Designex has been capturing the passion of design professionals across Australasia for 21 years. This year, Designex returns to Melbourne, and features the D4S (Design for Sustainability) showcase. D4S highlights cutting-edge products where responsible design elements such as minimal consumption and waste are integrated without compromising aesthetics and functionality.
“For a sustainable future, we need to redesign the way we use the world, and this concept is at the heart of the D4S showcase,” says Edward Owens from DMG World Media, which stages the event.
“This rethinking is uncovering a diverse range of D4S innovators in 2009,” Edward continues, “from transforming food care with the optimum refrigeration options of the Izona CoolDrawer from Fisher & Paykel, to advances in integrated renewable energy with Schott Solar’s multifunctional glass panels – and everything in between.”
The D4S showcase also includes a bookshop with daily book signings by industry-recognized authors, and the Zip cafe. In 2009, D4S welcomes Design Victoria as a principal partner along with Sustainability Victoria.
In keeping with its eco-design fundamentals, all display plinths at D4S are made from D4S participant Xanita’s X-Board, which combines recycled cardboard with sugar cane bagasse.
Designex 2009 will also feature old exhibition favourites, like the Latitude platform to showcase the work of promising designers and the Electrolux Outdoor Room with Jamie Durie.
The 2009 Designex international seminar series has attracted more than 35 speakers on over 20 different subjects. The keynote speaker is celebrated Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, founder of award-winning practice BIG.
Designex is co-located with Form & Function (the premier exhibition for the building industry), the 2009 Interior Design Awards and the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2009 National Conference.