Furnitex 2010 and Decoration + Design expo’s attracted record numbers of visitors this year, with visitor numbers up 13 percent since last year.
Furnitex 2010 and Decoration + Design saw the expo truly make its mark on the global design fair circuit. With 15,930 visits to the fair from Australia and overseas attendees, all were eager to glimpse next season’s biggest trends and hottest collections.
Showcasing next season’s trends from leading manufacturers and wholesalers, Furnitex is Australasia’s largest furniture and furnishings trade fair. Known not only for attracting the region’s biggest industry names but also for unearthing future design talent, this year’s fair introduced new features Hotel + Hospitality Furnishings and InContext, as well as the return of the hotly-anticipated VIVID – Vibrant Visions in Design competition.
Marie Kinsella, Managing Director, Australian Exhibitions & Conferences Pty Ltd said “Furnitex has established itself as a must-see on the Australasian trade fair calendar. We are the only fair dedicated solely to furniture and furnishings, and our rising visitor numbers prove that we are hitting the mark with our targeted offering.”
The 2010 VIVID design competition displayed over 50 outstanding designs from new and emerging designers in Student, Commercial, Concept and Green award categories. The winner for the Student category was Roslyn Campbell with Weave Shelving, a practical and beautifully finished product. Damien Hipwell took the Commercial Award with his Strong Man Children’s Set, noted for being marketable with a design edge, whilst Rob Miller received the Concept Award for his Rocking Horse, an elegant piece described by judges as an ‘heirloom’. Green Award winner David Durance’s CBS1 Stool was acclaimed for its versatility, and use of 100% sustainable material.
“We received a record number of entries for VIVID 2010, proving that our local furniture industry is continuing to expand. The winning entries stood out for being versatile, sustainable and ready to be marketed” said Curator Uli Hasel.