THE FUTURE OF DESIGN IS VIVID

Website: www.furnitex.com.au
The annual VIVID (Vibrant Visions in Design) showcase at this year’s Furnitex Trade Fair in Melbourne gave birth to a whole new breed of talented Australian designers. We couldn’t be more excited to see some of the innovative work coming out of our future design pool – most of all because almost all of the 100 pieces that were submitted for inclusion by some 48 designers in VIVID are eligible for the Green Award, making this one of the year’s premier opportunities to see the direction of sustainable design in Australia.

Uli Hasel has described this year’s VIVID as “the most outstanding we have had for a long time” – high praise considering this particular showcase has always enjoyed a reputation among the country’s design circles as a platform for the ‘next big thing’. VIVID 2009 brought to the forefront a keen focus on diversity; everything from a wooden ottoman designed by wood worker David Norris (top left); the hexagonal, multiculturalism influenced Peskun coffee table by Ahmed Skaka.

And going green is looking good, with so many delights it was hard to choose a favourite for us. Highlights included the Volcano Sofa by Yoshio Takagi, and the Pod Baby Cot by Ahmed Skaka (pictured below right) made from 100% recycled paper. You can see more of the Vivid designers’ work online.

Images from top:
Wallpaper that can be illuminated as lighting art by Sean Diamond
A multi-functional, living grass furniture piece by Nicola Macklin
Pendant light that floats like an ethereal cloud by Vi Nguyen
A wooden ottoman designed by wood worker David Norris