The Stonemill Design Center of Costa Mesa is producing its own version of HGTV Design Star’s White Box Challenge, a reality show in which designers use their skills and imagination to decorate an empty, white room. The contest is a part of a marketing initiative for the interior design center.
Eight design firms are competing: Alix Flamm Designs and Sérendipité, both of Irvine; Castle Design Studios of Newport Beach; Ferm Design Concepts of Claremont; Hilary Nichols Interiors, Urbanism and Meghan Yang Interiors, all of Costa Mesa; and Raad Ghantous & Associates of Dana Point.
They will have 24 hours to convert white-box spaces at the Stonemill Design Center into vignettes inspired by sponsor showroom brands, such as Associated Building Supply, Baccarat, Costentino, Creative Window Designs, Designers Resource Collection and Lightopia.
Their creations will be revealed at an invitation-only cocktail party on Wednesday, followed by a “Design & Desserts” event on Thursday presented by Riviera Magazine at the design center.
“We’ve fashioned a one-of-a-kind opportunity to showcase local talent,” said Cathryn DeFazio, the design center’s general manager, in a statement. “We’re proud of our tradition of elevating the design profession while shining the spotlight on some of the most innovative designs and designers defining Orange County interiors.”
Man Cave Project
Vizio Inc., a privately held consumer electronics company, has launched a “Give Dad Your Best” Father’s Day contest, a chance for sons and daughters to win an “ideal man cave” for their dad.
The promotion comes on the heels of its “Win It For Mom” Mother’s Day contest, which was based on the same concept: Children can upload a video or picture of their dad and share why they appreciate him. The Irvine-based company posts the content on its website, where the public has a chance to vote for their favorite through Wednesday.
The grand prize winner will receive a 70-inch smart TV, $250 in streaming movie credit from digital entertainment service M-GO, and four tickets to the premiere of “Turbo,” a new film by DreamWorks Animation. An additional 15 participants will receive a $200 gift card from Best Buy Co., while those who nominated them will receive a $50 gift card. The person who nominates the grand-prize winner will walk away with a 42-inch smart TV and $100 in streaming movie credit.
The Mother’s Day contest was Vizio’s first social media campaign focused on families.
“The results exceeded our expectations,” said Lily Knowles, its vice president of product marketing.
The contest will be promoted on Vizio’s and Best Buy’s social media channels, with the hash tag #GiveDadYourBest. The grand-prize winner will be surprised with the gift at a Best Buy store.
Arbonne Chooses Agency
Arbonne International LLC of Irvine has named Toronto-based  Jesson + Company Communications Inc. as agency of record for the Canadian market.
“We are excited to have Jesson + Company join our team to provide public relations and marketing support,” said Helena Alexandre, general manager of Arbonne International Canada Inc.
Arbonne manufactures botanically based skin care, cosmetics and nutrition products. Kay Napier, the company’s chief executive, will be the keynote speaker for the Business Journal’s Women in Business Awards luncheon on Tuesday.
Breast Cancer Awareness
Irvine-based Agendia Inc., a molecular diagnostic company that develops and markets paraffin-based genomic diagnostic products, has launched a new website and interactive Facebook page aimed at helping breast cancer patients determine if they can safely avoid chemotherapy.
“We anticipate these innovative social media campaigns will encourage more patients to ask their oncologists and breast surgeons about our Symphony genomic test panel,” said David Macdonald, Agendia’s chief executive. “Women who have been told they have early stage breast cancer often face a tough decision regarding whether or not they should have chemotherapy after surgery.”
Genomic testing examines the activity of groups of genes within tumor tissue to provide a more comprehensive view of the specific cancer and to determine if a woman with early-stage breast cancer is at low or high risk of recurrence, according to the company.
The website—KnowYourBreastCancer .com—provides information in layman’s terms about the unique nature of each breast cancer tumor and how genomic testing can help improve diagnosis and treatment. The Facebook page, SymphonySisterhood, enables patients to share their breast cancer stories.
Bits and Pieces
Irvine-based Brand Affinity Technologies Inc. hired Girish Venkat as chief product officer. He comes from UberMedia Inc. in Pasadena, where he was responsible for product development and engineering … Costa Mesa-based The Garage, Team Mazda appointed Brad Audet as general manager of the advertising and marketing company. Audet was previously Team Detroit’s executive vice president and managing director.
