PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Thanks to all our enthusiastic voters in the inaugural Launch Pad People's Choice Online Poll. We had close to 1000 votes, but the stand-out winner with the most votes was the ATTA coffee table, by Nic Cairns. Thanks to all the voters, Nic has won a Mondaine watch valued at $699.

Congratulations also to the following voters who have all won prizes!

Daniel Marshall has won a Mondaine watch valued at $699

Gonzalo Portas, Danielle Wong and Tania Fisk have all won a subscription to the Indesign publication of their choice.

We look forward to your votes for next year's crop of finalists.

Posted Tuesday 8th September

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE DESIGN AND WIN!

The Launch Pad Poeple's Choice Poll is open!

You can now select your favourite design and WIN a Mondaine watch (valued at $699) or one of three magazine subscriptions - to Indesign, DQ (Design Quarterly) or Habitus.

Head directly to the poll page for your say, or for more information on this year's finalists click through to the Finalists page.

Good Luck! The poll officially closes on Friday September 4th, so don't miss out!

FINALISTS TAKE PART IN VALUABLE MENTORING AFTERNOON

The Launch Pad exhibition opened with an afternoon mentoring workshop, where key industry experts in retail, manufacture, design, marketing and media gathered to hear pitches and presentations from this year’s finalists on their prototypes and their design practice. Connections were made, discussions and debates engaged and finalists received practical and meaningful feedback.

It was fantastic to see the judging panel and mentors at this particular event in the unique program, who gave their time and expertise, interacting with and supporting the Launch Pad finalists. Living Edge once again proved their strong commitment to Launch Pad – and Australian design – hosting a myriad Launch Pad events, as well as the exhibition, and Service West also continued their unwavering support of the program.

The exhibition this year was greatly enhanced by the skills of Kathy Arnold and Chris Lane (of Arnold Lane), along  with installation and build assistance from Service West, Intermain and Porter’s Paints.Thank you so much for your contribution!

THE 2009 GROUP OF FINALISTS

THE MENTORS FOR 2009

PRIZES AWARDED FOR TOP SCORING FINALISTS

At the Launch Pad Industry Evening, our Launch Pad Ambassador Simone LeAmon proudly presented 3 finalists with awards.

The Living Edge Award went Stephen Procter for his Folding Dolls House and the Indesign Award this year went to two finalists, Tomek Archer for PegLeg and Nick Cairns for ATTA Coffee table.

These awards were selected by our national judging panel and based on the highest scored from the Live Judging round. Congratulations to all finalists!

View the photo gallery from this year's Launch Pad exhibition and events here

If you haven't made it to  Living Edge Studio yet to check out the fabulous exhibition, you still have plenty of time. The 2009 Finalists exhibition is on from now until 13 August 2009.

Venue: Living Edge Studio, Level 2, 74 Commonwealth St Surry Hills NSW
Dates: Thursday 30th July – Thursday 13th August
Hours: Living Edge Studio opening hours are Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm and Sat 10am-4pm

JUDGES SELECT 2009 FINALISTS

 Designer/ team and product or click here to view all finalists products

The finalists products will be exhibited at Living Edge Studio as a part of Saturday in Design.

Stay tuned to the 'FInalists' page of this website for product information and images of all the finalists.

Congratulations to all!

SHORT-LIST ANNOUNCED

Congratulations to all designers - the judges had some tough decisions to make and have reviewed almost 200 applications to create the short-list of products below. The short-listed products will now be transported from around the country to Sydney for the 2nd round of live judging. All Designers will also be notified by email.

Best of luck to the short-listed designers, and thanks to all who entered Launch Pad in 2009.

The Short-List:

ENTRIES NOW CLOSED - THE JUDGING BEGINS

A huge thank you to all the designers who have entered Launch Pad. With close to 200 applications, our judges are sure to have a very tough job on their hands.

The process of short-listing will begin soon and all applicants will be notified by email on the success of their entry. Stay tuned for more announcements.

POSTED 14 MAY

LAST CHANCE TO ENTER LAUNCH PAD FOR 2009

The Indesign office has been inundated with entries in the 2009 Launch Pad program and there is only 1 day until entries close!

With over 140 entries so far, this year is set to be the best yet.

If you haven't entered yet, you had better hurry - Indesign must receive your online application form PLUS your cd of product images by 5.30pm, Friday 8th of May.

Good Luck!

POSTED 7th MAY

ENTRIES EXTENDED UNTIL FRIDAY 8 MAY

Launch Pad is keeping entries open for one extra week to give Australia and New Zealand's brightest emerging designers more time to submit your prototypes!

Furniture, lighting, interior and exterior accessories are all welcomed.

Launch Pad invites all successful finalists to participate in a mentoring afternoon, where you can pitch your product to leading figures from the Australian design community. Launch Pad aims to connect you with the right people to move forward with your designs.

With the opportunity to win cash prizes, a profile in DQ magazine, and have your prototype exhibited at Living Edge studio during Saturday in Design, this is an opportunity not to be missed!

