The Vivid Emerging Designer Awards is Australia’s longest running competition for emerging designers, and has unearthed talents such as Adam Markowitz, Lab De Stu, Annie Paxton, Marta Figueiredo and Dean Norton.
Curated by Latitude Group’s Daniel Dalla Riva, Vivid shines a spotlight on our emerging and early career furniture, lighting and object designers.
The Judge’s Choice Award went to Jacqueline Kaytar’s Bark, a stool made from cast aluminium and inspired by ironbark’s deeply furrowed surface.
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“Jacqueline’s work is exquisite and is all the things the judges look for: beautifully crafted, memorable and market ready,” said Cassie Hansen, Vivid judge and editor of InteriorsAu.
Winners were also named across categories of furniture, light, object and concepts, as well as for the Colour Award, and Authentic Design Alliance Award of Merit.
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On the 2026 jury were: Dan Barker (Bricolage), Mark Bailey (Thirteen Architectural Timber), John Bastiras (In Good Company), Filip Bjazevic (Latitude Group), Bree Banfield (Bree Banfield), Cassie Hansen (InteriorsAu), Georgina Greenland (Design Institute of Australia), Daniel Dalla Riva (Latitude Group), Suzanne McNeice (Circa), Simone Pittella (Pittella), Anne-Maree Sargeant (Authentic Design Alliance), Ruby Shields (Studio Shields) and Lauren Treloar (Dulux).
The 2026 winners were:
Furniture
Winner
Jacqueline Kaytar — Bark
Commendations
Lachlan Mackay & Veronica Paiva — Second Subject
Reece Patterson — Whistle Cabinet
Lighting
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Winner
James Morando — Linea
Commendation
Rosie Licence — Sap Lamp
Object
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Winner
Noah Corban — Three Flow
Commendation
Tom Summers — Soft Plane I + II Wall Hooks
Concept
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Winner
Alex Berecz — HAL
Commendation
Steel Issoufson — Second Skin Modular Wearable System
Colour
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Winner
Carl Brosen — Loom Arm Chair
Commendation
Tara Burgess — Imprint on Me
Student
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Winner
Noah Corban — Three Flow
Commendations
Nina Lewis — Recession Coffee Table
Sam Short — Corded Bench
Authentic Design Alliance Award of Merit
Winner
Jacqueline Kaytar — Bark
Commendation
Nina Lewis — Recession Coffee Table
Judges’ Choice
Winner
Jacqueline Kaytar — Bark
To see all the finalists’ work, head to the Decor and Design website.