entry

The Metaform design competition and exhibition aimed to increase public awareness of susainability in furniture, and the value of using innovative, environmentally friendly materials. Metaform challenged creative designers to produce works of art that used these materials in an enlightened fashion.

The exhibition profiled New Zealand technology and design working together to create extraordinary concepts and designs. It provided a forum for New Zealand's designers and furniture makers to interact with the public and a chance to be part of an exhibition with a positive environmental message.

the brief

To design an item that explores the potential of an innovative new design material
To design an item which explores the concept of transformation and renewal
To illustrate how we can design and make objects that reduce the impact we have on the environment
To design with an emphasis is on personal expression and exploration of these issues
To focus on a material, process, technique, idea or even a design method to achieve the result
Each piece should include an explanation and reasoning behind the work
Other materials can be used in combination with Greenseal

the material

Green Seal Timber

Greenseal is an exciting new material that utilises groundbreaking 'Indurite' technology originally developed at Forest Research and further developed by Pacific Hardwood and Carter Holt Harvey. Cellulose hardened pine, Greenseal has the beauty and performance characteristics of a hardwood, yet comes from sustainably managed New Zealand plantation forests.

Metaform 03 participants have the opportunity to be some of the first designers to work with this exciting new material.

judges

The Judges represent the spectrum of fields that may enter and have diverse backgrounds.
Humphrey Ikin: Award winning designer/maker with an international reputation.
Mark Pennington: Design Director of Formway Furniture, and a widely respected industrial designer both here and abroad.
Pete Bossley: A renowned New Zealand architect and founder of Bossley Architects.
Tim Miller: Senior Lecturer in Industrial Design (Victoria School of Architecture and Design) and innovative furniture designer.
Pradeep Sharma: Course Director of the Master of Design Management at Unitec and a great exponent of design methodology and creative management.

metaform 2003 competition

The three major New Zealand design schools, Unitec, Massey University and Victoria University participated and included the competition as part of their curriculum. Greenseal material was supplied to these courses to allow the students to become familiar with the product properties, experiment with the product, and produce a design.

Metaform 03 was open to entry for the general design, designer/maker, and architectural community as well as the participating design schools. There were two categories for entering the exhibition - Open and Student. Initial design proposals were judged, with successful proposals receiving the appropriate amount of Greenseal product to bring their design to life.

Once the designs were realised there was another selection process with awards in each category.

For more information on the competition itself, please see Metaform 03 Conditions of Entry.

supporters

Carter Holt Harvey was the primary supporter of Metaform 03, supplying Greenseal material to participating design schools and selected designers to produce prototypes and experiment with the material.

Locus Research has generated the concept and supporting artwork for the event and managed the implementation and design of the exhibition, convening the selection process and liasing with the schools and design community.

AGM Publishing produces the following high quality publications for the design industry: Interior Details, Furniture NZ, Prodesign and Architecture NZ. They supported Metaform 03 through the extensive promotion of the competition and exhibition to the design community.