At Northern Michigan University (NMU), the human-centered design program partnered with longtime Menominee, Michigan, manufacturer Lloyd Flanders to develop concepts for contemporary woven furniture that might appeal to younger consumers. Students gained valuable experience working for a real-world client and tempering their creativity with the constraints of available materials, production methods, and labor costs. Company officials appreciated the fresh perspective and imaginative uses for the trademarked wicker material, which is woven on the original 1917 Lloyd loom and hand stretched over frames of aluminum tubing.

Students presented their final designs at the company in December 2013. They received constructive…

Mark Hawkins, president and owner of hearth-products distributor Sand Hill Wholesale & Mfg. Inc. (Columbus, Ohio), has just completed the purchase of the 26,000–square-foot facility where the company is currently operating. The decision to purchase was made after considering the benefits of ownership versus leasing. This purchase allows Sand Hill Wholesale greater flexibility to respond to growth needs, in addition to the freedom to change the facility as needed for improved operations. Hawkins feels that this move positions Sand Hill Wholesale for greater stability in today’s competitive marketplace.

Phifer Inc., global manufacturer of energy- saving sun-control fabrics, cutting-edge insect-screen products, drawn-wire products, engineered meshes, and indoor/ outdoor designed furniture fabrics, has successfully launched its updated website, www.phifer.com. Phifer’s newly designed site features a clean, bright, and attractive layout and offers more streamlined navigation.

Paired with the use of socialmedia tools, the website provides all visitors with a more user-friendly, interactive experience. In fall 2013, Phifer launched its presence on both Facebook (www.facebook.com/ phiferincorporated) and YouTube (www.youtube/phiferincorporated) to complement the electronic-media initiative.

A critical component of the new site is the presence of various simplified charts and…

Twin-Star International, known for its ClassicFlame electric fireplaces and Duraflame heaters, recognizes the importance of giving back to the community, and it encourages its employees to do the same. To support its staff ’s efforts, Twin-Star recently launched a new volunteer program, giving its employees up to eight hours of paid time off per year to perform volunteer service for a Twin- Star–approved charity.

Denise Kantrowitz, vice president of corporate operations, says, “It is our responsibility, as a good corporate citizen, to help strengthen the communities in which we work and live. We encourage our staff members to become…

Pantone LLC has selected the color radiant orchid (Pantone 18-3224) as the 2014 color of the year. According to Pantone, radiant orchid complements olive and deeper hunter greens, and it offers a gorgeous combination when paired with turquoise, teal, and even light yellows. The vibrant color will also enliven neutrals, including gray, beige, and taupe. In addition to reenergizing almost any color palette, this color provides a unifying element for diverse spaces.

The color of the year’s selection requires careful consideration; to arrive at the selection, Pantone combs the world, looking for color influences. These can include the entertainment…

TUUCI (Miami, Florida), designer and manufacturer of innovative shade products, has won a Best of the Year Award from Interior Design magazine in the outdoor-accessories category for its Plantation MAX Dual Cantilever Classic™. The annual competition relies heavily on the opinions of interior designers and architects, with online voting to select finalists and a jury of design leaders to select the winners.

TUUCI’s Plantation MAX won the award in recognition of how it combines art with engineering to provide generously proportioned shade for two unique outdoor-living areas beneath one parasol unit. With a 4- to-1 tandem retrieving crank system,…

According to M&G DuraVent, PolyPro vent pipe, fittings, and terminations have been approved for use on all models of Lennox, Aire-Flo, and Trane condensing gas furnaces. Both 2-inch and 3- inch vent-pipe diameters have been approved as an alternative to PVC and ABS materials, when installed in compliance with PolyPro by DuraVent installation instructions.

When the PolyPro by DuraVent venting system is used, the vent-pipe requirements stated in the unit’s installation instruction (minimum and maximum vent lengths, termination clearances, and so forth) apply and must be followed. The instructions provided with the PolyPro by DuraVent venting system should be…

Director of Training Soundcast Systems, developer and manufacturer of high-performance wireless music systems, appointed Jesse Coyer as national director of training, as part of its strategy for accelerating growth. Coyer started his consumer-electronics career in sales, at Ultimate Electronics, in the 1990s. He advanced to store management and was promoted to general manager in 2004.

In 2005, Coyer joined Magnolia Home Theater as a supervisor, and he later advanced to in-home sales with the company’s Geek Squad entity. He helped develop its scalable field-selling and training program. In 2009, he was promoted to the Best Buy corporate leadership team,…