Kiwi winner announced for the 2018 Dulux DIAlogue on Tour

Media release
26 June 2018

Kiwi winner announced for the 2018 Dulux DIAlogue on Tour design scholarship to Tokyo & LA.

Andy Florkowski from RCG has been announced as the New Zealand winner of the 2018 design tour, Dulux DIAlogue on Tour.

The tour, a joint initiative of Dulux, the Designers Institute of New Zealand (DINZ) and Design Institute of Australia (DIA), provides five lucky winners with an exciting and inspirational design tour to Tokyo and Los Angeles in late August 2018.

Providing an opportunity for design professionals to revitalise, reinvigorate and reinspire their career, the tour will see Florkowski meeting and sharing ideas and insights, with some of the world’s best designers in Japan and America.

Florkowski said he was humbled and excited to be able to represent Dulux and the New Zealand design community. ‘I nearly didn’t put a submission forward because I knew the calibre of entries would be incredibly high and there would be a lot of competition – I’m glad I did! It’s humbling to be selected as an ambassador for Dulux and DINZ. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity which I will not only embrace, I will also champion New Zealand and our design community as best I can.’ he explains.

When asked what he was most excited to experience in Japan and LA, Florkowski said he’d like to see how Japan merges the old with the new. ‘For me, the people and narrative are as intriguing as the spaces themselves. I am looking forward to visiting Tokyo; the Japanese have always harmoniously integrated old-world tradition in a considered and contemporary way. I feel there are adjacencies with New Zealand’s own cultural integration and identity, and I look forward to seeing where this thinking leads me,’ he adds.

Philip Vodanovich, National Commercial Manager said ‘Andy’s submission not only provided an insight into what he has achieved to date professionally, but also how much New Zealand design is a passion of his.’

‘Andy showed a real passion for the traditions and history of New Zealand and how these can be reflected through architecture and design. We’re very excited for him to represent us and can’t wait to hear from him on his return.’ he explains.

Cathy Veninga, CEO of The Designers Institute of New Zealand said the tour is a unique opportunity for the designers to be inspired not only by the amazing locations they visit but also by each other.

‘Dulux DIAlogue on Tour is a very special opportunity for the winning designers to not only enrich their own understanding of design within another culture, but also with their colleagues on tour. As they get to know each other, they will draw out of each other design conversations of incredible depth,’ she explains.

The judging process asked designers to consider questions that addressed their contribution to design practice and thinking; personal design philosophy; and what inspires them too. The judges were impressed by the high calibre of entrants.

Veninga said of the Kiwi winner ‘Andy Florkowski as the NZ ambassador will bring three guiding principles to the Tour – Aroha, respect and openness; Pono, being present and sincere; and Tika, being honest.’

Last year’s Dulux DIAlogue on Tour winners, which included Kiwi interior designer Rufus Knight, described their experience as ‘an opportunity like none that I had ever experienced before’ and ‘completely inspiring – every meeting and excursion, every day,” Veninga concludes.

DIAlogue on Tour is a joint initiative of Dulux, the Designers Institute of New Zealand (DINZ) and Design Institute of Australia (DIA).

Andy will join the Australian winners of the Dulux DIAlogue on Tour - Amanda Henderson, Daniel Dalla Riva, Cushla McFadden and Sarah-Jane Pyke.

More information http://www.dulux.co.nz/specifier/colour/dialoguetour

@duluxnz #dialogueontour #duluxnz #DINZ

ENDS

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