Dulux Colour Awards '08 make impact with a trip to Milan

Submissions for the 2008 Dulux Colour Awards are now open, with plans to maintain the fresh new direction that was pioneered with this year's programme. Challenging entrants to "make an impact" with the creative use of colour, next year's competition will deliver the ultimate Grand Prix prize, an additional category and a panel of highly distinguished judges from Australia and overseas.

As Dulux spokesperson Andrea Lucena-Orr comments, it is not just the entrants who will be making an impact in 2008.

"We anticipate being overwhelmed by the quality and calibre of 2008 entrants, and Dulux in turn plans to reciprocate by delivering a programme, prizes and experience that will genuinely impress and excite," said Ms. Lucena-Orr.

Now in their 22nd year, the Dulux Colour Awards is regarded as one of the most prestigious of its kind in Australia, having attracted a stellar cast of architects and interior designers over the years. Names such as Nonda Katsalidis, John Wardle, Bligh Voller Nield, Kerstin Thompson Architects, Woods Bagot and last year's Liberati Colour are just some of the esteemed specifiers to have secured the status of Dulux Colour Awards Grand Prix winner over the years.

The 2008 Awards include major prize incentives that are sure to capture the industry's attention.

"The 2008 Grand Prix winner can expect a business class return airfare and accommodation to Italy as well as access to the acclaimed Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan in April 2008. The Dulux Colour Awards celebrate the creative use of colour, but also aim to stimulate and motivate specifiers to achieve bold, cutting-edge results in the future. What better inspiration than a highly regarded industry fair in Northern Italy?" said Ms Lucena-Orr.

Designed to recognise and showcase the outstanding use of colour in architectural and interior design projects, the Dulux Colour Awards also serve as a means of fostering innovation amongst tomorrow's industry leaders, demonstrating the company's commitment to every stage of talent progression. Along with the motivational Grand Prix prize, the 2008 programme takes on some exciting new elements, with an additional category now confirmed. The "Environmentally Friendly" category reflects Dulux's ongoing commitment to addressing the need for a more sustainable future. This category calls for submissions that have used Dulux envirO2, a complete interior painting system with a low Volatile Organic Compound formula.

This new admission brings the total menu of categories and prizes to:

• Grand Prix - $15,000 worth of prizes in cash and experiences.
• Environmentally Friendly - $1,500 cash, trophy and certificate.
• Commercial Interior - $1,500 cash, trophy and certificate.
• Commercial Exterior - $1,500 cash, trophy and certificate.
• Residential Interior - $1,500 cash, trophy and certificate.
• Residential Exterior - $1,500 cash, trophy and certificate.
• Student Specifiers years 1-6 - $1,000 cash, trophy and certificate.

As part of Dulux's sponsorship of Interior Design Awards Colour in Commercial Interior Design and Colour in Residential Interior Design Awards, Dulux Colour Award entries will be automatically considered for entry into the Interior Designer Awards free of charge. All finalists will also have their work exhibited at the 2008 designEx.

Dulux admits the 2007 judging panel, comprising top UK Interior Designer Nina Campbell, Abbie Galvin from Bligh Voller Nield and Tim O'Sullivan from Multiplicity, is a challenge to emulate. However, negotiations are currently underway with some exciting industry representatives, and Dulux has every intention of announcing an international special guest judge for the second consecutive year.

Another surprise yet to be revealed is the 2008 Dulux Colour Awards Announcement Ceremony, which was literally taken to new heights this year at Eureka Tower, where the Awards were the first public event to be held on the brand new level 89. A Melbourne venue will soon be secured, with event organisers confident the evening will eclipse new standards set in 2007.

Architects present at next year's ceremony will receive one informal Continuing Professional Development point.

For now, Dulux is preparing for another outstanding level of competition as specifiers begin to prepare their submissions to the 2008 Dulux Colour Awards.

Specifiers can register interest via submitting their Dulux projects via www.dulux.com.au. Submissions close 28 February 2008.