VICTORIA WELL FURNISHED BY DESIGN

Thursday, 17 July 2008
Great design driven by innovative thinking and a focus on sustainability will provide the competitive edge for Victoria’s furnishing industry Premier John Brumby said today while opening Furnitex 2008, Australasia’s largest furniture and furnishings Trade Fair.
Furnitex 2008 is expected to attract more than 16,000 local and international visitors including major furniture buyers, architects, interior designers, visual merchandisers, manufacturers and decorators from 17-20 July at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

"Furnitex 2008 is a key element of the State of Design Festival, part of our Government’s $15 million Design Strategy, the only design-led industry development initiative in Australia, aimed at boosting Victoria’s $4.8 billion world-class design sector," Mr Brumby said.

"The State of Design Festival, running from 16-24 July, is one of the Design Strategy's major initiatives to create more globally competitive Victorian design sector and encouraging the design-led growth of Victorian industries.

“The Victorian design sector is a critical enabler of competitive industries and vital to building liveable, sustainable and cohesive communities. By putting innovation to work, our designers are also creating products that make more efficient and sustainable use of our resources from the manufacturing process through to the services these products deliver.”

Mr Brumby said as an event that attracts strong international interest, Furnitex 2008 showcases local talent, stimulates domestic and international interest and generates significant new sales opportunities.

“Furnitex 2008 confirms the quality of Victorian and Australian manufacturing and demonstrates the fact that we can design and make truly innovative furnishings that are up there with the world’s best,” he said.

Highlights of Furnitex 2008 include the Australian New Product Parade, the Australian Manufacturers Gallery, the FIAA Manufacturers Pavilion and VIVID2008 – the Australian furniture design innovation showcase.

“Ecologically sustainable materials like bamboo and recycled hardwood also feature prominently in innovative products by emerging local designers on display at VIVID2008,” Mr Brumby said

“Our Government has been supporting this focus on new wood applications by providing $1.1 million for the Co-operative Research Centre for Wood Innovations’ Rapid Wood Forming for the Furniture Industry project.”

Mr Brumby said the Victorian Government was pleased to be supporting this year’s Furnitex, through the VIVID2008 Green Award sponsored by Sustainability Victoria and through the State of Design Festival.