Awards

2020 Finalist entry Australian Furniture Design Awards

‘Datum 72’ is an experimental table design that was an Australian Furniture Design Awards finalist entry; one of Australian design’s most prestigious accolades presented by the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) and Stylecraft. The project was designed and fabricated by Design King Company in collaboration with Dr Christian Tietz (UNSW). The competition asked designers to create innovative forms that address the role of the object in the contemporary world.

‘Datum 72’ is a table that challenges preconceptions about everyday things, and blurs the landscaped lines of the domestic table setting. Inspired by Still Life and Cubist paintings, the idea of the table surface was challenged. Objects for the table were designed to modulate above and below the surface in an array of translucent colours. The objects appear suspended in space through a clear glass surface. As tableware sinks below the surface, a new social connection is sparked above between the diners.

The result is a playful, theatrical response that draws attention to the rituals taking place in domestic life. Our table is a celebration of objects, people, and the simple act of sharing a meal.

A result of discussion, iteration, theorising and making, ‘Datum 72’ stands testament to a highly creative and engaged team. Rigorously examining the way objects reveal a story about their use and place in the world, our project represents how these narratives can reflect our perceptions of objects and the ways in which we relate to them in a personal, communal and political dimension.

At DKC, we value and endorse the collaborative creative thinking that the DKC team underwent to become an Australian Furniture Design Awards Finalist. Competitions such as these infuse our work environment and projects with new inspiration, energy and stimulation, which we see as paramount to good design.

Team: DKC Team with Dr Christian Tietz (UNSW)

Photography: Kerry Wilson