You can view the online application and program terms and conditions here

POSTED 23 APRIL 2009

JUDGING PANEL ANNOUNCED

We are delighted to announce the 2009 National Judging Panel for Launch Pad including:

• Neil Burley -  Anibou (Director)

• Shareen Joel - Shareen Joel Design (Director)

• Gavin Harris - Futurespace (Design leader, Interiors)

• Brian Parkes - Object Gallery (Associate Director)

• Anne-Maree Sargeant - AMS associated marketing services (Director)

• Clive Solari - D3 Design (Director) and active DIA (NSW chapter president)

These 6 judges will lend their knowledge, expertise and creativity gained rom extensive industry experience to shortlist and select the top 20-25 finalists. For more information about  previous judges and the judging process click here

POSTED 31 MARCH 2009

INTERNATIONAL REVIEW PANEL IS BUILDING...

We are extremely excited to start announcing the Launch Pad 2009 International Review Panel. This elite panel of judges from around the world will each review our selected top 20 finalists designs, providing critique and commentary, sharing knowledge and advice.

This year, Launch Pad will ask the International Panel to vote on their favourite finalists' design for a very special award.

2009 international panelists will include:

Tom Dixon (UK) tomdixon.net

Busk + Hertzog (Denmark) busk-hertzog.dk

Neils Gammelgaard - Pelican (Denmark) pelikan.dk

POSTED 16 MARCH 2009

SPECIAL EVENT: Q&A WITH BUSK AND HERTZOG

As friends, entrants and finalists of Launch Pad, we would like to you invite you to a special event. Our friends at Interstudio are bringing out acclaimed Danish design duo Busk + Hertzog for a visit to Sydney and Melbourne. In both cities, Interstudio are hosting a lunch Q & A session where you will have the opportunity to ask Flemming Busk and Stephan Hertzog questions about their creative practice, industry relationships, design processes and anything you might want to know.

The event details are:
Melbourne: Tuesday 24th February, 12-2pm
Interstudio showroom Level 4, 185 Flinders Lane Melbourne

Sydney: Thursday 26th February, 12-2pm
Interstudio showroom, Icon gallery 693 South Dowling St Redfern

This is a truly fantastic and unique opportunity to meet two incredible international designers in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The invitation with details is also attached, please RSVP to Launch Pad or Interstudio directly.

Launch Pad is excited and proud to sponsor this special event. If you would like to attend in Sydney or Melbourne, please RSVP to launchpad@indesign.com.au or info@interstudio.com.au

ENTRIES NOW OPEN

Entries for Launch Pad 2009 are now open, head to the ENTRY page where you can fill out the online application and read the terms and conditions for this year.

This year's program has been refined to focus on what Launch Pad does best - facilitate introductions and build relationships between emerging designers and key industry figures from manufacture, retail, media, marketing and business development.

So don't miss out on your opportunity to pitch your product to major suppliers, receieve a profile in DQ magazine plus a host of other prizes.

Entries close 1 May 2009, 

POSTED 1 FEBRUARY 2009

2009 CALL FOR ENTRIES!

Calling all designers! Get your prototypes ready because Launch Pad for 2009 is getting into gear.

Online applications will open on Monday 2 February and will close on Friday 1 May, so that gives you a 3 month window to prepare yourself.

Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to get your prototype out into the design industry, viewed and critiqued by industry professionals and published in Australia's leading design magazines.

We are putting together an incredible line up of local and international judges, mentors, major sponsors and Angels in Design who will all be available to provide you with some unbelievable oppotunities that you won't find elsewhere.

For any enquiries, contact launchpad@indesign.com.au

Posted January 2009

BRISBANE SUPPORTS EMERGING DESIGN

It was pouring with rain, but that certainly didn't stop the who's who of the Brisbane design scene turning out for the official Launch Pad Finalist Exhibition at artisan last night,Thursday 4th September. It was truly another celebration of the high standard of this year's finalists products, and of course, the high standard of emerging Australian design.

The artisan team have done a fantastic job, utilising elements of bangdesign's exhibition and recontextualising for the artisan gallery space, taking Woven Image's Echo Panel product and using it as plinth and wall decoration. Local designer Walter Rauchenwald's pieces - the Geometry Wall Clocks and Miranda's Chest, were also certainly talking points.

We were honoured to have Rod Welford MP, Minister for Education and Training, Minister for the Arts present to speak and welcome the crowd to the official opening. Many of our sponsors were present, and in particular we would like to point out artisan, Source One and map magazine for their local support of the Brisbane Launch Pad exhibition.

A wonderful night was had by all, and a big thank you to our exceptional hosts at artisan

The Launch Pad Finalist Exhibition runs until October 5th.

Posted September 2008

FINALISTS EXHIBITION OPENING IN BRISBANE

The Launch Pad finalists' products are on their way to Brisbane, and the team at artisan gallery are busily preparing for their arrival!

The Brisbane exhibition opens at the esteemed Brisbane gallery on Thursday September 4th, and will run for 1 month. Launch Pad at artisan will also be a location on the bus routes for the upcoming Brisbane Indesign event, happening on Saturday September 20th.

