TDF Design Awards

Announcing Our 2020 The Design Files + Laminex Design Awards FINALISTS!

It’s a big one today, people! Say hello to the 2020 FINALISTS in The Design Files + Laminex Design Awards!

We were thrilled to receive more than 500 entries across 10 categories in this year’s awards program. Despite the challenges that 2020 has brought, it’s been so encouraging to see this incredible response, and to witness the sheer excellence that continues to come from Australia’s creative industries, even in tough times. Now THAT is something to celebrate!

Read on for a snapshot of the 119 projects which have been shortlisted – and head to the Awards Website for a closer look at each project. Over the coming weeks and months, we’ll feature each shortlist in more detail – ahead of the winners’ announcement in November!

Written
by
Lucy Feagins

RaeRae House by Maynard Architects. Photo – Peter Bennetts

Quandong Cottage by Zana Wright. Photo – Caitlin Mills.  Highgate Park House by Vokes and Peters. Photo by Christopher Frederick Jones

CJH Studio by Penthouse M. Photo – Cathy Schusler. Malvern Residence by Doherty Design Studio. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

Whynot Street Carport and Pool by Kieron Gait Architects. Photo – Cristopher Frederick Jones. Garden House Garden by Ben Scott Garden Design. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

HARU Light by Skeehan Studio. Photo – Rachel Byron. Ceto Collection by Ross Gardam. Photo – Haydn Cattach.

Chromatic Fantastic Cabinets, Danielle Brustman. Photo – Jonathan Griggs. L’Art de vivre Lounge Chair by Fomu. Photo – Sean Fennessy. Styling – Jess Lillico

Annie Coop Textiles by Annie Coop. Photo – Lillie Thompson. The Tiwi Strong Women’s Collection by North. Photo – Hilary Faye.

Holding Light by Daisy Watt and Samantha Seary. Photo – Daisy Watt. Graft Vase Series by Liam Flemming. Photo – Grant Hancock.

100% Recycled Eyewear by Good Citizens. Photo – Dan Hilburn. New Model by Dowel Jones and Soft Serve Studio. Photo – Cricket Studio.

Studio Collection by Lucas Wearne. Photo – Lucas Wearne. J5 Cabinet by James Howe. Photo – Peter Ryle.

Gulnura Table by Foolscap Studio + Foolscap Studio. Photo – Tatjana Plitt. In Absence by Edition Office + Yhonnie Scarce. Photo – Ben Hoskings. 

Writer
Lucy Feagins
6th of July 2020

Drum roll please…. in partnership with Laminex, today we share the finalists in the 2020 The Design Files + Laminex Design Awards!

From incredible Australian homes in the Residential Architecture category; to thoughtful, detailed craftsmanship in the Handcrafted category; to innovative and inspiring ideas in the Sustainable Design or Initiative category, the thing I love most about our Awards program is the broad range of projects it encompasses – big and small! It really presents such a thorough and varied snapshot of the design landscape in this country, and if this Awards program is anything to go by, there’s so much to celebrate.

We have 119 finalists (!) across 10 categories – Residential Architecture (supported by Brickworks), Interior Design (supported by De’Longhi), Landscape Design, Lighting Design, Furniture Design (supported by Jardan), Textile Design, Handcrafted, Sustainable Design or Initiative (supported by Country Road), Collaboration and Emerging Designer (supported by Phoenix Tapware).

The shortlisting process this year was not for the fainthearted! Over countless emails, Zoom calls and a couple of socially distanced meetings, we worked alongside our 25 judges to refine each shortlist. Honestly – it wasn’t easy, the calibre was so high across the board, and we’re so grateful for every single entry. THANK YOU to everyone who entered, and of course, to our expert judges for lending their time and wisdom to the process.

While each shortlisted project is listed below, the photographs here represent only a small sample of the lineup! You can see more about each finalist right now on our Awards website. We’ll be taking a closer look at all these projects over the coming months, as we get closer to our Awards Ceremony in November. (Fingers crossed on that!).

