City students lead by design

Sydney students are showcasing the future of interior design next month at the Furnitex design conference.
Seven students from the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), have entered designs in the Vibrant Visions In Design (VIVID) category of the internationally recognised conference, held in Melbourne from 16 to 19 July.
The entries range from a coffee table inspired by origami, a fuso pendant lamp that floats, illuminating wallpaper and even a bench shaped like a mobius strip.
“I was really thrilled with the applications this year, there is a number of very innovative pieces,” said Uli Hasel, the curator of the exhibition.
Ms Hasel said that the student applicants were very important in showing the future of interior design, and also said that along with Sydney, Melbourne and Perth also had very unique designs from students as well.
“We like to have them come from all around the country.”
Bhaven Chauhen, an industrial design student from UTS, entered two pieces in the exhibition this year, the fuso pendant lamp and the ciotola fruit bowl.
“It’s amazing all the different new designs that are coming up, and everything seems to be unique.”
The ciotola bowl, made with a single sheet of laser cut steel, is also being considered for the VIVID Green Award for the most sustainable product.
Tim McBride, another industrial design student from UTS, first conceived the design for the mobius bench at a pub, and has since put the initially inebriated idea into practise.
The bench is shaped like a mobius strip, with the entire bench being made up of only one component.
“It’s going to give me an opportunity to speak to people about the design and develop a bit of a profile,” he said.
But Mr McBride said he felt humbled by the quality of the other designs, and is pleased that his bench is displayed along side some of the other pieces.
“The ideas that people bring to the exhibition are really cutting edge.”
The creator of the origami coffee table, Anne Sutton, an interior design student from UTS, has had an interest in origami for some time.  The table is made up of an origami inspired frame of wrought iron with a glass top.
“I’m hoping I’ll get some manufacturing interest at the exhibition as well,” said Ms Sutton.
All of the student entrants will be eligible to win the VIVID Student award for Excellence in Design.