Queensland Premier's Design Awards 2010 - State Designer
Author: Derlot
Alexander Lotersztain was announced winner of the inaugural Queensland Premier's Smart State Design Fellowship Award 2010
Premier and Arts Minister Anna Bligh has announced a designer who specialises in sustainable furniture and another who has championed design across all aspect of business as the winners of the inaugural $50,000 Queensland Premier’s Design Awards.
”I am delighted to announce Alexander Loterzstain as the winner of the $40 000 Smart State Design Fellow and Kent Gration as the winner of the $10 000 Emerging Design Leader award.
“These exciting designers, who live in Brisbane, won for their commitment to excellence in their design and also their contributions to the growth of the Queensland design industry. “These awards were set up to recognise design excellence and the importance of design to our state and to align strongly with the Queensland Design Strategy 2020. “Both designers have demonstrated their dedication, being the best in their chosen fields and each in their own way have contributed to the Queensland economy and lifestyle, taking Queensland design beyond our borders to the world.”
The Smart State Design Fellowship, supported by ABC Radio National, recognises significant contributions made by an individual or team in developing a design culture in Queensland. The Emerging Design Leader Award, supported by Indesign Group, acknowledges the embodiment of excellence in skill and expertise and a commitment to design.
“Although we have acknowledged just two designers in this year’s awards, the whole design industry is set to benefit as the recipients of both awards will undertake talks and presentations on their design-specific experiences,” the Premier said.
“Since adopting Queensland as his home at the age of 19, Alexander Loterzstain has become a permanent and colourful fixture on the local and national design scene. Known for his use of innovative and sustainable materials, championing of local manufacturing and commitment to incorporating design into all areas of business, Alexander is the perfect choice for the 2010 Smart State Design Fellow.
“Emerging Design Leader Award winner Kent Gration has an unquestionable commitment to sustainable design. His best known work, the bamboo Costello stool, has attracted much recognition and acclaim as has his Wambamboo furniture range.”
The Premier congratulated shortlisted award applicants - Fukutoshi Ueno (Emerging Design Leader Award); and Brian Steendyk and Michael Rayner (Smart State Design Fellowship).
“This is a momentous year for design in Queensland kicked off by Brisbane’s first TEDx event earlier this year, followed by these awards, and Arts Queensland’s hosting of the Talking Design lectures at the State Library of Queensland later this month,” the Premier said.
“October will see Brisbane host the inaugural international design event Unlimited: Designing for the Asia Pacific followed by the International Council of Graphic Design Associations (ICOGRADA) Design Week.
“Through these events and the Government’s Queensland Design Strategy 2020 we are championing the idea of design thinking and putting design at the very core of future decision-making, finding solutions and planning the development of our state.”
Queensland Premier’s Design Awards 2010 Winners’ Biographies
Smart State Design Fellowship
Alexander Lotersztain
Alex is the principal of derlot, a multi-disciplinary design studio based in Brisbane. Throughout his remarkable design career Alex has developed products for high profile clients and has exhibited in London, Moscow, Milan, Tokyo, New York, San Francisco and Berlin. One of his products is part of the permanent design collection at the Pompidou Museum in Paris. Alex collaborates with IDEE-Sputnik, Planex, Street and Garden, SIGG, COVO, Artquitect and Escofet. He has gained much recognition for his work on The Limes Hotel in Brisbane, the first Australian member of the Design Hotels Group. Alex has won numerous awards recognising his contribution to design and his design products. He is a member of the Queensland Design Council.
Posted on: July 1, 2010