Karen McCartney shares her personal Instagram edit of our Emerging Designer Award 2014. Vote for your favourite designer before 12 May for your chance to win a $250 T&W gift card.

Last Thursday night we launched our Emerging Designer Award for 2014 in the wonderful studio space of Megan Morton's The School. All 10 nominated designers had product on display to represent their aesthetic, presented in impressive gallery-style treatment. White plinths showcased beautifully crafted pieces, while rolls of white paper, used in photography, played backdrop to sculptural lights, clothes racks and crafted cabinetry.  It all looked curated and considered thanks to T&W's Head of Styling Jess Bellef and Creative Director Chris Deal.


The Temple & Webster Emerging Designer Award exhibition at The School in Sydney.

The launch event was an opportunity for print and online media to come and see the work, meet the designers and learn something about why Temple & Webster are undertaking an award of this nature. Which brings me to why Temple & Webster are undertaking an award of this nature.

When I joined T&W nearly two years ago, it was voiced at one of the first meetings that T&W would like to do something to support young Australian design talent. Last year we ran the inaugural Emerging Designer Award with the winner Kate Stokes of Cocoflip taking the $5000 prize.

We learnt from last year and this year is bigger and better, with media partner, Fairfax's Sunday Life magazine, a proper launch event and widespread coverage on social media (including the #eda2014 hashtag on Instagram). We are keen for you to vote and let us know who and what you love, and the opportunity to buy is very seductive . . . I can vouch for that.

Being something of an instagram tragic I had to go back the day after the launch to record a personal visual take on the work. Here it is. Everyone's a winner – as they say.



(Left) Ben Warhlich's beautiful bowl, with a sensuous finish akin to snakeskin, sits on top of one of his crafted cabinets. (Right) Guy Keulemans' refined copper scoop is the result of his exploration into damage and repair.



(Left) Dale Hardiman & Adam Lynch of Dowel Jones showed a number of products including their appealing copper Dr Spinner light and gloss white Thimble stool. (Right) Coco Reynolds' Bright Beads lights look amazing in a cluster as her carefully chosen shapes and blend of timbers complement one another.



(Left) Inspired by flying ceramic ducks on his father's walls, Andy Grigor's range of hanging lights have a simple charm. (Right) Alex Gilmour and Dominic Chong of Evie Group have designed these Hex boxes, which fit comfortably together to form an useful sculpture.



(Left) Liam Mugavin, working from Adelaide's Jam Factory, has created, this "Tangle' table which combines the geometry of a timber  base with the clarity of the glass top. Another great product from Alex Gilmour and Dominic Chong of Evie Group, this "Spun' light combines in rose gold, silver and gold finishes.



(Left) Cindy-Lee Davies of Lightly has pioneered an approach she calls 'Nanna Technology' which mixes a crafted aesthetic with modern technology. Shown her is her 'Assemblages' shelf and 'Godfrey' light in copper alongside the "Rope" light also in copper. (Right) Liam Mugavin shows he has an ability with small delicate pieces with his desk set in copper and cork. The cork pen-holder is weighted so it has a lovely heavy feel in the hand, a pleasing contradiction to the impression of cork as lightweight.



(Left) Ben Wahrlich's cabinetry works with wood to create a deeply textured geometry within a simple format. The top is treated with a special Axolotl finish, as is his timber bowl. Several of the designers produced small crafted pieces. (Right)  Rowen Wagner has created two containers in merbau and brass which have a timeless appeal. Ditto his 'Perpetual Calendar' in walnut and copper.



(Left) Rowen Wagner's 'Mantis' clothing rack is a simple, stylish solution to apartment living. He also produced a glamorous version in gold. (Right) Viktor Legin and Ed Linacre's black 'Topaz' pendant light is but one of this talented duo's range of lighting and furniture pieces. Their "Nest" pendant light pays homage to the honeycomb architecture of bees in the most pleasing way.