.png)
U R AT HQ.
Publishing
Independent
ART.DESIGN.WRITING
Founded Naarm, Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne, Sydney, Australia
NEWS
AIFF ONLINE
11 Apr Get Inspired! VIVID Emerging Designer Awards
-
Written by Skye Rytenskild
As Australia’s longest-running trade fair for the interior design and furniture industry, The Australian International Furniture Fair (AIFF) and Decor + Design has been at the forefront of nurturing emerging designers for over two decades. A key part of that is VIVID Emerging Designer Awards, which we have hosted in Melbourne for 23 years.
VIVID Emerging Designer Awards is highly respected as an industry platform and is curated by Latitude Group. The finalists are always a key attraction at Decor + Design, with the awards presented on Day One. In 2026, this will be Wednesday 15th July at 3pm – so mark your diaries and register now for a free design trade pass to enter the exhibition!
The awards are judged by industry heavyweights who carry kudos in Australian design. Our 2026 judges are Bree Banfield (Bree Banfield), Ruby Shields (Studio Shields), Dan Barker (Bricolage), Mark Bailey (Thirteen Architectural Timber), Suzanne McNiece (Circa), Filip Bjazevic (Latitude), Georgina Greenland (DIA), Anne-Maree Saergant (ADA), Cassie Hanson (InteriorsAU & Architecture Media), Lauren Treloar (Dulux), Daniel Dalla Riva (Latitude), John Bastiras (In Good Company), and Simone Pittaella (Pittella).
That’s why VIVID has advanced the careers of many prolific Australian designers including Nicole Monks, Edward Linacre, Adam Markowitz, Dale Hardiman, Dean Norton and Marta Figueiredo.
If you’re a design student or designer less than five years in practice, entries for VIVID Emerging Designer Awards CLOSE on 28 April. Download the entry kit here.
In case you missed it, here are the inspirational winners in 2025, with everything from an ashtray designed to provoke existential thoughts, a tasseled lamp inspired by traditional Bulgarian costume and a UV-reactive drinking bottle.
Architecture Australia
Entries now open for 2026 Vivid Emerging Design Awards
Entries are now open for the 2026 Vivid Emerging Designer Awards, with shortlisted work set to star at this year’s Decor and Design.
Entries are now open for the 2026 Vivid Emerging Designer Awards, Australia’s longest-running design competition celebrating early-career furniture, lighting and object designers.
Curated by Daniel Dalla Riva of Latitude Group, the awards have become a key platform for emerging talent across Australia and beyond. Now in its 23rd year, the competition has helped launch the careers of many progressive designers while championing authentic, locally driven design.
Entries for the 2026 program are open until Sunday 12 April, with finalists to be showcased at the Vivid Emerging Designer Awards Exhibition during Decor and Design from 15–17 July 2026.
Over its history, Vivid has supported more than 1,300 designers and showcased over 1,500 products, providing a springboard for emerging creatives to gain industry exposure and connect with buyers, manufacturers, media and design leaders.
Maryam Moghadam, winner of the 2025 Judges Choice Award said, “Vivid champions ideas that aren’t afraid to bite back. It’s rare to find a platform that values objects which question us as much as they serve us. To have that recognised felt like a validation of how design can confront, provoke, and still belong in the world.”
The competition is open to professional designers in Australia who have been practicing for less than five years, as well as current design students. Categories include Furniture Design, Lighting Design, Object Design and Concept Design, alongside special honours such as the Authentic Design Alliance Award of Merit, the Dulux Award for Colour, the Judges Choice Award, and the Student Design Award.
Finalists are selected by a panel of respected figures from across Australia’s design industry, ensuring a rigorous judging process.
13 Mar 2026
ADA AWARD: Meet the vivid 2026 finalists
Meet the VIVID 2026 finalists.
The Authentic Design Alliance, celebrating our 10th year as an award partner, is proud to support the VIVID Emerging Designer Awards exhibition from 15 to 17 July.
Judged by a panel of prominent and respected industry figures, finalists will exhibit their work, as part of Decor+Design, alongside the co-located Green Design Show.
Curated by Latitude Group’s Daniel Dalla Riva, the VIVID Emerging Designer Awards is an important destination for local and international design professionals and enthusiasts.
Latitude has curated the VIVID Emerging Designer Awards for eight years and is proud to have helped advance the careers of some of Australia’s most progressive furniture, object, and lighting designers.
