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 Australian International Furniture Fair
Feb 6-8, 2008, Sydney, Australia |
Post Release
AIFF 2007 hailed a design success
The Australian International Furniture Fair has been declared a success by organiser Australian Exhibitions & Conferences Pty Ltd, with a record 6,800 buyers from Australia and overseas attending the show to stock up on products from some of Australia’s top manufacturers and wholesalers.
 The three day show was held at the Sydney Exhibition & Convention Centre, Darling Harbour and included The Edge Design & Innovation Showcase, International Industry Seminar Series and Decoration + Design, encompassing the inaugural My Space.
The Fair is the first furniture Trade Fair on the Asia Pacific calendar and attracted guests from far and wide, with buyers keen view the latest furniture, soft furnishings and décor for the coming year. Major buying groups included Freedom, Forty Winks, Harvey Norman and Fantastic Furniture.
Marie Kinsella, Managing Director, Australian Exhibitions & Conferences Pty Ltd said “the Show exceeded expectations both with the quality of presentation and new product releases, as well as the higher than expected attendance”.
A highlight of the show, The Edge this year featured 50 products in three categories from 40 designers from Australia and overseas. The top prize for Commercial was taken out by Eric Siu for his design Aero Low Table. The concept section was won by Jason John Muscat with Da Code Bench and Denver Cramer won the student section for Ragno Chair and Ottoman.
The Commercial award was presented for best new release, Concept for best new prototype and Student for best new student work. Award winners each received a trophy and cheque, with the Commercial winner receiving a stand package at the Australian International Furniture Fair 2008.
Entries were judged by a panel including Sally Carson, state sales manager of Space Furniture; David Granger, designer and director, Bang Design; Wendy Moore, editor, Home Beautiful magazine, and Helen Redmond, editor Melbourne, Vogue Living. Products were assessed on design, innovation, manufacturing standard and finish, material choice and ‘wow’ factor.
Wendy Moore described Eric Siu’s work as a simple, elegant piece of furniture origami and Jason John Muscat’s Da Code Bench as a unique idea, witty, smart and all round well resolved. Ms Moore said Denver Cramer’s winning design was chosen for its ‘wow’ factor, and commented that the piece was also surprisingly comfortable.
The Edge entries came from far and wide, including NSW, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, Austria, New Zealand and Germany. Student entries were received from the University of Tasmania, UNSW, UTS, RMIT, Lidcombe TAFE and Canberra TAFE. “The Edge is a terrific opportunity for up and coming design talent to test their products in a trade environment. This year we have again had some fantastic, innovative prototypes and new releases that will shape our lounge rooms in years to come”, said curator Uli Hasel.
This year’s International Industry Seminar Series included our first international guest, Milou Ket, who graced our shores from The Netherlands to present two seminars – Interior Trends 2008: Emerging Themes in Colour, Style and Design. Milou was well received by the audience, who were particularly interested in her new book, Interior Design 2008. Milou runs her own consultancy, Milou Ket Styling & Design, and was able to give delegates a first hand glimpse at what is to come in 2008.
Australian experts included Thomas Bucich, who drew on his creative background as director of Bucich Interiors to present From Inspiration to Creation: The Design Process, and Lucy Sutherland, marketing manager of Porter’s Paints, discussing 2008 and Beyond.
Rick Eckersley of Eckersley Stafford Design addressed the seminar on Successfully Linking Outdoor Space while Artichoke Magazine editor Cameron Bruhn looked into Exploring Contemporary Designs.
For the first time, the Australian International Furniture Fair featured Decoration + Design, the country’s biggest exhibition of soft furnishing and interior products. AEC said the decision to include Decoration + Design as a major feature in 2007 had been a huge success, with a record number of visitors pouring through the doors.
Popular exhibitors within Decoration + Design included Hermon & Hermon, Bhlou, A Tad Trendi, Verve Fabrics and Porter’s Paints. “The decision to include Decoration + Design with the Australian International Furniture Fair was certainly the right one for both the buyers and the suppliers. The Fair is now a one stop shop for all furniture and furnishings needs for retailers, interior designers and interior decorators” Marie Kinsella, Managing Director, Australian Exhibitions & Conferences Pty Ltd said.
The inaugural My Space was also held as part of Decoration + Design, with feature coordinator Toni Briggs, branding it an indication of the interior design talent of Australia. The theme for My Space 2007 reflected the three trends expected to lead the industry over the next two years - Urban Chic, Rustic Chic and Ethnic Chic.
“The premier of My Space was a huge success. The rooms showcased a myriad of fresh, inspirational ideas and products and presented a dynamic mix of interior styles. All the rooms expressed a personality of their own - the standard of work this group of professionals produced was exceptional.
The project generated a lot of enthusiasm and excitement from the designers, the welcoming response from visitors was overwhelming and proved a definite highlight of Decoration + Design Sydney,” Ms Briggs said.
Craig Spencer’s installation, based on Ethnic Chic, entitled, The Real Black Beauty was particularly impressive – Ms Briggs described it as “a luxurious harem designed for relaxation as well as featuring a live female model”.
Other stand out installations included Greg Natale’s modern interpretation of a traditional coordinated room, which reflected Ethnic Chic; Thomas Bucich’s luxurious vision of Rustic Chic, which expressed the designers attempt to ‘tame nature’, as well as Arthur Koutoulas’s quirky take on Urban Chic, which represented a play on everyday objects, forms and symbols, and Adam Jones’ potting shed, an artistic ‘still-life’ interpretation of Rustic Chic.
Australian International Furniture Fair
www.aiff.net.au |
The Australian International Furniture Fair 2007
Featuring Decoration + Design Sydney
 In a first, the AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR will feature Decoration + Design at the three day Sydney event which opens on Wednesday 7 February 2007 at the Sydney Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour.
A highlight of the 2007 event is Milou Ket, international speaker and founder of Netherlands design consultancy Milou Ket Styling & Design. She is the key note speaker of the 2007 International Industry Seminar Series. Specialising in wood and metal furniture, Milou has worked with companies including Ikea, Royal Auping, Esprit Home, British Home Stores, House of Fraser and Debenhams. Milou has published several styling books, is a guest columnist for many publications, and an advisor and consultant to Swarovski. She will be joined by Australian industry experts who will discuss interior trends, products and colour forecasts.
 The AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR is the first furniture and furnishings Trade Fair of the Asia Pacific 2007 calendar, and will feature more than 250 exhibitors from around Australia as well as Malaysia, China, Indonesia and Hong Kong. It is expected to attract more than 7,000 Australian and international buyers over three days. New exhibitors to the show include Baubridge & Kay, Outliving, Pearl Interior and J & E Housewares.
For the first time Australia’s most comprehensive Trade Fair for soft furnishings and interior products, Decoration + Design, will be a major feature of the Sydney event.
Decoration + Design will feature fabrics, soft furnishings, objets d’art, lamps, throws, cushions and other home décor from more than 50 exhibitors. It will also host My Space, challenging designers to layout and furnish 4 metre by 2 metre rooms according to a set theme.
The event’s other major attraction, The Edge – Design and Innovation Showcase and Design Competition is expected to attract more than 70 entries from up-and-coming designers from here and overseas, providing them with valuable exposure to the international furniture community. Entries are judged in three categories: Student, Concept and Commercial. |
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