Designex 2010

Designex 2010 was held in Sydney this week.

I had the opportunity to visit yesterday and attend a workshop/seminar for Student Designers. Professionals took time out of their busy schedules to take us on a tour of the exhibits then impart their knowledge about their businesses and the industry.

All the speakers scheduled for the workshop were great to listen to.

My picks from the Exhibits

(Keep in mind not all of these businesses sell directly to the public, their websites should tell you who their stockists are, others deal directly with designers/specifiers.)

bleux

Because I'm still trying to work out which direction I want to go in, it was a treat to hear Skye Molyneux from bleux speak about design for interiors. bleux produces designs on different mediums - canvas, glass, fabric, wallpaper and have a collaboration with Designer Rugs. Skye was previously a partner in Blue and Brown, a company I have followed for quite a while. Their designs are my kind of stuff.

bleux - Familia colour Rosa

Ferm Living

Ferm Living's exhibit also had some 'nice to haves'. Why couldn't all these fantastic products have been around when my boys were growing up ?? Although......if they were, I wouldn't have had much money left.

Don't know about Ferm Living, haven't heard of them....have a look.

Ferm Living - 'Leaf in Colours' wallpaper

Kif & Katast

Wow, some great stuff here too. Could be I've found a way to do that garden screen I've been thinking about.

Kif & Katast - Ginko bench & Brazilion Orchard screen

Axolotl

Hmmm... which way to go, Kif & Katast OR Axolotl. These products are amaaaazing!!! I love what both companies are doing.

One of my fellow students used an Axolotl product for an assignment last year. It's metal finish on timber/mdf. It looks like metal and is in a way. They are a specialist metal finishing company. So if you want that front door or screen that looks like it's rusting, but not...see these guys. Fantastic finishes !!!!

Axolotyl Designex 2008 exhibit

Cloth

Julie Paterson is Cloth. She has just launched a wallpaper range in collaboration with Porters Paints. She works with Hemp, Linen and Organic Cotton.

Cloth Fabric products

Eurowalls

Eurowalls - Importer and retailer of European designer wallcoverings manfactured in Germany. Surely we all know how pedantic Germans are with their products, Mercedes Benz for example...hint hint.

Eurowalls - Mural 'Iris'

Designa Print & Living Studio

Designer Wallpapers, Vinyl Wall Art and Glass Etching. Noosa based family business. Designa Print has an online store for home decorators.

Designaprint StickerArt

Sicis

Super sensational tiles!!!! Mosaics you have to see to believe. The Sicis exhibit was absolute luxe.

Dulux Colour Awards 2010 - Winners announced 31 March 2010

If you ever get the chance to be involved in something prestigious related to your profession, DO IT!

Commercial Interior and Grand Prix Winner
'Fitzroy High School' by McBride Charles Ryan Architecture + Interior Design

The experience of being in a room of Design professionals was inspiring. Just to see works from Architects, Interior Designers, Colour Stylists and of course the other Student finalists! Being amongst the entries in that one room was validation of a job well done - and a nudge closer to what is a passion for me.

No luck this year, however with a very big possibility of an interior renovation sometime this year, could be that I'll have an entry for 2011 as a Stylist.

'Rose Bay Exterior' by Terese Grove

All the very best to Joyce Pang who won the Student category, a fellow student from iscd Colour Design Diploma 2009. Her prize, a glass Trophy from Dulux and $1000.

'Savaterre' Vineyard by Joyce Pang

Congratulations also to Lisa Nolan (Askew), Sharon Elliott, Liz Maher, Heather Meade, and Beverley Duncan. The seven of us, all students of iscd - past and present - were the majority of the finalists for the category - Student Years 1 -6. Apologies to Beverley, I don't seem to have a photo of your entry.

'Daemon Group' by Sharon Elliott
'Scullery Maid' by Liz Maher

'Rumble Tumble' by Lisa Nolan (Askew)

I'm on the lookout for other design competitions to enter. I know Designer Rugs has 'Evolve'. An entry for that will employ the experience I gained from the Surface Design Diploma I completed in 2008.

Up to 2007, creativity had taken a backseat for a while and I have only started doing larger projects as I now have some room to do them. Sewing is my first love I suppose you could say, always wanting to be in the fashion industry from a young age, but I only bring the sewing machine out once in a blue moon now.

Must...do...more!!

Magazines are a drug. With subscriptions to quite a few, ideas endlessly flow now. Finding the time to fulfil the 'need' to work in the industry while working fulltime is a juggling act.

Thought I might see if there is a way to get some 'work experience' with a stylist, somewhere, somehow!!

Some more pics from the night:Student Category Heather Meade, Liz Maher, Sharon Elliott and me
Guildford Lane Gallery interior Commercial entries More entries

The interior of the gallery was fantastic with each wall being covered by entries. The wait staff were all dressed in painters overalls with a different colour bandana and the serving trays were the shape of an artist's paint palette. Each tray had a small foam roller with a splotch of colour as if painted by the roller. Very 'arty' for the occassion.

Looking forward to next year.

Thanks also to Liz for showing Sharon and me a great Restaurant in Melbourne where we dined and congratulated each other many times over great food and wine to end the night.