VIVID Emerging Designer Awards has already assisted over 1,300 designers with more than 1,500 products to kick-start their careers.
Categories across Furniture, Lighting, Object, and Concept Design also include the Authentic Design Alliance Award of Merit, the Dulux Award for Colour, the 2026 Judges’ Choice Award, and the 2026 Student Design Award.
VIVID champions original, considered design from the next generation of Australian creatives. Across six award categories, these finalists show what authentic design looks like: original thinking, honest materials, and craft built to last.
Register to attend Decor + Design.
Follow @vividdesigncomp on Instagram for the full finalist line-up and award announcements.
Australian Design Aliance
17/1/2026 Arts Hub
VOGUE VERSUS MADONNA - THE PANEL
Special Guest Announced!
From the creators of The Pearl Prize International
A panel will be getting into “being material in a material world”. The crossover of fashion into music, film and arts intermix. Everything VOGUE related will be discussed. Who wears what and why? Anna Wintour, how has she predicted and shaped the fashion landscape? How have musicians like Madonna celebrated and created a more inclusive world?
The Icons: Alexander McQueen, Yves Saint Laurent, and Vivienne Westwood, how have they shaped fashion culture? Groove along with canapes and raise a glass to couture!
Get into the groove.
As part of Midsumma Festival.
And announcing special guest Fashion Designer: Jordan Williamson.
Jordan runs their own label, FANTÔME.
Their work explores a variety of themes from fear, power and identity through a refined, Haute Couture lens, drawing influence from historical craftsmanship and modern design principles.
They are a designer in Melbourne Fashion Week, a multi accolade winner of Fashion Awards Australia, as well as featuring in Fleece to Fashion and the upcoming National Graduate Showcase as a Finalist with PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival.
Get your tickets now.
Thursday, 29th January
6pm – 7pm
The Wheeler Cenre, Downstairs, enter outside via lift on Little Lonsdale Street.
Osborne and Fawkner Publishing
fantomeonline.com
www.instagram.com/fantomecouture
https://www.threads.com/@fantomecouture
The Pearl Prize Awards Gala
Beat Magazine
Jan 2026
Melbourne will be the centre of The Pearl Prize 2026 Season, an Award that is International and the beat of LGBTQIA+ and allies creative writing. The prize is truly Melbourne owned as it will house the season which includes Melbourne’s Architectural and fashion destinations with Awards announced at The Gala.
THE GALA HAS ARRIVED!
The GALA welcomes writers, legends, young creatives, and industry paragons. The Gala will be hosted at The Wheeler Centre, expect: WORDS, FASHION, CREATIVITY.
Who has won The Pearl Prize 2026 International?
The Pearl Prize is presented by Osborne and Fawkner Publishing. A writing award where Queer writers have a platform of self-expression through the writing landscape and into publication.
In 2026 The Pearl Prize went International, opening entries to writers from Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan. Enjoy canapés and drinks on arrival.
176 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000
STAR OBSERVER
Pearl Prize 2025: Meet The Future of LGBTQ+ Literature
Melbourne Scene What's on
Naomi Lawrence
December 20, 2024
Celebrate the fifteen finalists of The Pearl Prize 2025, a writing award spotlighting queer creatives and their expressive works as they launch into the world of publishing.
Fill the room with pride for the grand announcement of this year’s Pearl Prize winner among the many talented writers.
The publication featuring their works will be available for purchase and signing at the landmark Hares and Hyenas bookstore.
The Pearl Prize Meet & Greet offers everyone the opportunity to interact with the fifteen bright finalists who have been selected and published in the esteemed Pearl Prize.
Don’t miss the chance to meet these incredible talents as Readings opens their doors, following the Prize ceremony.
QUEERISM: The Future Is Now
Melbourne Scene What's on
Naomi Lawrence
December 19, 2024
As the Wheeler Centre opens its doors, prepare yourself for QUEERISM: a meaningful panel discussion that will divulge with dialogue and intrigue.
Come along, see and listen to the climax of The esteemed Pearl Prize season 2025 and hear what we as Queers feel are: the nuances between that which is: created and us in the age of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
So… IS THE FUTURE NOW?
QUEERISM: The Future Is Now
6 February 2025, 1pm
Performance Space, The Wheeler Centre, Melbourne