follow the three Ds: Discipline — keep focus and stay on track. Dedication — embrace and immerse yourself in what you love; be consistent. Drive — be passionate about what you are doing, and keep climbing all the way to the top. If you fall, get up, dust your knees and keep climbing until you reach the top!
STIR: Finally, what is your favorite Sherwin-Williams color? And where, or how, have you used it?
NF: That’s like asking a kid what their favorite candy is — so hard to answer. Let’s say I’m ready to play with Oceanside really soon.
VD: Gosh! I have a slew of Sherwin-Williams colors that I consider favorites. It would depend since each room would be a different color.
The 2018 Sherwin-Williams Student Design Challenge — which celebrates excellence in interior design by students in both residential and commercial categories — is officially open for entries and accepting designs from talented students around the country. Do you know a student who would be a great applicant? Encourage them to enter at swstudentdesign.com now through March 15.