For those who’ve been living under a design rock, Workshopped is the annual exhibition, now in its 17th year, with the sole objective of providing local design with a local and international public platform.

And it works! Over the past 17 years Workshopped has presented the work of over 450 designers through 17 exhibitions, which have been viewed by over 600,000 people.

Many designers have exhibited in successive Workshopped events, and gone on to establish local and international careers in design – Adam Goodrum, Jon Goulder, Jonathan Ingram, Charles Wilson and Kate Stokes are all part of the extended Workshopped family.

This year’s exhibition is on par as Workshopped’s largest – with 55 designs from around Australia and New Zealand, “ We were blown away by the number and quality of applications to exhibit this year,” says “Workshopped Director Raymond Scott”

So what attracts designers to participate in Workshopped?

French born Aussie Vincent Buret is already forging a strong local following with a range of beautiful lights and tables utilizing copper and concrete, and for Workshopped 17 Vincent has created the fun and functional Sir Wardrobe and striking Lost_Keys couch, “Designing for me provides an infinite way to communicate ideas., and Workshopped provides a perfect opportunity to expose your work to an enormous audience.”

For some designers it’s the sense of community and support. “I love producing highly marketable, original Australian made designs, and exhibiting in Workshopped with other Australian designers is like being with family! This is my second Workshopped exhibition and I love it!” Kiwi designer Dave Dawson was blown away by the opportunity to exhibit in a high traffic shopping centre, “Workshopped 17 is a great platform and provides a meaningful springboard for a diversity of designers”.

In welcoming the crowd on opening night, Workshopped Director Raymond Scott, called out the fake design industry and the importance of architects and specifiers supporting local design, “Our focus is specifying more Australian product to interior designers, architects and specifiers for both residential and commercial projects – there’s so much local talent and great design, and it’s really exciting to be pitching all Australian product for projects locally and internationally.”

Click Here to VOTE in Workshopped’s People’s Choice Award, and go into the draw to win a range of excellent prizes.

Workshopped 17 is open to the general public 10th – 29th August.