Registrations have opened for the 2026 Australian Furniture Design Award (AFDA), presented by Stylecraft and the National Gallery of Victoria. The competition invites Australian designers to submit furniture and lighting concepts addressing the theme “Living Well Living Small.”

The brief responds to denser urban living and smaller Australian homes, calling for designs that enhance comfort, functionality and wellbeing within compact spaces. The jury will evaluate submissions for adaptability, multifunctionality, sustainable materials and commercial viability within the Stylecraft range.

AFDA operates as a two-stage competition. Stage One, opening October 20, requires designers to submit a concept and information about their professional practice. From the entries received, a shortlist will be invited to Stage Two, where they must present resolved prototypes for exhibition and judging at the Stylecraft showroom during Melbourne Design Week 2026.

All shortlisted competitors receive a $1,000 honorarium to assist with prototype development. The winner receives $20,000 and the opportunity to develop a commercial range or product with Stylecraft, which operates six showrooms across Australia and represents contemporary European and local furniture and lighting brands.

The 2026 jury comprises Ross Gardam (Founder & Director, Ross Gardam), Pascal Gomes-McNabb, Brian Parkes (CEO, JamFactory), Tony Russell (Brand Director, Stylecraft) and Gemma Savio (Curator of Contemporary Design and Architecture, NGV).

Previous AFDA winners have successfully transitioned their award-winning designs into commercial collections with Stylecraft. Seaton McKeon’s 2015 win led to the Paperclip collection in 2017. Elliat Rich’s 2017 win resulted in the Different Thoughts collection in 2020. James Walsh’s 2020 win produced the Tuck collection, including furniture and a rug. The 2022 and 2024 winners, Ashley Eriksmoen and Marta Figueiredo, are currently developing their collections with Stylecraft’s product team.

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The competition timeline runs from registration opening on October 16 through to Stage One closing on November 17. Stage Two notifications go out November 21, with submissions due April 22, 2026. Shortlisted designers must attend presentations on May 13, 2026, when the exhibition opens at Stylecraft’s showroom.

Designers must register before entering. Full competition details and registration are available at the Stylecraft website.

Stylecraft
stylecraft.com.au

National Gallery of Victoria
ngv.vic.gov.au

Photography
Ben Moynihan
Noel McLaughlin
Tom Ross
Andre Castellucci
Zoe Twomey-Birks
Melissa Hobbs