Unquestionably the most popular highlight at Furnitex each year is VIVID - Vibrant Visions in Design, the new and emerging designer competition and innovation showcase celebrating now its 5th consecutive testimonial of Australian design talent. It was again a must see for the 17,000+ visitors to the fair and provided a glimpse of furniture trends to come as well as a launching platform for new release products.

VIVID 2007 featured 35 Australian based designers from Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia with 70 Australian made products in the three categories Student and Concept for prototypes and Commercial for new releases. Two thirds of the designers had never before shown in public. View images

Open nationally to tertiary design students and designers in business less than 5 years and to pre-set selection criteria, VIVID at Furnitex has established itself as the event for furniture designers launching their career and seeking exposure to a large number of national and international trade visitors. VIVID is a curated showcase focussing on a cross section of furniture products with a very noticeable Australian signature.

Show favourites from VIVID 2007 include, JOEY by NMIT student Oliver Ward, a small flat-pack children's chair made from recycled plastic and KANGAROO Set by Melbourne designer Drew Martin, a table and stool setting made from lacquered steel complete with kangaroo cut-outs.

Also from Victoria, the humorous SHADOW Magazine Rack by Yuichiro Nakano, the interactive STITCH IT Children's chair by Sally Thomas, city skyline inspired SHORTS Stool made from timber off-cuts by Kain Lucas, clever box in a box VIEW Seating by Monash student Tim Lawrence, CHAISETTE Café Stool by Swinburne student Stephanie Wilson made from PVC tubing plus hundreds of beads, a delicate and painterly MONDRIAN Chair by Fabio Cotrone and spinal VOLITO Chair by Nicholas Dunand.

From New South Wales, STACK OF DRAWERS by Ian Factor of Factor Design, SEDIA DELL'AMORE Bench and HATBOX Ottoman by David Norrie and ELLIPSE Fruit Bowl by UTS student Daniel So.

Queenslander Kent Gration introduced his Wambamboo Range with ABBOT Lamp and COSTELLO Seat and fellow Queenslander Philip Boorman a piece of Coffee tableArt THE JOURNEY, a glass top coffee table with a hinged Queensland cedar and maple base inspired by human relationships.

South Australia was strongly represented by members of the JamFactory in Adelaide each showing two products TABLE NUMBER ONE by Gareth Brown, a baroque desk with hand-carved mahogany legs and a New Zealand rimu top finished with white lacquer and SPLIT a group of solid timber stools featuring turned and split legs. David Potts showed the graffiti inspired STOBY Light and Pole and PUZZLE Table and John Quan presented SAN a flat-pack table and CLICK Knife Block.

A series of chairs from Western Australia, Wave Rock inspired LANDUDNO Chair by Robert Williams, L3 Rocker by Central Tafe WA student Noah Birch and OLIVIA and VIRGINIA Chairs by Curtin University student Padja Perina and the odd one out: LOFTY Floor Lamp by Steven Pooley.

VIVID 2007 judges Nicole Johnson, Sales Manager of Corporate Culture, Melbourne, Maria McLeod, Director, Colby Furniture, Wendy Moore, Editor Home Beautiful and VIVID 2003 award winner Nick Rennie had the honourable task to select a winner in each category.

Ms Jacinta Allan, Minister for Education Services, Employment, Skills and Women's Affairs together with John Osmelak, General Manager of Furnishing Industry Association of Australia (FIAA) Vic/Tas presented the three awards:

Concept Award winner

CLICK Knife Block by South Australian designer John Quan
Short-listed: STOBY Light and Pole by David Potts (SA), LANE Suite and SIDETABLE Two by Justin Vecchio (VIC) and VOLITO Chair by Nicholas Dunand (VIC).

Student Award winner

++ (plus plus) Children's Furniture by UTS student Kana Todaka
Short-listed: STACK OF DRAWERS by Ian Factor (NSW), L3 Rocker by Noah Birch (WA), JOEY Children's Chair by Oliver Ward (VIC) CHAISETTE Cafe´ Stool by Stephanie Wilson (VIC).

Commercial Award winner

GORJOSO Chair by Sydney-based designer Liam O'Brien
Short-listed: FLOSION by Amy Tang (NSW), TABLE Number One and SPLIT Stools by Gareth Brown (SA), TAVOLINO Table by Liam O'Brien (NSW) and THE JOURNEY Table by Philip Boorman (QLD)

There are many aspects to make participation worthwhile for aspiring designers - the chance to receiving an award is only one of them. Concept and Student award winners each received a cash prize of $1,000 and the Commercial award winner a stand package to the value of $3,500 at Furnitex next year.

VIVID at Furnitex is an excellent opportunity to meet and exchange information and ideas with fellow designers and gauge industry and public response to a new product, learn about marketing strategies and meet manufacturers. Application and participation in VIVID at Furnitex, if selected, is free of charge. Keep an eye on the Furnitex website for the 2008 applications - conditions do apply and are listed in the relevant application document.

Uli Hasel
Curator
August, 2007

Uli Hasel is an award winning furniture designer based in East Gippsland and has been curator for VIVID since its inception in 2003.

VIVID at Furnitex 2007, the 5th Testimonial of Australian Design Talent, was held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre in July, 2007

Full list of VIVID 2007 exhibitors

Commercial - New Releases

• Amy Tang - Amz Designs
• David Norrie - Splinter Workshop
  www.splinterworkshop.com.au
• Drew Martin - Rock Martin
  www.rockmartin.com.au
• Elizabeth Lawrence - Flaunt Design
  www.flauntdesign.com.au
• Fabio Cotrone
• Gareth James Brown - Gjamesdesign
  www.gjamesdesign.net
• Kain Lucas - Kain Lucas Design
  www.kainlucas.com.au
• Kent Gration - Integration Studio
  www.integrationstudio.com.au
• Liam O'Brien
  www.liamobrien.net
• Peter McLisky - Peter McLisky Sculpture
  www.petermclisky.com.au
• Philip Boorman - Design by Philip Boorman
  www.philipboorman.com.au
• Sally Thomas - Salt Furniture
• Steven Pooley - Saru Design Pty Ltd
  www.sarudesign.com.au
• Yuichiro Nakano - Yuichiro Nakano Design
  www.yuichironakano.com

Concept - Prototypes

• David Potts - David Potts Design
  www.jamfactory.com.au
• John Quan
  www.jamfactory.com.au
• Justin Vecchio - Vecchio Design
  www.vecchiodesign.com
• Kevin O'Connor - Kevin O'Connor Furniture
• Nicholas Dunand - Objext
  www.objext.com.au
• Robert Williams - Inji Design

Student - Prototypes

• Amanda Axiak - Swinburne
• Daniel So - UTS
• Edie Kurzer - RMIT
• Ian Factor - Sturt School for Wood
  www.highlandsnsw.com.au/factordesign
• Kana Todaka - UTS
• Kelly Fong - Swinburne
• Matthew Potter - Swinburne
• Noah Birch - Central Tafe WA
• Oliver Ward - NMIT
• Pajda Perina - Curtin University
  www.perina.net
• Stephanie Wilson - Swinburne
• Tim Lawrence - Monash