Design, mentorship and opportunity: Napoleon and Georgian students collaborate through a multi-faceted partnership

Jan. 28, 2026

For five years, the Napoleon Design Competition has been a highlight of the Honours Bachelor of Interior Design program at Georgian College, challenging second- through fourth-year students to design a custom gas fire feature that balances aesthetics, functionality and brand storytelling. Delivered in partnership with Napoleon, the annual competition closely mirrors professional client work, giving students hands-on experience responding to a real-world design brief while building portfolio-ready projects.

At this year’s competition, held Nov. 24, 2025, students submitted 19 original design concepts across three categories: luxury residential, commercial and innovation, each exploring how flame, form and function come together to create compelling experiences around fire. The gallery-style showcase took place in the ABSC space in the Peter B. Moore Advanced Technology Centre at Georgian’s Barrie Campus, where students presented their work to a panel of Napoleon judges.

Napoleon provided students with an overview of the project, including technical considerations, performance expectations and branding requirements. Over the fall term, they refined their concepts, culminating in a gallery-style presentation where they delivered elevator pitches to a judging panel of Napoleon representatives. Each submission included a product name, concept brief, renderings and sample marketing materials.

Napoleon awarded six scholarships to the winners and runners-up in the three categories, recognizing excellence in design aesthetics, functionality, innovation and branding.

Tim Krywulak, associate dean, Design, Visual Arts and Computer Studies, said, “We really appreciate how this competition has become a catalyst for student creativity and an outlet for ideas that often fall outside traditional coursework. Its evolution has sparked deeper engagement with an important community partner.”

While the event itself is a celebration of student talent, it also represents just one layer of a dynamic, long-standing partnership between Napoleon and Georgian, a model of how postsecondary institutions and employers can work together to benefit both learners and industry.

In addition to the design competition, Napoleon’s involvement at Georgian spans scholarships, co-op opportunities and gift-in-kind support for fundraising efforts such as Georgian’s biennial fundraising gala. The combination of these investments provides immediate financial relief for students and valuable industry experience, creating a holistic approach to developing future-ready talent.

For Napoleon, the competition functions as a creative think tank, a space for fresh perspectives and innovative thinking grounded in real-world application. Student submissions often introduce unexpected approaches, new aesthetics and inventive problem-solving techniques. Over the years, several concepts have informed internal idea generation at Napoleon, with one design even advancing to the prototyping phase. Equally important, the experience benefits students by immersing them in the challenge, competition and creativity of working with a real client.

“We again appreciate the very professional work that was completed this year. We continue to be very impressed with the market knowledge and results from the students. Their views are highly regarded within our teams, giving us a look into generational needs and to emerging markets. Napoleon’s partnership with Georgian College has been very beneficial and my commitment is to maintain this relationship for years to come. I would like to again thank the students and the organizers for making this annual event successful and for all the great work,” said James Scott, director of new product development at Napoleon.

This reciprocal exchange, real challenges for real ideas, is what makes the partnership truly unique.

As Georgian’s Design and Visual Arts programs prepare to move into their new downtown space, partnerships like this one will continue to strengthen the student experience, bringing industry into the classroom, sparking creativity and helping students build the skills and confidence to flourish.

And, as both partners look ahead, one thing is clear: the best ideas are still to come.