Victoria showcases innovative and sustainable design
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16 July 2008
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Victorian innovation and sustainability have been recognised in the 2008 Premier’s Design Awards, a flagship event for the State of Design Festival.
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Victorian Innovation Minister Gavin Jennings said the State of Design, which runs from 16 -24 July, includes over 45 public events and Design Capital, a major conference featuring local and international design industry leaders as well as an exhibition of the Premier’s Design Award winners at the Melbourne Museum.
Announcing the winners of the biennial Premier’s Design Awards for 2008, Mr Jennings said the quality of entries reflected the breadth and depth of Victoria’s design sector.
“Victoria’s design sector is worth $4.8 billion and accounts for nearly $600 million in design-related exports annually,” Mr Jennings said.
“Research commissioned by the Victorian Government found a 5 per cent improvement in the value of design-driven exports would be worth over $700 million annually.
“The Premier’s Design Awards celebrate the quality of Victoria’s design sector in disciplines from architecture to industrial design and from fashion design to graphic design.
“The Victorian Government’s support for the design sector recognises that design is critical for competitive industries and vital to building liveable, sustainable and cohesive communities.
“Great design provides a strong identity in global markets, generates new business, products and processes and opens up global trade and investment opportunities.
“By putting innovation to work, our designers are also creating products that make more efficient and sustainable use of our resources from the manufacturing process through to the services these products deliver.”
Mr Jennings announced 28 Premier’s Design Marks across 10 categories for the 2008 Premier’s Design Awards with the majority of recipients focusing on innovative solutions to sustainability challenges.
“Design Marks were awarded for projects ranging from water and energy management systems to creative recycling of clothing and construction materials to architecture described as providing a uniquely Melbourne experience ,” Mr Jennings said.
Along with their Premier’s Design Mark, all recipients received a Premier’s Design Award trophy designed by renowned Melbourne architect Tom Kovac and manufactured by Alessi.
The work of the 28 Premier’s Design Mark recipients will be on display at Melbourne Museum throughout the State of Design of Festival and in an online virtual pavilion also designed by Tom Kovac at www.stateofdesign.com.au
The State of Design festival is a key initiative of the Brumby Government's $15 million Design Victoria Strategy, a four-year program to increase the competitive skills of Victorian designers and to raise awareness and use of design by the wider Victorian business community.
A key event of the 2008 State of Design Festival is Australia’s inaugural design and business conference Design Capital, which has attracted international and Australian design industry leaders.
“Design Capital is a unique event bringing together leading innovators, designers, business figures, the media and industry to discuss product, graphic, multimedia and architectural design as well as sustainability and innovation, brand development, commercialisation, manufacturing and export issues,” Mr Jennings said.
Presenters include: Theo Williams, Head of Design at Habitat, London; Anna Klingman, Founder of KL!NGMANN, New York; Jackson Tan and Patrick Gan, Creative Directors of Black Design, Singapore; and Allan Chochinov, Editor in Chief, Core 77, New York.
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