The Dulux Colour Awards has announced its finalists, with 89 companies vying for the top prize in their respective categories including workplace & retail and commercial exterior.
Now in its 31st year, the iconic program recognises Australian and New Zealand designers’ creative and innovative use of colour across commercial and residential spaces.
The submissions for this year were exciting, inventive and unexpected, in line with the theme of ‘Bold, Forward, Tilted’, says Dulux colour planning and communications manager, Andrea Lucena-Orr.
“This year, we witnessed a trend of darker tones in commercial spaces―with blacks, charcoals and purples prominent throughout exteriors and interiors,” she explains.
“Cooler combinations of blues and greens were also popular, while architects and designers are continuing to explore geometric shapes and industrial aesthetics.
“Similarly, residential entries embraced moodier palettes and deeper colour tones, which were cleverly offset with elegant light greys, whites and soft pinks. There was a strong modernist influence evident, and minimal colour schemes with metallic shades applied in subtle ways.
“We were also greatly impressed with the calibre of this year’s student entries, with imaginative concepts and clever colour combinations displayed,” she adds.
The judging panel―which includes Ryan Russell, director at design firm Russell & George, and Maurice Terzini, restaurateur and fashion designer―will select winners across all nine categories of which one will be awarded the Grand Prix Prize.
Winners will be announced at a gala event in Melbourne on Wednesday 10 May. For more information visit www.dulux.com.au/colourawards
By Marion Gerritsen
Image 1 by Derek Swalwell; image 2 by Alex Hopkins; image 3 by Felix Forest
