Our esteemed panel of Launch Pad Asia judges have looked, analysed, discussed and scored our six finalists for the 2017 competition. We all have to wait till 30 June to find out the identity of the winner – it will be announced at the INDE.Awards cereomony in Sydney. But for now, let’s get to know the finalists a little better!

The 2017 Launch Pad finalists…

Jonathan Saphiro Salim’s Never Mind Tableware Series (Waist Bowl and Shoulder Plate) is based on the idea of eliminating minute annoyances in daily life – those discomforts that have become so familiar to us that we no longer see them. Never Mind makes the unnoticeable noticeable and provides a means of correction, all the while conforming comfortably to our daily behaviours such that we don’t even notice the change. The Waist Bowl has an elevated foot ring that solves the problem of getting your fingers trapped beneath a hot bowl and the tabletop when you put down the bowl. Shoulder Plate has a protruding rim that prevents your thumb from touching the food when you’re carrying the plate.

Raghav Krishna’s Toro laptop sleeve has been designed for digital nomads. The aim is to bring some of the stability and ergonomic considerations of a cubicle workspace into a portable entity. The felt sleeve is constantly attached to the laptop and with a simple turn, doubles as an ergonomic stand with an optimal 20-35-degree angle to reduce back and neck strain. The sleeve has storage options for the digital nomad’s essentials: power pack, notebook, smartphone and stationery.

The Chicks jewellery holders by Jattamon Buddharee of Room International imagines jewellery not only as a body ornament but also as an ornament for the interior when not being worn. The bird-shaped holders match five easily recognisable bird shapes with the characteristics of different types of jewellery. So, a peacock provides a place for earrings, with the pattern of the tail feathers emerging in perforations where earrings can be attached. A duck in a pond accommodates rings, which can be hung on the duck’s beak or nestled in between ‘ripples’ in the water. The tall flamingo is a hanger for longer items such as necklaces and watches. The cockatoo and parrot get their plumage from the items they keep – hairpins for the cockatoo and hairbands for the parrot.

Khoo Soo Beng’s Spring Chair was inspired by the timeless Ikea Poang chair and the Eames Plywood Lounge Chair. The aim is to make the most of plywood’s strength and flexibility. A concave triangular frame allows the material to flex while maintaining structural strength. Variations in the thickness of the plywood control the flexibility of the structure. The use of engineered veneer (a more forest-friendly alternative to natural wood veneer) and the capacity for the chair to be flat packed contribute to its sustainable credentials.

Designed for kids, the Gerrafe lamp by Lok Bin Kai plays with the familiar shape of the giraffe. The swinging of the long neck transforms the format of the light from table lamp to night light. When the neck is raised, the light source provides illumination for a specific area. When the neck is lowered (as if the giraffe is drinking water), the light source acts like a night light by illuminating the surrounding area.

Sprout by Vonsatorn Chaicherdchuvong of Room International is an outdoor lounge chair system inspired by the branching of a tree. Extra functional ‘branches’ can be added to the base chair form to suit the behaviour, preferences and functional needs of the user. The add-on components include handles, a small shelf and coat hangers.

For 2017, Launch Pad is joining the INDE.Awards to help elevate Asia Pacific design to the global stage – a fantastic opportunity for our region’s emerging design talent to weigh-in on the direction A+D will be taking tomorrow. To see who comes out on top and receives Launch Pad Asia gold on June 30 in Sydney, get your tickets to the INDE Awards here!

Launch Pad 2017 is proudly brought to you by the teams at Schiavello (Official Partner) and Living Edge (Founding Partner)