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: John Wardle (John Wardle Architects), Rachel Nolan (Kennedy Nolan) and Karen Alcock (MAA Architects)

The Residential Architecture award is supported by Brickworks.

Austin Maynard – RaeRae House
Benn & Penna Architecture – Balmain Rock
Vokes & Peters – Highgate Park House
Topology Studio – House at Otago Bay
Anthrosite Architects – Waratah Secondary House
Clare Cousins Architects – Beaumaris House
Zana Wright – Quandong Cottage
Archier & HIP V HYPE – Davison Street
Emma Mitchell Architects – CLT House
MRTN Architects – Good Life House
Andrew Burges Architects – Bismarck House
Sibling Architecture – Glassbook House
Lineburg Wang – Park Road House
Rob Kennon Architects  – Fitzroy North House 02
CO-AP Architects – Woollahra Courtyard House
Jesse Bennett Studio – Tjuringa
FMD Architects – CLT House
Studio Bright  – Ruckers Hill House

INTERIOR DESIGN

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

Judges: Miriam Fanning (Mim Design), Chelsea Hing (Chelsea Hing) and Juliette Arent (Arent & Pyke)

The Interior Design award is supported by De’Longhi.

Flack Studio  – Potts Point Residence
Flack Studio – Middle Park Residence
Fowler & Ward  – Bourke Street Apartment
Studio CD  – Art House
Workroom – Toorak Residence
Edwina Glenn – Brass House
Robson Rak Architecture & Interiors – Spanish Queen House
Studio Gorman  – The Quarterdeck
YSG Studio  – Budge Over Dover
Studio Moore  – Ross Farm – Barn
Studio Moore – Ross Farm – Dairy
Hearth Studio  – Slow Beam
CJH Studio – Penthouse M
Doherty Design Studio – Malvern Residence Two

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 

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

Judges: Paul Bangay (Paul Bangay Garden Design), William Dangar (Dangar Barin Smith) and Georgina Reid (The Planthunter)

Acre – Dune House
Kate Seddon Landscape Design 
– Tarrawarra Estate Pathway
Kate Seddon Landscape Design  – The Composed Garden
Kathleen Murphy Landscape Design – Native Retreat Studio Garden
Ian Barker Gardens – Deepdene
Tristan Peirce Landscape Architecture – Cottesloe 01
Rolling Stone Landscapes – Amongst The Trees
Keiron Gait Architects + Dan Young Landscape Architect –Whynot Street Carport and Pool
Eckersley Garden Architecture – Yarra River Cascading Garden
Garden Life  – Palm Beach Garden
Ben Scott – Garden House Garden

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 are all eligible in this category.

Judges: Volker Haug (Volker Haug Studio) and Kate Stokes (Coco Flip)

Skeehan Studio  – Haru
Dale Hardiman & Stephen Royce – Open Garden
Liam Fleming & Dean Toepfer  – Solute
Ross Gardam – Ceto
Koskela – Ngalya/Together
Studio Henry Wilson  – Pillar
Copper Design  – Flask Lighting System
Takeawei – Lighthouse Lamp
Alex Earl  – Olid Ring Pendant
Pop & Scott –Cosmos Collection

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: Cassie Byrnes (Variety Hour) and Luciana Wallis (Warwick Fabrics).

Kip & Co with Bábbarra Women’s Centre – Kip & Co x Bábbarra
Annie Cooper – Annie Coop Textiles
Baina – Collection .01
Ellen McKenna  – From Art To Fashion
Gemma Threadgate  – Sleep
Magpie Goose – Magpie Goose
North Home – The Tiwi Strong Women’s Collection
Gorman & Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency – Mangkaja x Gorman
Pampa – To-yik-ca
CASTLE – Little Garden Bedlinen

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 are all eligible in this category.

Judges: Nick Garnham (Jardan) and Khai Liew (Khai Liew Design).

The Furniture Design award is supported by Jardan.

