Urbis Designday Launched in Style

For immediate release

Tuesday 17th February

Urbis Designday Launched in Style

Upmarket Westin Hotel was design central early Monday morning as the fashion designers and showroom pairings were announced for the 2009 Urbis Designday, scheduled for Saturday 28th March.

Now in its fourth year, Urbis Designday has become an essential appointment on Auckland’s event calendar.   Each year, on a single day, fashion designers collaborate with upmarket design showrooms to create stunning, inspirational installations. 

Last year more than 1,500 people participated in a tour of the showrooms, taking advantage of the complimentary transport between showrooms, and enjoying a glass of bubbles, a coffee or a cocktail at many of the stops. Online registrations suggest that more than 2,000 will take the tour this year.

The nine interior design showrooms and fashion designer pairings are:

•     Apartmento with Crane Brothers

•     Cite with World

•     Coast with Emma Kate Bamford Design

•     Design Denmark with Lonely Hearts

•     Inovo with Jaeha

•     Matisse with Kouzina & Karen Walker

•     Natuzzi with Lucie Boshier

•     Poggenpohl with Huffer

•     The Westin with Zambesi

Urbis Designday 2009 is about ‘celebrating original design’ and this theme has been embraced by all participants.  This year’s Urbis Designday judges, Tim Walker, recently the Director, Museums, of the Auckland War Memorial Museum, and new Urbis editor Nicole Stock, will award prizes for Best Installation by a Fashion Designer and Best Showroom Ambience.

Last year, fashion design company Zambesi was winner of Best Installation with ‘Light-Headed’, whilst Lucie Boshier wowed Designday guests with her controversial installation based on the Amsterdam Red Light District.

Pamela Jamieson, AGM Publishing’s event manager says “We’re delighted to welcome back last year’s participants, plus newcomers to Designday such as Karen Walker, Lonely Hearts and The Westin Hotel. It is always inspiring to see what the designers create on the day.” 

Auckland City Council is again a strategic sponsor for the event. Acting group manager Tara Pradhan said that Urbis Designday is a celebration of Auckland’s creativity, diversity and commerce.  “The design sector is important to Auckland city and its economy and we’re pleased to see such an exciting showcase of design talent in our city,” she said.

Urbis Designday is on Saturday 28th March from 10am – 5pm at nine central Auckland showrooms.

Guests must pre-register online and pay $20 to receive their Designday Pass which covers entry to the showrooms and complimentary transport on the day.

To register please visit:  www.urbismagazine.com/designday/registration

Urbis thanks strategic sponsors, Auckland City Council, The Westin and Geon. Also product sponsors; Jura, Daniel Le Brun, Steinlager and Wither Hills.

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