On Friday 29 November, the best and brightest of Australia’s dynamic interior design industry gathered at the iconic Forum Melbourne to celebrate Interior Design Excellence Awards (IDEA). It was a night of glitz, glamour and camaraderie, and while there could only be one winner for each of the 14 categories and six special awards, Australian design was the star of the show.  

On a swelteringly hot evening, with a northwesterly wind blowing like a hairdryer up Flinders Street, more than 550 interior designers, product designers and select group of material and product suppliers from across the nation converged at Forum Melbourne. An iconic, jewel-like venue set the scene for what would become one of the most memorable IDEA gala events in recent memory.  

Stepping inside the grand entrance, guests – dressed to impress – were greeted with refreshingly hydrating Four Pillars gin and tonics, crisp, ice-cold Moo Brew beer and flowing wine. The atmosphere was electric with anticipation for the night ahead. Who would be the 2024 Designer of the Year? Who would take home the coveted IDEA Gold Medal trophy for their commitment to the industry? And who was the special musical guest? 

With more than 23 years of experience, the team behind the IDEA awards operated like a well-oiled machine. Niche Media general manager Jillian Hood said IDEA 2024 “set a new benchmark” with a record number of entries, inspirational projects and a sell-out gala event. “It’s a testament to the incredible talent and innovation within our industry,” Hood said. “The IDEA Gala is the most important moment of the year, bringing together designers, architects and creatives from across Australia to celebrate the very best of Australian design and inspire the future of design.”

A little after 7pm, only slightly later than anticipated, the buzzing crowd ascended the sweeping Art Deco staircases to take their seats in the theatre for the official portion of the evening. 

Niche Media owner and publisher Paul Lidgerwood set the tone for the evening with an engaging welcome and thank you to the event sponsors, before handing over to MCs Jefa Greenaway and Eva Sue, who set an excellent tempo, moving smoothly and efficiently from one award to the next. 

In a fitting gesture for an event that brings people together, the first award of the night was the Hospitality category, which went to J.AR Office for Gerard’s. While the J.AR team couldn’t attend, IDEA jury chair Clare Cousins accepted the award on their behalf, noting how much it means to be recognised by your colleagues and peers for work that means so much to the designers themselves. 

The sentiment that IDEA is about industry recognition and genuine hospitality was echoed by Caroline Edwards, general manager for Designer Rugs, who sponsored the Colour category for 2024. “We‘re thrilled to be back at the IDEA Awards, celebrating the vibrant world of colour and the power of design,” Edwards said. Designer Rugs marketing manager Ammie Marshall added: “Niche Media truly delivered for the design community once again at this year’s IDEA Awards. What an incredible night of celebration! Designer Rugs was thrilled to return to the awards after many years and we are so grateful for the support in organising the fantastic shortlisters’ lunch for the Colour category. We can’t wait to be part of next year’s event in Sydney.”

In a testament to the great relationships and collective support upon which the design industry is built, Residential Interior Curation winner Simone Haag fought back tears to give a moving speech, thanking her recently passed father for his support and encouragement over so many years. “He would have wanted me to be here tonight, doing this thing that means so much to me and is so much a part of my life,” Haag said. 

The coveted Gold Medal went to Dr Natalie Wright for her tenacious and passionate commitment to design education and advocacy. Like Haag, Wright spoke beautifully of the power of collective support. “To now be honoured by my peers is something I never expected, nor sought, but I am truly grateful,” she said. Wright also took the opportunity during her time on stage to shine a light on the vital importance of collective continued collaboration between industry partners, educators and designers to develop and deliver professional development programs that will elevate the interior design profession and equip it for the future. 

Reflecting on the future of the design industry and the role of the IDEA awards, Zenith Interiors marketing manager Vera Meharg said: “We have been privileged to support this event for over 10 years because, as a brand, we understand the power of design to transform spaces. IDEA is a testament to the incredible vision and passion that shapes our industry and we are proud to continue our partnership here. The Zenith Interiors team had an amazing night celebrating the incredible talent and innovation within the interior design community.”

