Decor + Design has won the Exhibition & Events Association of Australia (EEAA)’s Award for Best Trade Show Over 10,000 sqm! Co-located with the Australian International Furniture Fair (AIFF), this award recognises dual features of the two simultaneous events.The gong was presented to the team at a glamorous awards night at Sydney’s International Convention Centre (ICC) on 7th December.

Now in its 19^th edition, over the past two decades Decor + Design & AIFF has become the premier buying and networking destination for the design and furniture industry. Held every July in Australia’s design capital of Melbourne, the exhibition provides a platform for hundreds of leading exhibitors to showcase their latest collections across furniture, soft furnishings, lighting, art, textiles and more. It is owned by Informa Australia, part of the global events powerhouse Informa Plc.

The Informa Australia & Decor + Design team at the EEAA Awards night, December 7th 2022. From L-R: Chris May, Olivia Grady, Chris Berting, Spiro Anemogiannis, Hannah Hori, Alice Domenis, Skye Rytenskild, Chris Probert and Anthony Anemogiannis.

The show is also a launching pad for new talent through the highly respected VIVID Design Awards, Australia’s longest running design competition for emerging designers. VIVID has kickstarted the careers of many local design luminaries, with the standard higher than ever in 2022.

2022 VIVID Awards Winner Billie Civillo

The Seminar Series has also become the country’s most respected annual line-up of design thinkers and speakers. 2022 was ‘A Masterclass in Australian Design’, celebrating homegrown stars such as Colette Dinnigan, David Flack, David Hicks, Shaynna Blaze, Jamie Durie, Anna Spiro and Adelaide Bragg.

Australian design icon Collette Dinnigan at the 2022 Seminar Series.

Embracing Live Events Again

The EEAA awards night on December 7th was a wonderful opportunity for the Australian exhibition and events industry to gather again after the pandemic, with around 300 people in attendance at a sit-down dinner. The EEAA is Australia’s peak industry body, representing businesses that deliver live exhibitions in a business or consumer environment. It works to ensure industry growth by encouraging high industry standards and professionalism, of which their awards program is a key mechanism.

Decor + Design beat a number of other industry heavyweights to take out the hotly contested Best Trade Show Over 10,000 sqm. Co-located with Decor + Design, the Australian International Furniture Fair (AIFF) is also a crucial component of this award.

The award was accepted by Exhibition Director Chris May, who later reflected on the dedication of the team behind the show:

“The past few years have been exceedingly challenging for everyone,” says May. “The passionate team behind Decor + Design & AIFF gave everything throughout the pandemic to keep our design community and brand alive…a dedication which was reflected in the success of the 2022 show and this award.”

“Decor + Design & AIFF are a crucial meeting place for the Australasian design and furniture industry. We can’t wait to return in 2023 to elevate the show even further, with an increased focus on Australian Made, Socially Conscious design and Kitchens and Bathrooms.”

The 19th edition of Decor + Design and the Australian International Furniture Fair (AIFF) will take place from 13 – 16 July 2023 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. Subscribe now to stay in the loop and receive the latest news from the world of interiors.