As the MattoBoard Challenge series draws to a close, we’re celebrating a powerful finale that brought modernism back to life in spectacular style. For our September 2025 theme, designers were invited to create a Bauhaus-inspired hotel lobby a brief that challenged participants to explore geometry, function, and form while injecting their own creative flair.
Once again, we were blown away by the talent and originality within the NDA community. Each submission celebrated Bauhaus in a unique way; from tactile materials and bold colour blocking to concepts that symbolised unity and human connection.
After much deliberation, our tutors selected the top three designs that truly stood out for creativity, composition, and storytelling.
🥇 1st Place – Effie Lalrinchhani

In this mood board, Effie has envisioned a hotel lobby surrounded by a well-decorated and peaceful garden. The hotel opens up to this beautiful, luxurious yet comfortable lobby designed to create a functional space suitable for all customers.
The space highlights its bauhaus inspiration through the paintings, colours, and clean industrial elements- the terrazzo tile, steel column, industrial lighting, bright red, yellow and blue splashes- to name a few. We can see a Barcelona chair designed by Bauhaus architects Ludwig Miles van Der Rohe and Lilly Reich in 1929 incorporated in a contemporary bauhaus lobby.
The playful colours create a fun and inviting personality which would attract customers of all ages. These colourful accents are broken down by adding geometric shapes and elements which gives off a sense of neutrality in an otherwise colourful space.
Tutor’s Take
Bauhaus inspired however the tonal take on the colour scheme elevates this sample board giving more of a luxurious feel. Indication of forms, materiality and other elements of design communicates a cohesive, welcoming proposal for this hotel lobby space.
About Effie
I recently joined the Diploma course in Professional Interior Design here at the National Design Academy, and it is still quite a fresh experience for me. However, I plan to make the best of all the opportunities and challenges offered by the Academy and through this course, train myself to form new connections, ideas and skills, and hopefully make a career in this line of work.
Connect with Effie:
- Instagram:@some_basic_shenanigans
🥈 2nd Place – Vicky Burton
Inspired by the Bauhaus movement and its bold, geometric shapes and saturated primary colours, Vicky’s design brings comfort and fun to the luxury hotel lobby – the cuckoo clock nods to Bauhaus movement’s roots in Germany, the varied textures of the seating provides a sculptural feast, while the glossy black of the table, lighting, and trims creates a backdrop of stark luxury that highlights the natural materials of steel, glass and, marble.
The rug by the renowned textile artist, Gunta Stölzl, anchors the design with its direct connection to the Bauhaus movement.
Tutor’s Take
A Gunta inspired lobby immediately creates areas of visual interest as the textures and forms celebrate the elements of the Bauhaus movement through this designer’s lens. A creative and inviting proposal for this lobby through the various shapes, forms and textual qualities.
About Vicky
Vicky is currently studying the Diploma in Professional Interior Design. With a background in retail and hospitality, she’s always loved creating expressive, character-filled spaces. Now she’s taking that passion further and stepping confidently into a new design career.
She draws inspiration from her travels and has a keen interest in small space living and thoughtful, inclusive design. She’s especially passionate about creating spaces for marginalised communities, including shelters and rehabilitation centres. Her first live project, a kitchen redesign for a friend, is already underway, and she’s excited to keep building on that momentum!
Connect with Vicky:
Instagram: @downlandinteriors
🥉 3rd Place – Clare Meaton
Clare wanted to keep with the geometrical theme but to go against the grain and instead of using the regular shapes and form of the bauhaus use jigsaw pieces to not only come up with a design but also a concept and feel of this particular lobby.
JIGHAUS bringing travellers and families together where everyone from all walks of life gets the chance to become the piece to this beautiful puzzle. A magnetic wall area for travellers and families to put messages onto the walls this could be personal or suggestions in the area where to travel.
She envisioned this being a hotel in Amsterdam, hip trendy, inventive and arty. The giant chandelier cascades in the centre of the lobby as the main focal point with the hardware made from black metal and the pieces made from acrylic in the 3 primary colours. The floor is made up of jigsaw pieces that when you step on them they light up, to give an element of fun and excitement to those that walk into the hotel.
A staircase with blue carpet that puddles into a jigsaw piece on the floor is how she envisioned this entire look. Spacious predominantly white but with windows blocked out in colour and the main feature pieces in the colours
Tutor’s Take
The Jighaus is a playful yet relevant interpretation of Bauhaus inspiration that leans into connectivity through jigsaw forms and the recognisable primary coloured Bauhaus scheme.
About Clare
Connect with Clare:
Instagram: @worn_and_reborn
Facebook: Clare Meaton
Portfolio: www.wornandreborn.co.uk
A Farewell to the MattoBoard Challenge Series
As this marks the final instalment of our MattoBoard Challenge partnership, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has taken part this year.
From January’s Tiffany & Co. Pop-Up Bar to this month’s Bauhaus-Inspired Hotel Lobby, the creativity, ambition and dedication from our students and design community have been truly inspiring.
These challenges have showcased not just design skill, but the passion that drives the NDA community proving that creativity flourishes when designers are given space to explore, take risks and share their vision.
But don’t worry, this isn’t goodbye! We’re already developing a brand-new series of design challenges that will be even more engaging, imaginative and skill-building. Stay tuned for what’s next… and keep those creative sparks alive!🤩
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