NGV and Stylecraft have officially announced the launch of stage one of the Australian Furniture Design Awards (AFDA) 2020. Designers can now register and send through submissions aligned with the Melbourne Design Week 2020 theme – “How can design shape life?” The winner of this two-stage competition will receive a grand prize of $20,000.

An industry jury including – Tony Russell, Brand Director, Stylecraft; Simone LeAmon, The Hugh Williamson Curator – Contemporary Design and Architecture, NGV; Brian Parkes, CEO, JamFactory; Helen Kontouris, Designer and Creative Director, LEN; and Tom Owens, Managing Director and Principal, Gensler – will judge the awards.

“We are excited to continue the legacy of this important award which offers a unique combination of recognition, professional development, financial support and commercial opportunity for the winning designer, recognising that furniture practice contributes both to our culture and economy,” said Anthony Collins, CEO of Stylecraft.

The AFDA was initiated in 2015 with Seaton McKeon bagging the inaugural award for The Sun, The Moon and Me – a freestanding light and mirror. For its second edition in 2017, Alice Springs-based designer Elliat Rich received the awards for her sculptural vanity, Place.

AFDA 2020 is open to all Australian designers and makers, with participants having to provide new and original furniture design concepts by 22nd November 2019. From here, a shortlist of five entrants will be invited to proceed to stage two and present their realised designs for exhibiting and judging at the Stylecraft showroom during Melbourne Design Week 2020.

In addition to the $20,000 prize, the winning designer will receive an invitation from Stylecraft to develop a design through to commercial production for distribution. This will be combined with a two-week residency at JamFactory in Adelaide where the designer will have the opportunity to experiment with new ideas and materials and even prototype new work.

Register for the Australian Furniture Design Awards today.

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