Above: King & Wood Mallesons by Geyer Pty Ltd

Representing all categories of professional, qualified designers in Australia, the DIA is the only multi-disciplinary organisation and for over 60 years has been actively improving the community recognition and status of Australian designers. The DIA (WA) 2014 Design Awards, now in its 12th year, on Friday showcased the best of WA talent across the fields of visual communication, product design and interior spaces.

This year, says DIA (WA) President Gavin Campbell, they’ve really tried to elevate the awards and increase recognition. By working more closely with their partners, especially their Gold Partners Audi, mondoluce and ISIS, and by moving the event to the State Theatre in Perth (designed by Kerry Hill Architects), it has been a huge success.

Taking out Best in State Award for the interior design for the King & Wood Mallesons legal offices in Perth was Geyer Pty Ltd. CEO Pru Sanderson says:

“The project is a sophisticated example of how to marry the privacy and confidentiality requirements of a legal practice with new work practices and employee expectations. The design has lessons for all contemporary work environments, as it recognises the need for staff collaboration and development in a world saturated by technology.

To quote Geyer: ‘While technology has vastly improved the passive sharing of knowledge, it has reduced opportunities for interaction … it reduces the opportunity for sharing of tacit knowledge where deeper learning and skill-building occurs and reduces the opportunity for relationship building that become the foundation of future knowledge exchange. By adopting an open and flexible work floor where senior King & Wood Mallesons staff are physically accessible, the organisation is able to foster knowledge sharing and collaborative working.’

ALL THE WINNERS

Above: Kalgoorlie Courthouse by Hassell

The Best in State Award, 5 Award of Merits and 9 Commendations were presented in the following categories;

INTERIOR SPACES – Professional
Corporate
Best in State – Geyer Pty Ltd, King & Wood Mallesons
Award of Merit – Geyer Pty Ltd, King & Wood Mallesons
Commendation – JUO, Trades Hall
Commendation – Hassell, Aurecon Workplace
Commendation – Hassell, WorkZone Perth

Public/Institutional
Award of Merit – Hassell, Kalgoorlie Courthouse

Hospitality
Commendation – Habitat 1, Public House

Residential
Commendation – JUO, Matilda Residence

Retail
Award of Merit – Bremick Group, Cabinet Noir

VISUAL COMMUNICATION – Professional
Publication
Commendation – Luminosity, Bonfire Brochure

PRODUCT DESIGN – Professional
Furniture
Commendation – Forlano Design, The Unforgotten

Above: The Unforgotten by Penelope Forlano of Forlano Design

Above: Portico Restaurant by Megan Halton of Central Institute of Technology

INTERIOR SPACES – Student
Hospitality
Commendation – Megan Halton of Central Institute of Technology, Portico Restaurant

PRODUCT DESIGN – Student

Furniture
Award of Merit – Shannon Riddle of Central Institute of Technology, 0.45
Award of Merit – Kianoosh Kavoosi of Central Institute of Technology, T Box
Commendation – Ali Sattarpanah of Central Institute of Technology, The TreeHouse

Above: 0.45 by Shannon Riddle from Central Institute of Technology

Images from the event:

Event Photography by Adam Mazur MDIA / Atomik Arts

Design Institute of Australia (WA Branch)
design.org.au