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We’re proud to share that Kim Melka, Duet’s Director of Creative Design and Communications, recently served on the review committee for the 2025 Pallas Textiles Student Design Competition – a collaborative effort between Pallas Textiles, KI, and the Milwaukee Institute of Art + Design to inspire and elevate the next generation of textile designers.
The contest invited students to create original textile patterns and submit them for review by a panel of industry professionals. Finalists then received feedback from the committee and tips to refine their concepts into a polished, presentation-ready package.
With over 20 years of industry experience, Kim brought her expertise as an interior designer to the table, sharing what she looks for in successful patterns, offering mentorship, and helping participants better understand how their work might be evaluated in the marketplace.
The competition concluded with the selection of the winning design, “Vivacious” by Julianna Frixione (you can read more about her design and its inspiration here). In addition to the professional experience gained throughout the process, Julianna also received a cash prize, 5 yards of her textile design printed on Pallas vinyl, and the opportunity to attend NeoCon 2025 where her printed textile design was featured in the Pallas showroom. While there was only one main prize winner, each participant walked away with valuable insight and encouragement from industry professionals as well as a deeper understanding of the textile design process.
We’re inspired by the fresh perspectives these students bring to the field and are proud to have played a part in supporting their journey. With the competition set to return in 2026, we look forward to continuing our role in fostering creativity amongst the next generation of designers.