Adam Goodrum & Arthur Seigneur – Exquisite Corpse Credenza
Danielle Brustman – Chromatic Fantastic Cabinet
Manapan x Foolscap Studio – Gulnura Table
AKWT – Itto Table
Cenzo – Loop Chair
Ferguson George – Flyde Lounge Chair
Fomu – L’Art de Vivre Lounge Chair
Foolscap Studio – Soufflé Lounge
Hugh McCarthy & Foolscap Studio – JX8 Dining Table
James Howe – J7 Day Bed
Manuel Canestrini & Colin Whitehead – Symbiont Coffee Table
Oku Space – Breezeway Cabinet
Studio Thomas Lentini – Central Park Road Table
Biasol Studio – Comoda Sofa

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 are all eligible in this category.

Judges: Amanda Dziedzic (Amanda Dziedzic Glass), Elisa Carmichael, Bruce Rowe (Bruce Rowe Studio)

Tjunkaya Tapaya of Tjanpi Desert Weavers – Tjanpi Teapot
James Lemon – Pest Chairs
Szilvassy – Aether
Daisy Watt and Samantha Seary – Holding Light
Georgina Proud – Glass Houses
Cut Throat Knives – Imprint
Kirsten Perry – The Lost Homes of Soft Boiled Beings
Liam Fleming – Graft Vase Series
Nicolette Johnson – Assemblage
Siân Boucherd – Oyster Shell
Tantri Mustika – Lithify

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN or INITIATIVE 

This category seeks to award one outstanding Australian sustainably designed product, concept, idea or initiative, developed by either an individual, group or organisation. This includes functional products, furniture and lighting, as well as concepts, ideas and community initiatives with positive environmental outcomes.

Judges: Karina Seljak (Seljak Brand) and Jeremy McLeod (Breathe Architecture)

The Sustainable Design or Initiative award is supported by Country Road.

Adam Cornish Design & Junglefy – Junglefy Breathing Wall
Dale Hardiman & Stephen Royce – Open Garden
Dowel Jones & Soft Serve Studio – New Model
Five Mile Radius – Waste Terrazzo
Good Citizens – 100% Recycled Eyewear
Commune & Co – Cirque du Soil
Koala Eco – Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
Returnr – Deposit-return system + products
Seed & Sprout – Raise The Bar
Melbourne Food Hub – Grow/Source/Eat
Sussex Taps – Circa
Waverly Woolen Mills – 100% Natural Fibre

EMERGING DESIGNER

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

Judges: Sophie Gannon (Sophie Gannon Gallery) and Simone LeAmon (Hugh Williamson Curator of Contemporary Design and Architecture, NGV).

The Emerging Designer award is supported by Phoenix Tapware.

Pierce Widera – Architects and Interior Designers
Brahman Perera – Interior Designer
Cassie Hansen – Ceramicist
CJH Studio – Interior Architects and Product Designers
James Howe – Furniture Designer
Fowler and Ward – Architects
Neighbourhood Studio – Sculptor
Kennon – Architects and Interior Designers

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: Amanda Henderson (Gloss Creative), Jeremy Wortsman (The Jacky Winter Group) and Megan Morton.

Nudie Jeans x Waverley Mills – Recycled Blanket
Arthur Seigneur & Adam Goodrum – Exquisite Corpse
Centre for Appropriate Technology, Elliat Rich & Outside Assembly -Wren Furniture Suite for ApMurra Furniture
Edition Office & Daniel Boyd – For Our Country
Edition Office & Yhonnie Scarce – In Absence
Manapan Furniture x Foolscap Studio – Gulnura Furniture Suite
Nicholas Johnston & Kristian Klein – Krof Cutlery
Obus & Olana Janfa – Olana x Obus
Pan After & Alice Oehr – Paper Pattern Collection
The Big Group & Koichi Takada Architects – Landmark by Lexus

Phew!

Winners will be announced in an awards ceremony at Deakin Edge, Federation Square in Melbourne on Thursday, November 5th, 2020.

You can explore photographs of all the shortlisted projects over on the TDF Awards website. Stay tuned for in-depth coverage of each category shortlist over the coming weeks – starting with a closer look at the Residential Architecture finalists next Monday!

Recent TDF Design Awards