Celebrating Local Talent — Design Tasmania Awards 2019

Words by Bronwyn Marshall

Celebrating local established and emerging talent, the Design Tasmania Awards are an ongoing promotion and recognition of innovation and ingenuity in contemporary design thought. The program brings together designer-makers educated in or calling Tasmania home, exemplifying Tasmania as the Design Island.

Taking place at the end of 2019, award winners were announced at the annual Gala Event on the 29th of November. The awards encompassed five category awards as well as five major awards including the newly established categories of Design for Impact, Fashion & Textiles as well as Visual Communications and the Premier’s Award. Established in 2006, the awards offer an insight into the continued journey and story of the design professional in all its stages. As a showcase of new and impactful product, the conversation of sustainable practice principles and a holistic approach to design is increasingly encouraged.

Disc Bowl by Ridgeline Pottery, winner of the Retail Award (top) and LOFT Lounge Chair by Van Tuil, winner of the Acquisitive Award and the Furniture Design Award (bottom).

The Honourable Sarah Courtney MP announced the Premier’s Award which was given to For The People & The West Coast Council for their ‘West Coast’ branding and identity campaign for Tasmania’s West Coast in recognition of a design project that empowers community to drive their own narrative. The Design for Impact Award, recognising local issues of conservation combined with innovation, was awarded to the Ceramic Artificial Spawning Habitat for the Spotted Handfish by Jane Bamford & CSIRO. The Emerging Design Award went to Kevin Hetebry for FOUNDRY, the Retail Award to Ridgeline Pottery for Disc Bowl, and the Acquisitive Award and Furniture Design Award were was given to Van Tuil for the LOFT Lounge Chair. Samantha Dennis received the Jewellery Award for Pearl Beetle, the Fashion and Textiles Award went to Ivi Made for Bill’s Backpack, and the Object Design Award was received by Tim Haley for Subliminal Planter.

Celebrating local, established and emerging talent, the Design Tasmania Awards are an ongoing promotion and recognition of innovation and ingenuity in contemporary design thought.

With support from the local contingent, the program is generously sponsored by Think Big, Moorilla, Foot and Playsted, DOT, Peppers Silo Hotel, Stillwater Restaurant, Moo Brew and Turner Stillhouse Gin. In its pursuit of excellence, the Design Tasmania Awards are chaired by a matching calibre of design professionals, bringing earned experience, knowledge and an awareness of aspiring design prominence. The jury comprised Gregory Bonasera (Porcelain Bear), Lucy Given (LUC Design), Tamsin O’Neill (Green Magazine), Damian Gentile (LCI Melbourne), Emilie Joy (Art Director) and Claire Beale and Fiona Lehman (both from Design Tasmania).

As a showcase of new and impactful product, the conversation of sustainable practice principles and a holistic approach to design is increasingly encouraged.

Welcoming near to 100,000 visitors a year, Design Tasmania is Tasmania’s design drawcard. Across the winning categories, the clear and undeniable influence of unique innovation was felt in design that enhances the human experience. Whether through pursuing the extraordinary, empowering community, enabling collaboration or a combination of craft and technology, design that speaks to effortlessly aiding the everyday was applauded. Through a continued passion for design and a clear and directive investment in the arts, Tasmania is making significant headway as a design leader, and the Design Tasmania Awards are a manifestation of that dedication.

Celebrating local established and emerging talent, the Design Tasmania Awards are an ongoing promotion and recognition of innovation and ingenuity in contemporary design thought.

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The program brings together designer-makers educated in or calling Tasmania home, exemplifying Tasmania as the Design Island.