Finalists Announced for 2016 Dulux Colour Awards

A record-breaking 256 entries have been reviewed for the 2016 Dulux Colour Awards, narrowing the field down to 80 finalists across Australia and New Zealand. In its milestone 30^th year, the renowned program will acknowledge and celebrate those who have contributed to an iconic colour journey over the last three decades, with a nod to the future as the journey continues.

Recognising and rewarding the best application of colour to transform a space, the 80 finalists were selected across nine categories including commercial interior, commercial exterior, single residential interior, single residential exterior, multi-residential interior, multi-residential exterior, installation and events, student and international. 

Dulux Colour Planning and Communication Manager, Andrea Lucena-Orr, said the 2016 submissions were more playful and experimental than ever, with colour utilised in bold and unexpected ways.

‘We were thrilled to see entries pushing the boundaries of colour application and incorporating both futuristic and retrospective elements – fitting with this year’s focus on the evolution of colour in design and architecture,’ said Andrea.

‘Commercial entries showcased a daring and innovative approach, transforming structures and spaces into an canvas. The Commercial Exterior category showcased colour blocking and patterns, with colour cleverly applied to highlight architectural features. In the Commercial Interior categories there was an emergence of metallic shades, geometric shapes and hidden reveals of brighter colours.’

‘In residential, exteriors were dominated by whites, neutrals and earthy tones to achieve a cohesive elegance, whilst application created interest through multi-layered textures. Pastels and soft tones were popular throughout the Residential Interior categories, with accents of vibrant colour applied to doors, ceilings and cornices,’ Andrea said.

The 2016 Dulux Colour Awards finalists will now be judged by a panel of design leaders, including; Meryl Hare – Principal at Hare + Klein Interior Design; Clare Cousins – Director at Clare Cousins Architects; James Harper – Principal at BrookingHarper and Director at Design Institute of Australia; Matt Gibson – Director at Matt Gibson Architecture + Design; and Alex Fulton – Director at Alex Fulton Design (NZ).

With entries received from Australia and New Zealand, the industry judging panel will select winners across the nine categories, with the best of the category winners awarded the Grand Prix prize. Winners of the 2016 Dulux Colour Awards will be announced at a gala event in Melbourne on Thursday 28 April, 2016.

For more information on the 2016 Dulux Colour Awards visit their website.