27 AUGUST 2000
Industry New Zealand Supports Best In Design
The value that good design can add to New Zealand businesses is being recognised via Industry New Zealand’s support for
the Design-Led Business Award.
The Design-Led Business Award is part of the Best Awards, to be held in Auckland on September 6. Organised by the
Designer’s Institute of New Zealand, the Best Awards are a celebration of New Zealand’s top design ideas and talent.
This year’s awards will be the biggest yet with an estimated 500 entries from a wide range of design sectors including
industrial, graphic, interior and fashion.
“We’re excited about the support we’ve received from Industry New Zealand as it gives us a chance to get the attention
of the business community in a way we’ve never been able to do before,” says Dave Clark, convener of the Best Awards and
past president of the Designer’s Institute.
”The award acknowledges the importance of design in this country. Without innovative design to differentiate and brand
our products, we cannot compete globally. We need to celebrate our design talent and find ways of inspiring and growing
this industry.”
The Design-Led Business Award was established to identify New Zealand companies that have achieved commercial success
through excellence in design. Previous winners include Formway Furniture, Zambesi Fashion and Orca, who make the world’s
fastest wetsuits.
Industry New Zealand’s Major Events Manager, Vito Lo Iacono says that sponsoring the award was a chance to help foster
talent and showcase New Zealand’s design success stories.
“We hope the award shows the business community and the public the importance of design in everyday life. It’s a fact
that better synergies between designers and businesses can lead to commercialisation of innovative ideas and add value
to goods and services we produce.”
Support for the design industry, including the establishment of a design industry taskforce, is part of Industry New
Zealand’s sector strategy for creative industries as a whole. It includes comprehensive strategies to tap into the
development potential offered by rapid growth in the screen production, design, fashion, and music industries.
For more information on the Best Awards or the design industry taskforce, visit: www.bestawards.co.nz or
www.industrytaskforces.govt.nz
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