Editor’s Picks from Denfair 2019

We round up of some of the highlights at this year’s edition of the annual design fair held in Melbourne

Alongside the winners we had a few more favourites, including the Vinny dining setting by Sydney-based REDDIE

We were also excited to see new designs from Sydney-based Alex Fitzpatrick of ADesignStudio, who was one of MAISON & OBJET’s Rising Talents in 2017

DENFAIR 2019 opened to the public on June 20th, kicking off with a bang

This year’s DENFAIR Speaker Series included a discussion with Woody Yao and Maha Kutay of Zaha Hadid Design on their first visit to Australia, moderated by Design Anthology editor-in-chief Suzy Annetta, and a session called ‘Made In Asia: Neighbouring Design Cultures’. Stay tuned for videos of both sessions, which we’ll be sharing soon

DENFAIR awards 2019 judges with organisers, left to right: Thibaud Cau-Cecile, Rob Mills, Suzy Annetta, Claudio Oyarce and Chris Connell

DENFAIR’s commitment to showcasing the work of emerging talent was evident again this year, with the prime exhibition space given to FRONT | CENTRE, an exhibition presented in partnership with Craft ACT, Craft Vic, JamFactory and Workshopped together with the Australian Design Centre, where some of the best new talent was highlighted

Taking first place in the FRONT | CENTRE awards was Melbourne-based photographer and sculptor Makiko Ryujin

The quality of exhibition stands was incredibly high this year, making the selection process tough, but we were thrilled for this year’s winner of the Best Small Stand award, Melbourne-based design studio Coco Flip, whose space had real presence — and we loved their collection of furniture and lighting, too

We also really admired the stand (and the work) of recently repatriated Australian designer Chi Dang

This lofty romantic space by The Raconteur, an Australian candle and fragrance brand, took first prize for Best Medium Stand

Robert Gordon pottery won a special mention for their space, which we loved for its display that referenced the manufacturing process of its ceramic products

The winner in the Best Large Stand category was OAK by American Hardwood Export Council, by Australian designers Adam Markowitz and Marcus Piper. We were impressed by the high production quality and how deceptively simple the stand appeared

The Wood Room also placed as a runner-up, and the moody space they created to showcase their product is certainly worth a mention. The combination of rattan and upholstery in the new Trim collection is a winner, too

Another favourite for us was Halcyon Lake, which unveiled its new Amadi collection of hand-knotted rugs in an ethereal space

Winner of Best Australian Product was the Sway lamp designed by Nick Rennie for Melbourne-based Made by Pen. It’s always exciting to see something other than another new chair, but we especially loved the originality and novel approach Rennie has taken with this design

Winner of the Best International Product was the Cell modular candleholder by Zaha Hadid Design. Judges were unanimous in their praise its elegance and versatility, and the design team’s vision to continue in Zaha Hadid’s spirit. Co-director of Zaha Hadid Design Woody Yao explained ‘the strength of the collection lies in our ability to interpret the ordinary into something unexpected. When designing objects Zaha was never constrained by any given use or spatial context. We continue to follow and draw strength from this approach so that the collection has room to evolve without compromising the integrity of the design.’

Winner of Best Workspace Product was the Chameleon table system designed by Adam Goodrum for NAU. The product’s flexibility is key to its imminent success, and as co-judge Chris Connell said, ‘It’s got great legs!’

A relative newcomer to the regional design calendar, DENFAIR has gone from strength to strength since it began in 2015. This year, more than before, we noticed more of a local presence, giving hope that Australia might become a platform for design in the region.

Text / Suzy Annetta
Images / courtesy of DENFAIR