HOW DESIGN COMPETITIONS CAN LAUNCH YOUR CAREER

Celebrating its tenth year in 2015, the BIA is the only bathroom competition of its kind in Australia, providing student and professional designers with invaluable career opportunities as part of its impressive prize packages. This year, the competition calls for designers to push the boundaries of bathroom design by creating an innovative tapware concept for the contemporary bathroom environment.

For professional entrants, the BIA awards the winner a $10,000 cash prize as well as prototyping of their bathroom product by one of the world’s largest bathroom brands, Nobili, offering a career-boosting opportunity for many designers who hold dreams of seeing their bathroom designs become a reality.

“We understand the challenges of getting a good idea off the ground,” said Reece Bathroom Business Manager, Daniela Santilli, “which is why this prize is tailored towards supporting professional designers in achieving their product and project goals.”

BIA 2014 Professional winner Michael Hoppe with his design

BIA 2015 judge and Principal at Woods Bagot, Amanda Stanaway says being part of the process from design to production is a priceless experience.

“The power of this competition is the opportunity to see design go into prototype – a wonderful privilege for a professional designer. Being part of the production process and learning the compromise in design and commercials to get a product to market is invaluable.”

-Amanda Stanaway

For emerging and student designers looking to further their career and make their mark in Australia’s highly competitive design industry, the BIA’s student prize winner will be presented with a rare opportunity to gain international experience with Roca, one of the world’s leading bathroom specialists, as well as a $5000 cash prize.

BIA 2014 Student winner Queena Le on her internship in Barcelona

The two-week internship will take place at the brand’s headquarters in Spain, giving budding designers a first-hand insight into how this internationally renowned bathroom design brand operates.

“For many student designers in Australia, the opportunity to work alongside and gain first-hand experience from an international designer-manufacturer is unique and rare. While in Spain they will meet with the Roca design team, work alongside Roca Design Manager and BIA judge, Josep Congost, and gain valuable on-the-job experience”.

For many Australian designers, career-defining opportunities such as these are few and far between. Amanda Stanaway says that competitions like BIA gain entrants mass exposure and put them directly in contact with judges who are international industry leading designers.

“Designers have the opportunity to engage with different industry professionals and the media, elevating their profile and boosting their personal brand. Tapware is also one of the many products that we ‘touch’ everyday: and who doesn’t want to have an impact on the product that touches someone’s life daily!”

-Daniela Santilli

Entries for the 2015 Reece Bathroom Innovation Awards are open until June 1, enter today at: bathroominnovation.com.au