CO|LAB - the concept

5 weeks out, we thought we’d share with you a little about the CO|LAB concept and exhibition design selection process.

Over our 3 or more years at Design Centre Enmore the professional interior designers, architects, decorators and draftspeople who teach us have emphasised the importance of a strong concept in realising quality design.

At the beginning of this year, all graduating Interior Design and Decoration students came together to explore the idea of ‘stretch’ and how it applied to design in general, our own design work and our future in the industry. Split up into 16 teams, we then had the task of teasing out a concept from this starting point for the design of our graduate exhibition.

In one night of presentations and voting, all kinds of concepts were presented - from thinking about the materiality of skin to pushing beyond the everyday. Students and teachers voted to select one design, with the CO|LAB concept coming up the winner. The winning team behind CO|LAB is: Sanova Amiri, Connie Condylios, Alan Foster, Tuyen Le, Elizabeth Phan and Kelly Silm.

Their unique and challenging concept is that the exhibition will be…

“an anatomic manifestation of form and function. It is an opportunity to explore our selves as single cells that collaborate for a common purpose. CO|LAB as an event will invite guests to enter and experience students’ work as individuals and as a collective.”

Based around the idea of collaboration being integral to all design processes, students’ work will be displayed on custom-designed mega-light boxes – as a collective - or intimate stands - as individual cells linked together. Multi-media and light will play important roles in the creation of the exhibition spaces and experience.

Next week we’ll post more about the process of developing the exhibition design – stay tuned!

CO|LAB - concept sketches

Sponsor profiles

To acknowledge the generosity of our many sponsors, we will be featuring company profiles over the coming weeks. These will tell you more about some of the fantastic design companies who have provided in-kind or monetary support for our graduate exhibition process.

First up... Interstudio

Interstudio focuses on fresh contemporary design and promotes emerging Scandinavian and local Australian designers.

"Interstudio is modelled on Interstudio Copenhagen, with whom we have a close association. The company is a revelation in Scandinavia with its focus on uncompromising contemporary design. Interstudio has a designer furniture gallery in Sydney & Melbourne in addition to Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo. The two Australian showrooms introduce the Danish design companies Voss Co, Globe Zero 4, Busk & Hertzog, Montana, Paustian, Engelbrechts, Magnus Olesen, Pelikan Design, Pearson Lloyd and Fredericia, as well as International brands Six Inch & Blu Dot. We also stock and promote furniture by Australian producers such as Basile & Evans, Origin Didier, Luxxboxx and Keith Melbourne.

Interstudio fosters design innovation with scholarships and promotional programs to support and encourage emerging designers.

Interstudio is able to produce customised solutions for your interiors. We presently have combined international industry expertise of nearly 50 years, and invite you to challenge us with the procurement of the perfect product to complement your schemes.

We can liase with you and a number of reputable financiers to give you financial options such as hire purchase, leasing and rental. We are also extremely flexible with regard to hiring for display suites and photo shoots."

Huge thanks to Interstudio for supporting emerging designers - see you at the exhibition!

CO|LAB - The countdown begins

With 6 weeks to go until the CO|LAB Interior Design + Decoration Graduate Exhibition 2011, here's a teaser to kick start the countdown:

Get excited!