Announcing... The Design Files Design Awards!

After more than 10 years profiling local creatives, documenting beautiful Australian architecture and homes, oohing and ahh-ing over the most enviable interiors, uncovering and championing Australia’s talented designers and makers… we’re SUPER EXCITED to take things up a notch, with the launch of The Design Files Design Awards.

We’ve created this awards program to formally acknowledge the designers, architects and makers who contribute to Australia’s vibrant creative community…. and whilst we know there’s no shortage of amazing awards programs out there, this one aims to be a little different.

The Design Files Awards cover 12 different creative categories, we have 31 (!) esteemed judges, and there’s $30,000 in prize money up for grabs.

We wanted to create an awards program which celebrates the breadth of design and creativity we celebrate here on The Design Files  – from small scale, handcrafted practices, to complex, collaborative projects. That’s why this is the only awards program which brings together residential architecture and interior design, alongside innovative new work by Australia’s most talented furniture designers, craft practitioners, floral designers, textile designers, stylists + art directors and more.

ALL the info, prizes, judging criteria and eligibility can be found on a very swish new Design Awards website (thankyou Annie Portelli and PDA – legends!)… but here’s a breakdown of the categories we’ll be awarding :

Residential Architecture

This category seeks to award one standout Australian residential architecture Project. Ground-up builds, renovations and additions are all eligible within this category.

Judges : Clare Cousins (Clare Cousins Architects), Graham Burrows (JCB) and Albert Mo (Architects EAT)

The Residential Architecture award is supported by Brickworks.

Interior Design

This category seeks to award one distinctive Australian residential interior design Project created by an individual or studio.

Judges : David Flack (Flack Studio) Yasmin Ghoniem (Amber Road) and Adriana Hanna (Kennedy Nolan)

The Interior Design award is supported by Miele.

Landscape Design

This category seeks to award one standout Australian Landscape Design project. Residential, public and community gardens are all eligible within this category.

Judges : Paul Bangay (Paul Bangay Garden Design), Rick Eckersley (Eckersley Garden Architecture) and Georgina Reid (The Planthunter)

The Landscape Design award is sponsored by Eco Outdoor.

Lighting Design

This category seeks to award one distinctive Australian lighting design project. Individual products or product ranges developed within Australia, bespoke designs, one-off lighting projects and installations will be considered in this category.

Judges : Christopher Boots (Christopher Boots) and Kate Stokes (Coco Flip).

Furniture Design

This category seeks to award one distinctive Australian furniture design project. Individual products and/or product ranges developed within Australia, bespoke pieces, fixed and freestanding furniture designs will be considered in this category.

Judges : Richard Munao (Cult Design and NAU), Adam Goodrum, and Grazia Materia (Grazia & Co).

The Furniture Design award is sponsored by NAU.

Textile Design

This category seeks to award one distinctive Australian textile design project. One-off textile designs, textile collections and textile-based fashion or homewares products will be considered in this category.

Judges : Bonnie Ashley (Bonnie and Neil) and Lisa Gorman (Gorman).

Floral Design

This category seeks to award one outstanding Australian floral design project completed by any practising floral designer, group or organisation. Commercial commissions, including small floral arrangements, larger floral schemes, installations, botanical-based sculptures and art projects will be considered in this category.

Judges : Cherrie Miriklis-Pavlou (Flowers Vasette) and Joost Bakker.

The Floral Design Awards is sponsored by Interflora.

Styling + Art Direction

This category seeks to award one outstanding Australian styling or art direction project completed by either an individual, group or organisation. A single photograph or photographic series, advertising campaign, editorial project or personal styling project will be considered in this category.

Judges : Glen Proebstel and Megan Morton. 

The Styling & Art Direction Award is sponsored by Cult.

Handcrafted

This category seeks to award one outstanding Australian handcrafted project, completed by either an individual, group or organisation. A single handcrafted functional, decorative or wearable item, or a handcrafted product range will be considered in this category. Practitioners of any handcrafted discipline are eligible to enter.

Judges : Louse Olsen (Dinosaur Designs), Maree Clarke and Chloë Powell (Craft Victoria).

The Handcrafted Award is sponsored by Jansz Tasmania.

Sustainable Design

This category seeks to award one outstanding Australian sustainable design project, completed by either an individual, group or organisation. Any project which is exemplary of sustainable innovation is eligible, including, but not limited to, architectural projects, industrial design projects, functional products, furniture and lighting.

Judges : Jeremy McLeod (Breathe Architecture, Nightingale Housing) and Abigail Forsyth (KeepCup).

The Sustainable Design award is sponsored by Mercedes me.

Emerging Designer

This category seeks to award one designer, architect or independent creative, working in any creative discipline, who has launched their professional practice within the last three years.

Judges : Lucy Feagins (The Design Files), Anne-Maree Sargeant (Authentic Design Alliance) and Henry Wilson (Studio Henry Wilson).

The Emerging Designer Award is supported by Phoenix Tapware.

Collaboration

This category seeks to award one collaborative design project, where two or more separate creative practitioners, businesses or entities have come together to create one collaborative product, product range, installation, built structure or other creative project.

Judges : Ken Done, Jeremy Wortsman (The Jacky Winter Group), and Amanda Henderson (Gloss Creative).

Phew…!

Entries are open NOW – until June 7th.

Winners will be announced in a fancy awards ceremony at Deakin Edge, Federation Square in Melbourne on Thursday September 19th 2019!

We’re incredibly grateful to our sponsors for throwing their incredible support behind this brand new awards program – THANKYOU Brickworks, Miele, Cult, NAU, Interflora, Mercedes me, Eco Outdoor, Jansz Tasmania and Phoenix Tapware.

Massive thanks also to our supporters and collaborators – including all our brilliant judges, photographer  Eve Wilson for capturing our campaign imagery so beautifully,  our official hotel partner, Adelphi Hotel, our publicist Esther Navarro-Orejon of The Project Agency, Anne-Maree Sargeant and Authentic Design Alliance for helping us advocate for original Australian design, and to Sample, CAPI and Cookes Food for future festivities!

ALL the info, prizes, judging criteria and eligibility can be found over at the TDF Design Awards website.