The Behr Student Design Competition celebrates emerging designers who transformed their 2025 Commercial Color Forecast into fully realized commercial interiors. From community focused hubs to restorative urban libraries, this year’s winning projects show how color can guide movement, shape emotion, and define experience. Explore the concepts, meet the designers, and see how the next generation is bringing bold ideas to life through thoughtful use of color.
Color set the stage, and emerging designers brought it to life. Behr Paint Company, in collaboration with MattoBoard, has announced the winners of the 2025 Student Design Competition. This year’s brief challenged students to design original commercial spaces using the Behr Commercial Color Forecast, including the 2026 Color of the Year, Hidden Gem. Each concept was developed and presented digitally on MattoBoard, transforming palettes and plans into cohesive visual stories. The result was a group of projects that felt thoughtful, human, and deeply aware of how people move through space.
Elizabeth Monk, East Carolina University
Project: REVEL
REVEL is a multi use cultural space created to foster creativity and connection. Exhibition areas, flexible event spaces, social lounges, and a wellness focused café are woven together into a continuous experience rather than divided into rigid zones. Each area transitions naturally into the next, encouraging movement and interaction.
Color guides that journey. Rich, saturated tones anchor gathering spaces and create clear focal points, while warmer, softer hues introduce moments of pause and conversation. The palette acts as intuitive wayfinding, helping visitors understand the purpose and mood of each zone. Flexible furnishings and adaptable layouts allow the space to shift from workshops to performances with ease. Accessibility and inclusivity are embedded in the planning, ensuring REVEL can support a wide range of programs while maintaining a strong identity.
Leta Pham, San José State University
Project: Root & Radiance Center
The Root & Radiance Center is designed as a supportive hub for youth, centered on growth, confidence, and belonging. The concept explores how interior space can influence emotional well being, particularly during formative years. Active community areas are positioned to encourage collaboration and mentorship, while quieter rooms offer opportunities for focus, study, and reflection.
The color strategy reinforces this dual purpose. Grounded neutrals provide a stable backdrop, helping users feel secure and oriented within the space. Layered into that foundation are brighter, expressive tones that introduce optimism and forward momentum. The contrast between calm and energy reflects the journey of development itself. Clear sightlines and intuitive circulation make the environment easy to navigate, supporting independence and comfort. The overall result is a space that feels welcoming without being overwhelming, structured yet open to possibility.
Annaliese Siefer, La Roche University
Project: The Oasis Stacks
The Oasis Stacks reframes the traditional library as a retreat within the city. Designed for an urban context, the project focuses on creating a restorative atmosphere while still supporting activity and engagement. The layout is layered to offer a range of experiences, from communal tables and collaborative areas to more intimate reading niches.
Biophilic principles inform both material and color choices. Earth inspired tones establish a connection to nature, grounding the interior in warmth and familiarity. Deeper accent colors define functional zones and add visual depth without disrupting the calm atmosphere. Natural textures and thoughtful lighting further enhance the sense of refuge. Rather than treating quiet as isolation, the design encourages shared presence, allowing users to feel connected to others even while working independently. The Oasis Stacks becomes both a study space and a collective pause within the pace of city life.
