Students vie in design event at home show

For the third consecutive year, several interior design students from the International Academy of Design & Technology participated in the Las Vegas Home Improvement & Decorating Show’s “roomscape” competition at Cashman Center.

For the contest, the students designed rooms for two local celebrity chefs, Gustav Mauler, international restaurant design consultant and restaurateur; and Elia Aboumrad, one of the contestants on Bravo’s “Top Chef.”

Organized into two teams, students have worked independently to decorate the rooms while forging relationships with local vendors to supply products. Frank Gersbach, program chair of the interior design program at IADT, said skills learned in this project include selling, networking, project management, space planning and design installation.

The rooms will remain on display today and Sunday at the show in IADT’s booth.

The academy offers bachelor’s and associate degrees in interior design, fashion design and visual communication as well as a bachelor’s degree in game design. For more information, call 990-0150, or visit www.iadtlasvegas.com.

The home show features more than 500 booths with the latest in home improvement, decorating and landscape products and services. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for senior citizens and $3.50 for children younger than 18.