The Design Institute of Australia has revealed the recipients of its highly sought-after Designers Australia Awards 2023, as well as announced its Graduate of the Year Award.
Out of 230 awards nominations from around the country, eighty-six were shortlisted in this year Designers Australia Awards, resulting in three recipients earning category awards, one designer earning the President’s Award and 32 designers receiving Merit Awards.
Jurors appointed to judge the three awards categories Place, Use and Interact, included Jam Factory’s CEO Brian Parkes; The Fulcrum Agency co-founder Emma Williamson; multicultural artist Grace Lilian Lee; Gene Bawden, communication designer and Head of Department (Design) at Monash University, Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture; and Australian Tapestry Workshop’s CEO Sophie Travers.
Coinciding with the Designers Australia Awards is the Madeline Lester Excellence Award. Part of the Graduates of the Year Awards program, the Madeline Lester Excellence Award is intended to give recognition to an emerging designer with exciting prospects. This year, one designer from a pool of 163 candidates has been honoured with the prestigious accolade.
Place
Tonkin Zulaikha Greer for Campbell House, Private Offices.
Campbell House by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer.
Image:
Cieran Murphy
The jury commended this project for “presenting an exemplary and sensitive response to adaptive reuse, integrating contemporary design within heritage contexts. By extending landscape and natural light into the building (and integrating furniture elements into the garden), the threshold is blurred between inside and outside, whilst a legible interior is retained through spatial simplicity.”
Use
Design Health Collab for Palm – Breathing new life into asthma treatment
Design Health Collab for Palm – Breathing new life into asthma treatment
Image: Supplied
The jurors applauded the design team for the relevance and “timeliness of this project,” which comes at a time when access to clinical support and management “is under increased pressure.” Judges praised the project’s ability to support individuals to self-manage and administer medication accurately and efficiently. Jurors further commended the design team for their ability to develop in-house prototyping of components during the pandemic, resulting in an exceptional customization and production model for tailored healthcare solutions.
Interact
Deepend Group for Reach-out — PeerChat.
Deepend Group for Reach-out — PeerChat
Image: Supplied
The project received praise from the jurors for its ability to connect young people with clinical mental health services through peer support, promoting early intervention between youths. “At a time when our wellbeing and mental health services are under increased pressure, this project demonstrates how inclusive, unbiased and timely peer support can reduce distress, increase mental health knowledge, enhance wellbeing through connection, and improve accessibility for vulnerable communities.”
President’s Award
Andrew Rogers, ARID
Andrew Rogers, president of ARID.
Image: Supplied
Principal of ARID, Andrew Rogers has more than 25 years experience in product and industrial design and commercialisation. He is a multi-award-winning designer who has facilitated the development of more than 300 products. Awarded a DIA Fellowship in 2013, Rogers has been actively involved in championing Australian design and supporting Australian designers for many years. Throughout his prolific career, he has served as a Good Design Ambassador, an advisor for the Australia China Business Council, and as an Australian Liaison Officer to China for International Council of Societies of Industrial Designers (now World Design Organization).
The jury applauded Rogers’ design abilities, as well as his ongoing commitment to promoting the profession, commenting that he has demonstrated first-hand just how good design can be used to make positive and lasting changes within society.
“ARID design continues to be recognised for their timely and necessary products developed for a range of clients across the areas of architectural, medical, educational, electronic, household and commercial products. Key recent projects recognised by the DIA and other awards programs include the Embarr Argus Bush Fire Protection System, Enseal Wine Packaging and Entrust technology system and The Ned’s Head FDA Approved Face Shields, just to name a few.
Madeline Lester Excellence Award
Sandra Srun from the University of New South Wales.
Portrait of Sandra Srun.
Image: Supplied
Source: Architecture - architectureau