For Halliday + Baillie director Tanya Rive, sponsoring IDEA is also about developing relationships with industry partners. “Being a New Zealand company gently slotting into the Australian market, we made the decision 10-plus years ago to sponsor IDEA,” she said. “This was our way of silently allowing people to learn about us while giving back to the very design community that supports products, suppliers and manufacturers. Now, over 10 years later, we’re pleased to be cemented in the design community and IDEA was a contributing factor.” Having recently begun manufacturing a selection of their range right here in Australia, Halliday + Baillie’s commitment to supporting the industry as a whole, and their focus on the future through localisation is clear.

While the distant future of Australian design germinates in the lecture theatres and classrooms of brilliant educators like Wright, the immediate future is shaped by emerging designers who are only a few years into their careers. For those familiar with the work of Benjamin Jay Shand’s Studio Shand, it perhaps came as no surprise that Studio Shand won Emerging Designer of the Year for 2024. Working across multiple typologies, including sculpture and product design, Shand’s considered, multidisciplinary approach to design – where attention to the design concept, sustainability and aesthetic execution work in cohesive harmony – is likely something we will see more of in the years to come. 

ForestOne group marketing manager  Adam Jarski said: “As a first-time sponsor, it was fantastic to be able to support the Emerging Designer of the Year category at this year’s IDEA gala. The standard of design in Australia is exceptional, especially when it comes to designers delivering on both practical aesthetics and long-term sustainability and we’re extremely proud to have been part of this year’s program.”

While every category is important, and every highly commended and winning project was deserving, without doubt, the most eagerly anticipated awards were Designer of the Year and Overall Project of the Year. This year, Bates Smart was crowned Designer of the Year, taking home two more stunning trophies designed by Adam Goodrum for their exquisite project, The Embassy of Australia, Washington DC, which won both Overall Project of the Year and Public Space.

While the project was plagued by COVID-19-related delays, Bates Smart’s collective unrelenting pursuit of excellence and commitment to telling stories of place through design never wavered. Indeed, it’s the challenge that makes winning not one, but three prestigious awards, much more rewarding. 

Accepting the award for Overall Project of the Year, Bates Smart director Mark Healey acknowledged the support and tireless effort of his team, in particular Wai Fong Chin’s extraordinary commitment to the project, which is so much more than a beautiful office building for diplomats. “If there is a building in this world at the present time [that reflects] the importance of Australia and our diplomacy in our host nation, this building is going to be working pretty hard for the next four years,” Healey said. 

Celebrating spaces that are so much more, and acknowledging the talented people who design them, is what IDEA is all about. With the winner of the ultimate award of the night revealed, it was time to party – and there is no design party like the IDEA party. 

Back on the ground floor, the curtain had been drawn back to reveal the stage and dance floor. Everyone in the building was bursting with merriment, wasting no time heading to the bar and cutting loose on the dance floor. 

In what was perhaps the biggest surprise of the night, for the first time in IDEA’s history, the crowd was treated to an incredible live solo performance by rising star Umbra Moon. Moon commanded the stage, blowing everyone away with her powerful voice and dynamic fusion of keys, synth and electric violin. 

As the night of nights for Australian interior design wore on, the magic eventually came to an end – as all the best midsummer night’s dreams do. 2024 has been an incredible year for design in this country, and what better way – or better place – to bask in so much design excellence than at the IDEA Gala. 

Subscribe to inside magazine to get your copy of the IDEA 2024 Winners Edition, out now.

IDEA 2024 is proudly brought to you by our overall sponsor Miele alongside Cult, Crafted Hardwoods, Neolith, Halliday + Baillie, Krost, MillerKnoll, Laufen, ForestOne, Zenith, Designer Rugs, and supported by our event partners Axolotl, Four Pillars Gin, Moo Brew Beer and Artfull.

A special thank you to our jury chair Clare Cousins, and our jury members Brooke Lloyd, Davina Bester, Graham Charbonneau, Melissa Bright, Michael Alvisse and Manuela Millan.