Woojae Sohn Wins ‘Design the Ultimate Private Jet Interior’ Contest

Embry-Riddle freshman Woojae Sohn was recently handed $100,000 for winning Flexjet’s Project LXi, which aimed to pick an interior design for one of the carrier’s Gulfstream G650 jets. More than 150 contestants submitted their work for the competition.

Sohn, an aviation business major and Air Force ROTC cadet, collaborated with his father, professional design director Youngmin Sohn, to create the winning cabin concept titled Carolina.

The competition launched in October 2024, taking in more than 150 design entries. Flexjet’s internal team of creatives and executives selected 12 semifinalists, and public voting narrowed the field to six. Flexjet engineers then developed detailed renderings and sourced materials for each of the six finalists, before Flexjet Chairman Kenn Ricci selected Carolina as the final winner.

Inspired by family vacations in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, the Carolina interior features a palette of brown, tan, and cream, with design details like tree silhouettes on the bulkhead veneer and unique tufting on the seating. Ricci highlighted the design’s original features, such as the proposed couch and ottoman tufting and the distinctive wood grain on the cabin table.

Sohn learned of his win during a video call with Ricci, who confirmed that Carolina would be installed in one of the company’s Gulfstream G650 aircraft. That aircraft will join Flexjet’s LXi Cabin Collection: a series of custom luxury interiors used throughout its fractional fleet.

“This contest created a stronger bond between me and my father,” Sohn said. The collaboration will continue, as the Sohns have been invited to participate in each step of the build process as Carolina is installed.

A formal award ceremony and a visit to Flexjet’s Global Headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, are planned for later this year, with the Carolina interior expected to enter service in 2026.

FMI: https://flexjet.com