Be sure to head to artisan gallery to check out the best in emerging Australian product design.

artisan – idea:skill:product

381 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley Qld

Exhibition dates: 4th September - 5th October

Posted September 2008

LAUNCH PAD PRIZEWINNERS

A big congratulations to our prizewinners for 2008! The prizes were awarded to the following products, based on their scores from the Live Judging event in June.

• Indesign award: Ross Nicholls and Greg Scott for ‘Shell' stools

• Woven Image award: Keith Melbourne for ‘Twilight'

• Living Edge award: Ross Gardam for ‘Flat Jack’

• Source One packer’s prize: Andrew Grigor for ‘Bam Bam Baby’

The Living Edge prize was a lunch at the fabulous Pearl restaurant for the winner, Ross Gardam, with international guest Harald Gründl (Eoos) along with Aidan Mawhinney (Director, Living Edge), James McWhinney (Marketing Manager, Walter Knoll), Raj Nandan (Publisher, Indesign) and Paul McGillick (Editor in chief, Indesign).

It was a fantastic afternoon of relaxed discussion about design, architecture, sustainability and other issues facing designers today... all accompanied by some fantastic food and wine.

Congratulations to all our prizewinners.

Posted August 2008

MENTORING AFTERNOON AND INDUSTRY EVENING

This year's Launch Pad program of events have been a huge success. With over 20 industry mentors present, our 2008 group of finalists each presented their products with the opportunity for both the designers and mentors to ask questions and discuss the works.

The Launch Pad mentoring afternoon is a crucial element of the Angels Indesign network - putting designers in touch with key players in the industry.

One of our finalists Ross Nicholls had the following feedback about the event:

"The opportunity to display and discuss our work and plans for the coming years is invaluable in helping us gain some insights into the industry in which we have chosen to work. Last night we were able to chat with people we would not otherwise have had the chance and have been invited to meet with others over the coming days. For us, the event has been everything we had hoped for."

A big 'Thank You' to our mentors and our finalists - your participatiomade the event happen.

Click here to view the photo galleries of the Melbourne exhibition and events.

Posted August 2008

2008 FINALISTS SELECTED AT LIVE JUDGING

The Launch Pad Live Judging took place on Monday June 16 at the Source One in Melbourne. Source One transformed their warehouse space into a mini gallery, perfect for displaying all the short-listed prototypes from Australia and New Zealand.

It was a fantastic afternoon, where the judging panel gathered to view the short-listed products they had remotely selected. The Live Judging is the most important aspect of the Launch Pad judging process, giving the judges the opportunity to see, touch and discuss the products together – sharing knowledge and expertise from their respective fields.

We are proud to announce the 24 Launch Pad finalists for 2008. These products will go on to be exhibited at Melbourne Museum from Thursday July 24 - Sunday August 10, and then at artisan in Brisbane from September 4 - October 5.

You can check out the top 24 designers and products at the finalists page.

Congratulations to all of our fantastic designers!

Posted June 2008

JUDGING PANEL ANNOUNCED

We welcome the following esteemed industry experts to the Launch Pad Judging Panel for 2008.

• John Gertsakis - Senior Sustainability Associate, WSP Group

• Nicolas Hogios - Design Manager, Toyota Style Australia

• Jean-Pierre Jardel - Managing Director, Planex

• Michael Trudgeon - Principal, Crowd Productions

The judges are reviewing all the submissions as we speak, to select the short-list of 40-50 products to be sent down Melbourne for the Live Judging finalists selection

Stay tuned to the news page for the next announcement of who's made it to the short-list!

Posted May 2008

LAUNCH PAD ENTRY NOW CLOSED

Entry into Launch Pad for 2008 has now officially closed. A huge 'Thank You' to all the incredibly talented designers who have submitted applications to be a part of this year's exciting program.

The short-list will be announced right here on the Launch Pad website at the end of May, so stay tuned as we inch closer to revealing the 2008 Launch Pad finalists.

Posted May 2008

LAUNCH PAD 2007 VIDEO

Check out the video of the 2007 Angels in Design Mentoring afternoon and Industry eventing, with special international guest mentors Tom Dixon, Giulio Cappellini and Paul Leroy!

INTERNATIONAL GUESTS BRING STAR POWER TO LP

We’ve only just opened this year's program and already Launch Pad is bringing out the big names. Just confirmed is that Harald Gründl from Eoos will be a special international guest associated with the Launch Pad 2008 program of events.

Sign up now to our e-newsletter and be kept up to date with the latest announcements.

GET EXCITED!

Once again in 2008, Launch Pad is set to give you the best of Australian design. To complement the brand new events program, we’ve given Launch Pad a hot new website with more of what you want to see – more products, more photos and even a video of last year’s networking event.

Proudly brought to you by SATURDAY IN DESIGN and Major Sponsors LIVING EDGE and WOVEN IMAGE, the plans for Launch Pad 2008 are bigger and better than ever. Stay tuned as event details and fatastic prizes are revealed on the website.