JUDGING
2010 Judging Panel
The national judging panel play a crucial role in the Launch Pad program – selecting, critiquing and advising our finalists.
The judging criteria will assess shortlisted products according to authenticity, performance and user-friendliness, ecological and economic impact, expression, innovation, quality of prototype and future potential.
The 2010 National Judging Panel for Launch Pad are:
Norman Johnson, How we Create / Palamont
Norman is a modern manufacturer who embraces design as an integral part of the manufacturing process. A strong driver for the use of design, Norman believes a partnership of design, manufacturing and sales is the formula for success.
In cooperation with a small group of design focussed individuals, Norman recently formed 'howwecreate', an online portal dedicated to bringing design and manufacturing communities together.
With the objective of giving the Australian design and manufacturing industry a place to congregate, communicate and share objectives, howwecreate serves as a powerful tool for showcasing some of the very best design and manufacturing projects and processes these communities have to offer.
Through howwecreate Norman Johnson brings new recognition to Australia as a leader in the creation process and the completion of creative ideas.
Norman JohnsonNorman@palamont.com.au
howwecreate.com
Kate Hannaford, Moth Design
Headed up by Kate Hannaford, Moth Design is a multi-disciplinary design consultancy working across event, retail, industrial and interior design. Through critical thinking and sustainable practice, Moth injects a new energy and perspective into all their projects, working closely with their manufacturers and builders to produce the best solutions for their clients.
Under Kate's directorship Moth works collectively with other creatives on commercial projects and public installations. Some of their most recent event projects include the 2009 and 2010 L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival (LMFF) where they designed and themed catwalk sets and events across the entire festival. Moth is also the Producer of Penthouse Mouse (PHM), a temporary fashion/art/event space. Now in its fourth year, PHM is an institution of the LMFF program of events, and aims to bring emerging Australian fashion designers together with artists and other creatives.
From 2006 to 2008 Moth was responsible for the production, project management and planning of the Melbourne International Design Festival. And in 2009 oversaw the design and implementation of the This Is Not A Design Market at The Factory, as part of the State of Design Festival.
On the retail front, Moth have managed the design and implementation of stand-alone concept stores for Stussy, Superdry, Metallicus and Street Machine; as well as concession concepts for Mossimo, M-one-11, and Bonds (youth, baby, outerwear) for DavidJones and Myer Australia-wide.
Whether it's runway shows, industry events, retail spaces or design festivals, Moth have it all - from creativity and concept through to expert execution - under control.
Moth Designkate@mothdesign.com.au
mothdesign.com.au
penthousemouse.com
Mark Watson, Design Providence
As Principal Director of Design Providence, Mark Watson is a well-known and respected figure within the Australian design community. Mark has been elected as councillor three times, and held office as Vice President with the Victorian Chapter of the Design Institute of Australia; he has also been a Director with Arts & Recreation Training Victoria, and a Director of Artists & Industry.
Having completed a degree in Interior Design at RMIT University, Mark established Design Providence in 1990, successfully completing numerous building projects with Country Road, Crabtree & Evelyn, Williams the Shoeman, PA Management Consultants, CSIRO, BTR Kennon, the Nine Network, and Steelcase Australia.
Design Providence specialises in the design of cultural tourism facilities, with a number of cultural tourism and interpretative initiatives with the Pacific Island community, the Mia Mia Aboriginal Gallery for Parks Victoria, design concepts for an art gallery at Montsalvat, Eltham, and concept development for a Banyule City Council art gallery. Experienced in exhibition and display design, Mark also worked on the Tourism Award-winning National Wool Museum in Geelong.
Mark's practice encompasses product design, as well as development and marketing of commercial office furniture products. Highly regarded for his expertise in furniture design, Mark's work is represented in the National Gallery of Victoria, and in both local and international exhibitions.
Currently completing an Advanced Diploma in Building Design, Mark has devoted much of his time to teaching and research. In addition to this he recently designed an Aboriginal housing refurbishment in Gippsland, and completed the EcoDesign Innovation Research project, researching viable alternatives to the plastic shopping bag, with Ecorecycle (Sustainability) Victoria, the Centre for Design at RMIT and the Design Institute of Australia.
Design Providence
mark@designprovidence.com.au
designprovidence.com.au
Erna Walsh - KFIVE
As Co-Director, Founder and National Sales Director of designer furniture distributor, KFIVE, Erna Walsh’s contribution to the Australian design sector is widespread.
As a market leader in value, quality and design, KFIVE has supplied award-winning furniture and products to commercial, residential, urban and public projects for close to a decade.
Erna, who originally studied Medicine in Slovenia, has worked in multiple countries worldwide including the UK, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Japan and the USA.
Her involvement in humanitarian projects has seen her build schools for children in Senegal, and work with displaced refugees in Europe. And, while Erna’s time and focus is now directed toward the design and architectural markets, she is quick to lend support where needed. KFIVE not only supplies high quality furniture to property developers, contractors, architects and interior designers, but supports projects outside the design sector, with initiatives such as the KFIVE indigenous Scholarship for Indigenous Students at Charles Sturt University Darwin.
In support of Australian design and designers, KFIVE will this year launch the first of many new Australian designed products.
“Our product portfolio offers a broad range of designs suited to architectural projects indoor and outdoor. Classic designs sit alongside avant-garde pieces, crafted by respected designers and newly established innovators,” says Erna.
“We want our furniture to shape and encourage the dynamic processes that take place in the modern workplace and we believe we can do this by having fun along the way.”
