This year's design challenge, titled “Design Inspired by Nature,” was to redesign a hotel lobby using key biophilic design principles, demonstrating how thoughtful design, creativity and Daltile products can come together to create a beautiful, welcoming and impactful space.

Graduating in spring 2017 from the Art Institute of Houston, Tribell has always been passionate about art and design. She first learned about the scholarship contest during an interior design association event, and a few weeks later, after visiting a Daltile expo in Houston, TX, became inspired by the products and immediately started working on her submission. Tribell chose the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Houston, TX, as her project location, redesigning the lobby to incorporate biophilic influences. Using Daltile collections, including Marble Attaché and Saddle Brook glazed porcelain, Tribell reinvented the space to be more calming, a stark contrast from the bustling city outside of the hotel lobby doors.

“The ASID Foundation is excited to partner with Daltile to honor students, like Kristina Tribell, with scholarships to help them pursue their goals in the field of interior design,” said Susan Wiggins, senior strategic advisor, ASID Foundation. “The ASID Foundation believes in the future of the interior design industry and supports scholarships and educational opportunities that will prepare and propel the next generation of interior designers to reach their full potential. The Daltile Interior Design Scholarship enables us to encourage young designers to further hone their design skills and aesthetic."

The grand prize winner and three finalists were selected by Daltile and the ASID Foundation with the help of a panel of industry experts, including Deborah Lloyd Forrest, FASID, Krista Ninivaggi, Allied ASID, and Catie Ryan, senior project manager at Terrapin Bright Green. This year's top scholarship recipients are:

Grand prize: $10,000 scholarship winner: Kristina Tribell, The Art Institute of Houston

First prize: $2,500 scholarship winner: Ali Guymon, Utah State University

Second prize: $2,500 scholarship winner: Ben Roghaar, Utah State University

Third prize: $2,500 scholarship winner: Charlotte Jolly, Indiana University

New for 2016, Daltile and the ASID Foundation awarded the school or university with the highest number of completed entries with a $10,000 grant for their interior design program. This year, Utah State University was presented with the grant and had 37 students from the university submit projects for consideration.