The Laminex Group DIA SA Awards 2013

Adelaide’s ability to produce outstanding design that surprises and delights has been proven at The Laminex Group DIA SA Awards 2013. From highclass cocktail bars to the humble clothes peg, award recipients from the 2013 cohort have all delivered an exceptional standard. Woods Bagot and Aura Objects are to be commended for receiving several accolades for The Collins Bar, table and handles. Collaborating together on this project, they have mixed fine craftsmanship, high attention to detail and strong material choices, to present a venue that impresses far beyond the sum of its parts. That the businesses won awards across three categories tells me collaboration is an important part of the design process, and working together can create outstanding results. I was particularly impressed by Black Squid Design for its Delectaballs entry. Besides the musing name, I love how the hand-drawn images, with a biro and watercolour-style paints, give a humble and fun sense of what the end product is about. Carrying these themes through the business cards, website and food truck gives Delectaballs a strong identity and speaks clearly about how food is being consumed in our streets. Overall, entries in this year’s awards program were of a high standard and I could not be prouder of the talent in this state. From the elegant simplicity of the Heggs Peg by Fingo, to the thrill of the 360-degree swing by Exhibition Studios, the high quality of South Australia’s design talent pool is to be commended. Many thanks goes to the award curators Mary Harben and Jodie Pitcher on their brilliant work in being at the helm of the awards program for the second year in a row. To our state platinum sponsor The Laminex Group, gold awards partner Isis, and state partners Workspace, Terrace Floors and Furnishings, and Billi, thank you for your support; none of this could be achieved without your help. I thank you, the reader, for your enthusiasm in this year’s People’s Choice Awards and congratulate Akkan Design for winning this year’s prize for its project Momo Sushi. Brendon Harslett, DIA SA Branch President

People’s Choice Winner: Akkan Design

Akkan Design Director Eric Tam explains the concept behind Momo Sushi’s interior design, which won The Adelaide Review People’s Choice Award. The award was certainly a big surprise. I grew up in Hong Kong and came here to study Interior Architecture and the differences between these cultural backgrounds are my strength. Since establishing Akkan Design in 2010, I have been questioned numerous times whether I had chosen the right path. Winning the People’s Choice Award means a lot to my team and me. This award reassures our belief. We like to create fresh and distinctive design using lots of natural materials. The spaces we design are not just there to look great, but to also be functional. It is always challenging when a project has a limited budget; it needs to meet its functionality within cost while adding the ‘wow’ factor. Momo Sushi had another challenge besides budget, which was the spatial area. We managed to offer a small demonstration area for sushi preparation; a functional kitchen with both dry and fresh food storage and a seating area as requested by our client within this 40-square metre shop. We tried to detach the phenomenon of using red and green images to indicate the freshness of sushi. A combination of black and vibrant yellow had been introduced to create a revival image for the young generation. In order to find the balance between old and new, traditional Japanese wooden menus and long benches were placed against a contemporary graphical wall to represent the constantly changing sushi culture. We also put the sushi preparation area close to the centre’s main hallway, in order to create a stronger bond between the shopper and Momo Sushi by demonstrating the sushi making process. We believe Momo Sushi has demonstrated how a small scale interior can offer the most to help establish a brand from the beneficial of design. It is also a fresh looking shop to suit university students and young families living in the area. Eric Tam is the Owner and Principal of Akkan Design. akkan.com.au

Laminex Group DIA SA Awards – Winners

Built Enviroment Panel 1 Judges • Wayne Dixon (chair) • Felicity Hope • Andrew Wallace • Jane Lawrence • Donna Rafie GOLD • Hilditch Lawyers by Williams Burton • The Collins by WoodsBagot SILVER • Smartsoft by Architects Ink SPECIAL MENTION • Northern Community Mental Health Centre by Grieve Gillett. Built Enviroment Panel 1 – Student GOLD • Flash Theatre by Alexis Bromilow (UniSA) • The Bowden Common by Alana Hanton Built Enviroment Panel 2 Judges • Ryan Genesin (chair) • Martin Ridge • Wendy-Anne Press • Peter Dennis • Krystyan Mcleod SILVER • Boris the Cuttery by MASH Built Enviroment Panel 2 – Student SILVER • Bowden Urban Markets by Vivienne Beal (UniSA) COMMENDATION • The Digital Garden by Katherine Donaldson (UniSA). COMMUNICATION Judges • Robert Miller-Smith (chair) • Sascha Frost • Jo West • Sharon Mackay • Susie Nicolai GOLD • Delectaballs by Black Squid Design SILVER • Brauer Natural Medicine by Black Squid Design • Warradale Hotel – identity, signage and environmental graphics by Enoki OBJECT Judges • Sandy Walker (chair) • Jason Jurecky • Peter Schumacher • Marta Cherednik • Ron Langman GOLD • 360° Swing by Exhibition Studios • Folded Tones by Enoch Liew • Hegs Pegs by Fingo SILVER • Collins Bar table and handle by Aura Objects • Novel Computer Game Controller by Max Hughes OBJECT – STUDENT SILVER • Luigi Colani iPod Dock by Andrew McIntyre (UniSA) THE LAMINEX GROUP AWARD • The Collins Bar by Woods Bagot PRESIDENT’S AWARD – BRENDON HARSLETT • Delectaballs by Black Squid Design.