Australian Design Centre has celebrated 50 years by moving into new premises.
As part of the move, a gala will be staged tonight which recognises Australian design champions from a range of fields, including fashion.
The launch of the Australian Design Honours will see 50 major design contributors showcased in a special exhibition at Object’s new headquarters in the City of Sydney’s William Street creative hub.
The nominees will be announced tonight at an open housewarming party and Vivid Ideas event called Designers Gone Wild.
“The Australian Design Honours will celebrate the designers, architects and industry supporters who have helped put Sydney on the global map for innovation,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
“Twenty of the 50 individuals nominated are based in the City’s local government area, which is a real endorsement of how we are leading the way in supporting and nurturing creative businesses.
“It’s fitting these awards are being launched by Australia’s leading centre for contemporary design, Object, which has been championing Sydney creative talent since 1965.
“Object has just moved into its new home in our William Street creative hub – made possible with funding from the City of Sydney – and I’m looking forward to seeing what they have planned for their next 50 years.”
The Australian Design Honours list, embargoed until tonight, contains internationally respected fashion, homewares and interior designers from the last 50 years as well as prominent figures from the creative, academic and government sectors.
The first 50 honourees will go on to nominate their own design champions and significant emerging designers to join the honours roll in future years.
Sydney-based digital artist and designer, Lukasz Karluk, has created an interactive installation inspired by the themes and disciplines of the honourees. The artwork will be on display in Object’s main gallery space during the event.
Each of the 50 honourees will also be represented in an individual mounted display, pieces of which can be torn off and kept by party guests on the night.
Director Steve Pozel said Object was looking forward to continuing to support and showcase Australia’s remarkable design sector.
“Our 50th anniversary is an exciting opportunity to celebrate Object’s history, but it is also time to look to the future in our new multi-purpose space at the William Street creative hub,” Mr Pozel said.
“We’re looking forward to continuing to present a multi-layered program of exhibitions, workshops, events and learning programs for the local community, the industry and international audiences – and to another 50 successful years of promoting the best and brightest in Australian design.”
Object was established in 1965 as the Crafts Council of NSW. Their rolling program of events and exhibitions features more than 200 designers annually and has generated over $1.2m in revenue for designers through artist fees and the sale of works in the past five years.