Best Design Awards | Part One

I'm really excited to be starting a new series today as a lead up to the annual Best Design Awards, an initiative of The Designers Institute which showcases New Zealand's best graphic, interactive, product and spacial design.

Established in the mid seventies, to celebrate the best of graphic design in New Zealand, the awards have evolved over the years, to include a range of categories and awards. 

Entries judged Best in each category are awarded the Gold Pin, whilst the very best project in each discipline will be awarded the supreme, Purple Pin for work that raises the bar of New Zealand design. The highest accolade given by the Designers Institute - the John Britten Black Pin - will be awarded to the individual for their leadership, vision and achievement both here and internationally. The Designer’s Institute of New Zealand Black Pin for Outstanding Achievement will be awarded to a member of the Institute who has made a lasting and valuable contribution to the design profession and design culture in New Zealand.

Every Monday over the next six weeks I'll share finalists that I personally love from each category and then I'll finish up with the results - the Awards Evening is on the 5th of October at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland. 

I've been blown away looking through all the finalists. We're a small country, but we deliver big when it comes to great, innovative design.

Tim Webber Design. Y Stool (New Zealand's Best Product Design | Furniture) 

A quirky, fun stool with contrasting powder coated steel and American ash wood. 

Hardhat Design. Coffee Supreme | re-brand (New Zealand's Best Graphic Design | Identity Development - small scale)

I love the new range of coffee cups and their Auckland cafe is a favourite of mine. They've even featured on The Selby, which I wrote about here. 

Xsite Architects Ltd. Cliff top house (New Zealand's Best Spacial Design | Residential)

This stunning home is truly deserving of an award, don't you think? 

Inhouse. HOME (New Zealand's Best Graphic Design | Editorial and Books)
I might be biased, having previously worked for the publisher of this magazine, ACP Media, but I think HOME is one of the best.



Dorrington Architects & Associates and Vaneer Ltd. Kathryn Wilson Shoebox (New Zealand's Best Spacial Design | Retail Environments)
I just had to include this one. Taking the form of a perfectly scaled shoe box, Kathryn Wilson’s delightful little pop-up boutique echoes the simple, crisp lines of the designer’s signature footwear packaging. Her own shoe design sketches grace the floor while the fresh white space and minimalist shelving provide the perfect backdrop for those gorgeous shoes! 

So that's it for week one. What do you think? If you like what you've seen so far, make sure you check back next Monday for round two! 

All images via bestawards.co.nz