British designer Eric Tong wins One Good Chair contest

LAS VEGAS — Eric Tong's Zpine chair received the grand prize and Juan Mercado's RE_Flex chair won in the people's choice category of the third annual One Good Chair competition at last week's Las Vegas Market.

The event, sponsored by World Market Center Las Vegas and the Sustainable Furnishings Council, revolved around the theme "minimum/maximum." Competitors worked on designs that would minimize material usage, production, shipping and assembly, while maximizing comfort, utility, durability and beauty.

More than 360 participants submitted entries, and five finalists were selected to present their designs at market.

Tong, who is from London, received a $4,500 cash prize that he said he will apply toward manufacturing and marketing the Zpine.

He used honeycomb for the core of his chair. He chose the material for its strength-to-weight ratio, and because it's inexpensive, sustainable and biodegradable. Manufacturers approached Tong immediately after the competition awards program to discuss producing the chair.

"Often a piece like this is more elegant in concept than reality. This was a rare exception. It is also incredibly comfortable," said judge Zem Joaquin, founder and CEO, ecofabulous, after testing a prototype of the Zpine.

Juan Mercado of Jackson, Mich., won the People's Choice award by more than a 30% margin. He received more than 400 votes out of nearly 1,200 via the market's website homepage and the National Home Furnishings Month's website.

"The caliber of the winners' designs says a lot about design talent and the competition itself," said Susan Inglis, executive director of the Sustainable Furnishings Council.

One Good Chair is part of World Market Center's One Good World Series, featuring in-depth discussions and high-profile speakers focusing on eco-friendly issues.

Judges for this year's One Good Chair competition included Sarah Backhouse of "Planet 100" on the Discovery Network's Planet Green; Shashi Caan of Shashi Caan Collective; Kira Gould, director of communications, William McDonough & Partners; and Joaquin. The judges selected the grand prize winner and the public voted for the People's Choice Award.