In the wake of the designEX cancellation, a new design trade fair committed to promoting original Australian and International design has been announced.

DEN Furniture and Design Fair, brainchild of Thibaud Cau-Cecile, founder of Life Instyle and The Wearer’s Right, will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from May 14-16. Like designEX, which was supposed to be held from May 13-15, DEN will form part of the 2015 Design Matters: Melbourne International Design Week.

DEN is a juried event and will included showcases of furniture, soft furnishings, textile, lighting, outdoors, home designer products and homewares. It is hoped that the event will place Australian design on the international agenda, with DEN expected to also take place in major overseas design pavilions including 100% Design, Milan Furniture Fair, and Maison&Objet (Paris and Singapore).

Although a strong emphasis will be placed on Australian emerging and established brands, DEN will also incorporate international original designer brands targeting interior designers, stylists, decorators, architects, specifiers and the retail sector.

“For the first time you will be able to see the best in Australian & International design under one roof,” said Thibaud.

“We want to show well-known original designers, plus unearth new and innovative designers from all over Australia and beyond.”

The first two days of the exhibition will be trade only, but the third day will be open to a limited number of non-professional design enthusiasts.

An advisory board has been established to assist in the selection of exhibitors, formulation of collaborations, and creative execution of the show. Board members include:

Barbara Hermon and John Hermon, founders and directors of Hermon&Hermon;
Richard Munao, founder and director of Cult Furniture;
Fleur Sibbel and Wilhelmina McCarroll, founders and directors of Zuster Furniture;
Miriam Fanning, founder and director of Mim Design;
Gordon Tait, founder and director of Tait and;
Anton Assaad, founder and director of Great Dane Furniture

Exhibitors must apply to be selected to exhibit at DEN and organisers are taking expressions of interest in exhibiting at enquire@denfair.com.au.

If you know a design business you’d like to nominate, send an email to inominate@denfair.com.au.

Find out more about DEN here.

Geraldine Chua

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