The 20th Anniversary of designEX took place in Sydney from the 10th – 12th April in 2008. With a clear record number of pre-registered visitors attending this premier design event; designEX promised to set new benchmarks.
Coinciding with the Royal Australian Institute of Architects National Conference and also the annual Interior Design Awards; designEX this year featured new attractions such as the Design Through Time Tunnel – a gallery of 20 innovative furniture designs, that have captured the imagination of the design community between 1988 – 2008.
At the end of this walkway tunnel directly in front of the main entrance, was the Champagne & Oyster Bar. In 2008, this space was a popular attraction of the show, serving a constant supply of Piper Heidsieck Champagne to hundreds of visitors every hour throughout the 3 day show.
Matteograssi furniture designs were chosen as part of the product sponsorship for this attraction at designEX by Classique Leisure Products .
Areté lounge chairs (design: Franco Poli), Sistina bar stools (design: Matteo Grassi) and 2Leather marble low and bar tables (design: Rodolfo Dordoni), were selected to be used by the appreciative visitors to this first class architectural and design event.
For Classique Leisure Products, now in its 5th consecutive year of exhibiting at designEX, it once again received the award for Best New Product in Furniture. This year the award was for the EGO Paris Tandem Sunlounger designed by Thomas Sauvage.
During March, EGO Paris Tandem Sunlounger was one of the 60 designs chosen for the Best Of The Best Category at the Red Dot Design Awards in Essen, Germany.
Over 3,200 designs from 51 countries applied for the Red Dot Design Awards in 2008 and it is no surprise that the innovative qualities of this unique sunlounger from EGO Paris, gave it a strong presence at designEX.
The EGO Paris Tandem Sunlounger joins the 2007 winner of the same award, the Loom Chair by Franco Poli, patented exclusively for Matteograssi; as the second consecutive award-winning design that Classique Leisure Products has introduced into Australia through designEX.
On the second evening of designEX, the presentation dinner for the Interior Design Awards was staged at the recently refurbished Hilton Sydney grand ballroom.
Classique Leisure Products was a category sponsor for the Award for Emerging Interior Design Practice, and this year it was won by Melbourne and London based firm Artillery Architectural Design Group.
The next trade event, where Classique Leisure Products’ high-end brands Matteograssi and EGO Paris will be showcased in Melbourne between Friday, 8th – Saturday, 9th August during the Saturday In Design trade event.
The showroom for this event will be located at ndergronds Cocktail and Tapas Lounge: Lower Level - 27 Russell Street (corner Flinders Lane), Melbourne.