Breaking into the industrial design industry is no easy feat. Product design requires an uncompromising mix of functionality and aesthetics. Add in that the manufacturing sector in Australia has suffered in recent times and it’s no wonder that many emerging designers struggle to get off the ground.

As one of Australia’s longest-running product design programs, Launch Pad helps to put young talent on the map. Integral to achieving that is having a well-rounded jury. And 2018’s jury delivers in spades.

We’re delighted to announce the 2018 Launch Pad jury for Australia and Asia, as well as two special international guest judges who will undertake the overall shortlisting:

Benjamin Hubert is a UK industrial designer and the founder of Layer, a studio that creates forward-thinking products for tomorrow’s needs. Hubert returns to Launch Pad having previously been on the jury in 2011.

Michael Young has established himself as a leading international designer, with a sophisticated, minimalist approach to design. After nearly a decade working across the UK and Iceland, Michael was enticed to Asia by his passion for pioneering technology, and in 2006 set up a studio in Hong Kong. Today Michael Young Studio is considered to be one of the most exciting and formidable design companies operating in Asia.

AUSTRALIA

Aidan Mawhinney is director of Living Edge and has been part of the Launch Pad journey from the very beginning as a founding partner. Mawhinney has continued to build a reputation in the A&D community in Australia as a discerning curator of taste and design. Living Edge is a definite hot spot for architects, interior designers and design enthusiasts, offering only the best in design.

Anton Schiavello is the design and marketing director at Schiavello. Anton Schiavello represents the third generation of the family-run company. He is the grandchild of company founder Tony Schiavello. Anton is an internationally experienced business executive with a global outlook and strong focus on trade. Anton is the only person on the jury who will be carrying out judging at all stages across Asia and Australia.

Dr Brandon Gien is the Founder and CEO of Good Design Australia and Chair of Australia’s Good Design Awards program, which dates back to the Industrial Design Council of Australia established in 1958. In 2015, Dr Gien was inaugurated as a Senator of the World Design Organization (WDO), the world body for Industrial Design. Gien brings an incredible breadth of experience across the industrial design space.

Henry Wilson is a Sydney-based industrial designer working across furniture, lighting, accessories and componentry. Wilson studied locally at the Australian National University School of Art in Canberra, with an exchange at Rhode Island School of Design before doing a Masters at the Design Academy Eindhoven. Upon returning in 2012 Wilson set up his eponymous studio, building relationships with local foundries. As a preeminent Australian designer, Wilson can bring his astute eye to the Launch Pad jury.

Raymond Scott is the managing director of Workshopped and brings an inordinate amount of knowledge from the film production industry. Scott’s main area of expertise is in creative thinking and ideas – as he is able to think laterally for new ways to make things faster, better and more effective. As well as extensive insight into Australian industrial design through the implementation of the program Object, Scott is also a member of the Australian Design Centre Advisory Group.

Terri Winter is the founder of top3 by design, an Australian retailer that brings sought after and commercially viable design products to consumers. Winter is a host and judge on the Channel 10 TV series ‘Australia by Design – Innovation’. Winter is a mentor for emerging designers through the Australian Design Centre and sat on the jury for many design programs, as well as regularly speaking on the topics of design, innovation and retail.

Tom Skeehan is the founder of Skeehan Studio, based in Canberra. Designing a broad range of products from commercial furniture, lighting and product design, the studio adopts a material-minded process. Skeehan Studio designs and manufactures in Australia, working closely with local vendors to ensure quality while fostering local support and efficient sourcing of materials. Skeehan’s designs have been awarded and exhibited internationally.

ASIA

Dario Reicherl is the CEO Asia of the Republic of Fritz Hansen. Reicherl has introduced several European design brands into the Asia Pacific including Tecnocucina, Novamobili, Lightyears and Dr Vranjes. Reicherl is passionate about details and craftsmanship. Since starting with Fritz Hansen in 2014 Reicherl has lead record growth of the brand in Asia.

Gabriel Tan is the founder of Gabriel Tan Studio, which is a design practice that borders on craft, culture and technology. Tan started the studio in 2016 and explores new ways to interpret luxury and break archetypes. The works of Tan have been exhibited in Milan, New York, Stockholm, London, Paris, Tokyo, Barcelona and Singapore.

Hunn Wai is the co‐founder and creative director of the award‐winning Italian‐Singaporean industrial design consultancy Lanzavecchia + Wai. The practice applies a human‐centric, research‐driven design methodology to projects as diverse as limited‐edition artisanal carpets, to healthcare research, to baby products, to VIP helicopter interiors. L+W has recently been awarded one of the top prizes in design; the Red Dot Award 2016 for Product Design.

Ken Koo has been the Asia President of the red dot design award since 2005. The red dot design award boasts a 60-year history, and with guidance from Koo has continued to grow in Asia. In 2015, Ken created the Design District of Singapore, a network within a 2 km radius of the Red Dot Design Museum, of more than 70 creative points of interest and businesses.

Priscilla Lui is the co-founder of Studio Juju with Timo Wong, an interdisciplinary design practice based in Singapore. Priscilla Lui is co-founder of Studio Juju with Timo Wong, an interdisciplinary design practice based in Singapore. The studio’s approach is fresh and optimistic, and each project is a union of simplicity and warmth, functionalism and whimsy, refinement and relevance. Since 2009, the studio has undertaken design works in the fields of furniture, accessories, interiors and art.

Find out more about Launch Pad and how to enter at indeawards.com/launchpad.