Dulux announces Colour Awards judging panel for 2009

Details are now confirmed regarding the 2009 Dulux Colour Awards' impressive external judging panel. For the first year in the programme's history the panel comprises a thoroughly diverse representation from the specifier industry to the realm of popular Arts.

Founding Director of Fender Katsalidis, Karl Fender, colour and design lecturer and analyst Di Swinbourn, and acclaimed Melbourne artist Mark Schaller will form this year's eclectic and esteemed panel.

Dulux is particularly excited by the 2009 judges, with spokesperson Andrea Lucena-Orr anticipating a fresh, premium critique given the trio's diversity of expertise and interests.

"This year's entrants are required to show their colour touch, which we're sure will result in some incredibly exciting submissions. To know that finalists will then be critiqued by an award-winning architect, a highly respected colour and design expert and one of the country's most recognised artists is a huge thrill.

"What an incredibly rare opportunity this will be for entrants to receive opinion and commentary from three prestigious leaders in three very distinct but relevant fields. I firmly believe this year's panel of such talented and respected peers is taking the Dulux Colour Awards to its most sophisticated level yet," said Lucena-Orr.

Karl Fender, founding Director, Fender Katsalidis
Fender gained his Master of Architecture at Harvard University, and has spent many years living and practising abroad in London, Rome, Paris, Boston, Hong Kong, and Bangkok. He has been design director on major urban projects in Australia such as the Docklands precinct and the Eureka Tower in Melbourne, the tallest building in Australia, and the NewActon building in Canberra, which was the recipient of the 2008 Canberra Medallion (best architecture design of the year). He is currently involved internationally with projects in Dubai, Shanghai and the design of a new town and marina in Gibraltar. Fender is the Australian Institute of Architects Victorian Chapter President for the March 2008-March 2010 term.

Colour and design lecturer and analyst, Di Swinbourn
Swinbourn is a graduate from the International School of Colour and Design (formerly School of Colour and Design Australia), and has consulted and lectured in this field for over a decade, focusing on residential and commercial projects. For eight years Swinbourn lectured on Colour and Design at SCDA and from 2009 she will teach an accredited course at the Sydney Design School (co-written by herself and the school's founder). A particular passion, and something that forms part of Swinbourn's lecture content, is colour analysing - reporting on colour trend predictions and studying the success or otherwise of past directions. Swinbourn is a Member of Colourways Australia, The Colour Society NSW and the Organising Committee AIC 11th International Congress, Sydney 2009.

Melbourne artist, Mark Schaller
Schaller was a founding member of Roar Studios and held his first exhibition at the age of twenty. He has since exhibited in numerous group and solo exhibitions both within Australia and overseas, his work forming collections within the Australian National Gallery, National Gallery of Victoria and most regional Australian art galleries. His most recent exhibition was inspired by the architecture and urban landscape of his childhood stomping ground, Richmond Melbourne. Schaller extended a variety of mediums, employing painting and assemblage to realise the animated streetscapes and character of the cosmopolitan district.

Colour Awards entries close 20th February 2009, with first-round finalists selected by an internal review panel. All entrants must submit a project description, colour boards including colour swatches and digital imagery. Entry forms can be downloadable via www.dulux.com.au.

An exclusive invitation-only Gala Awards Ceremony will be held in Melbourne's BRIGHTSPACE, which will be styled exclusively for the Dulux Colour Awards, on Wednesday 01 April 2009.

For more entrant information please contact Dulux Colour Awards on 03 9263 3607.