New Design Awards - Australian Wood Review

FURNITEX connect, organised by the Australian Furniture Association (AFA), will host the inaugural Australian Contemporary Emerging Design Awards (ACE) in 2015 to reflect the industry’s vision of the future. The ACE awards are open to students and emerging designers from all fields related to the furniture industry and all entries will be on show at FURNITEX connect from 9–12 July 2015.

Award winners will be offered exhibition space in the AFA's International pavillion as part of an Australian Trade Mission to Tent London.

Entry is open to currently enrolled students of design, manufacturing and other industry related subjects, and to emerging designer/makers with five or fewer years active experience in the furniture industry.

Nominal entry fees include free freight within Australia to Royal Exhibition, Carlton, Victoria.

Applications close June 1, 2015. Email design@australianfurniture.org.au for more information.

Entry forms can be downloaded from www.australianfurniture.org.au/ace

Award Categories include:

The Gold Medal Award (combined category) – selected from all Finalists. This award reflects a piece that covers all the major elements of design, manufacturing and market relevance. It does not have to be the best in all of these categories, however, it must meet all of these requirements in an overall sense. That is, it is a well resolved and complete design.

The Cutting Edge Award (combined category) – selected from all Finalists. This award recognizes a piece that has true innovation in its design, production, marketability or potential for development. This piece does not have to be the most resolved in other areas or the best, but it must display and show the most innovative solution in its intent. This piece could require further work to bring it to market standards and or to completion for sale, however it shows promise led by its innovative idea.

Creative Vision Award (Separate ED Category & Student Category) – selected from Category Finalists. This award recognizes a piece that successfully ties together the main elements of design. It recognizes a piece that is visually mature. This piece does not however have to be finished to completion, but must be developed to prototype. Additional engineering and production design may be required to bring the work from prototype to be viable for completion to sale.

Craftsmanship Award (Separate ED Category & Student Category) – selected from Category Finalists. This award recognizes the piece that not only incorporates great design but also demonstrates high levels of difficulty and quality of craftsmanship in its production. This award acknowledges not only the design ability of the maker but also the complexity and investment of time and skill required to produce the piece.

The People’s Choice Award (combined category) – selected from all Finalists. This award reflects a piece that is voted on by the visiting public throughout the duration of the FURNITEX Connect event from 9-12 July 2015 in the Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton, Victoria.