2014 Good Design Awards winners: Caroma takes top honours

Caroma and industrial designer Marc Newson have won the 2014 Good Design Award of the Year for their 22-piece bathroom collection comprising toilets, tapware, showers, baths and a urinal. Presented by Good Design Australia, the Awards was announced in Sydney on May 28 to a gala event audience as part of the 2014 Good Design Festival, in association in VIVID Sydney . The Good Design Australia judging panel called the Marc Newson Bathroom Collection, which was the chosen winner from over 150 finalists , an exemplary design that considered everyday challenges to reach a beautiful design outcome. “This bathroom range is a great example of how a good designer, with the enthusiastic support of a determined client, can enhance the usefulness and appeal of just about any product. The range is exquisitely designed and made,” the judges commented. Innovations across the Marc Newson collection include a no base flanges or wall cover plate policy for tapware, a vitreous china material continuity across the entire range and an innovative toilet pan flushing configuration. “These products function smoothly and are beautifully resolved – certainly a great example of ’form following function’. The materials, graphics and mechanisms are up to date and the execution is faultless,” said the judges. Good Design Awards were given to 77 products while 13 projects were awarded category prizes, including a Neeson Murcutt Architects and Sue Barnsley Design project from the Architecture and Interiors category. Their collaborative design of the City of Sydney’s popular Prince Alfred Park + Pool trumped competition and was called a standout entry by the judges due to its holistic approach, design complexities and community legacy. “Stunningly resolved design and architecture from one of the most highly acclaimed landscape designers in this country,” said the judges. “Every aspect of this park is so beautifully considered. A short stroll through the area and you can quickly see just how popular this park has become and why this team deserves recognition.” The Prince Alfred Park + Pool fought off stiff competition from Abuzz Solution’s ‘Flint Wayfinder’, a navigation tool for indoor retail spaces, as well as the Interface designed ‘Net-Effect’ carpet tile design made from developing community sourced fishing nets (Sustainability Category Award winner).