Hannover, Germany --The finalists in the 2018 Carpet Design Awards have been selected and 24 designer carpets have made it to the final round of the international competition for carpet design. A jury made up of experts from the design and carpet industry have selected three carpets in each of the eight categories from a total of 265 entries from 16 countries. The winners in each category will be announced at Domotex prize award ceremony in Hall 9 on January 13, 2018.

The keynote theme for Domotex 2018 is Unique Youniverse, which was chosen in response to the growing need to offer the customer personalized products and services. The Carpet Design Awards have also been refreshed this year to reflect this trend, with two new categories added: “Best Interior” (furnishing project or carpet installation that prioritizes personalization) and “Best Communication” (successful marketing or branding campaign). The eight categories in the competition reflect various manufacturing methods, price levels, and design concepts, so that they also represent different retail concepts and market segments targeted by the carpet industry.

“Rugs that move me are difficult to describe with words,” said Michael Mandapati, jury chairman, founder and president of Warp and Werft, New York. “ While I have a deep appreciation for individual formal elements like material, weave, pattern, color, and texture, I am most captivated by a rug when those elements come together in such a way that something greater than the sum of its parts is expressed.”

In the course of the selection process, entries were assessed on design and design concept, materials, execution, texture and quality, as well as sustainability and brand building. All 24 carpets going into the final round will be on display throughout Domotex, at the new “Framing Trends” showcase in Hall 9.

For more information, visit www.domotex.de.