Adelaide-based design duo Daniel Emma took out the top prize at the Bombay Sapphire Design Discovery Awards on Wednesday 15 December.

Daniel To and Emma Aiston, who entered the competition with their Basics Collection of paperweight, pendant light, paperclip holder and mirror, will receive a $30 000 cash prize and a trip to Milan to attend the Salone del Mobile international design fair in 2011.

Judges commended the duo for being the “complete package – displaying the proactive independence of spirit, brand awareness, great interaction with end user and reliance on local production.”

The Basics Collection arose out of a collection of resin desk objects, called Solids, which the duo made last year.

“When it came to designing this year’s range, we looked at designing around production rather than designing a prototype that will never become something,” said Aiston.

The collection is full of beautifully crafted pieces made of solid materials that can be repolished, reworked and kept forever.

To describes their creations as objects that are “just nice – simple, well thought-out everyday things with a little surprise.”

Importantly, Daniel Emma products are all manufactured locally in South Australia.

Daniel To and Emma Aiston with competition judge Neale Whitaker

Next year will see more big things for Daniel Emma, with exciting new projects on the cards including work with an Australian collective group called The Other Hemisphere.

The duo also hopes to collaborate with Adelaide’s Jam Factory, a key Australian manufacturer of Australian design.

“It will be nice to be able to make something with a reputable Adelaide studio,” says Aiston. “We hope to work with them in some shape or form to create some new things.”

Daniel Emma
daniel-emma.com

Click here for more on the Bombay Sapphire Design Discovery Awards, including information on all the finalists.