The finalists for the 38th annual Dulux Colour Awards have been announced by this year’s esteemed judging panel. A stunning 83 projects have been chosen from a record 527 entries, as judged by five design industry professionals from Australia and New Zealand.
The awards attract an array of extraordinary projects, spanning various categories such as Commercial Interior – Public and Hospitality; Commercial Interior – Workplace and Retail; Commercial & Multi-Residential Exterior; Residential Interior; Single Residential Exterior; and, Student work for both Australia and New Zealand, with the coveted Australian and New Zealand Grand Prix awards representing the pinnacle across all categories.
This year, an additional category has been added in recognition of the burgeoning area of Temporary or Installation Design.
Dulux Colour and Communications Manager Andrea Lucena-Orr stated: “Expanding our program to award innovative colour use in non-permanent projects, such as exhibition spaces, installations and display suites, acknowledges the level of creativity that is being applied in this sector. They are inspirational.”
The judges were impressed by the deeply considered, intelligent design pervading this year’s suite of finalists.
Projects included hospitality venues and retail stores enticing customers through an understanding of colour psychology, primary schools with classrooms distinguished by colour to aid learning and navigation, and human-focused offices with masterful mood-setting palettes.
Lucena-Orr noted trends in this year’s entries, including a strong theme of biophilia — the affinity of humans with the natural world — with earthy colours playing a dominant role in interiors.
Another trend is the bold use of saturated candy-like colours, clashing and contrasting against one another in projects of all types.
Warm whites and soft beiges have also made a strong appearance this year, in sophisticated tonal plays.
Exteriors are being used as canvases for all-encompassing tonal treatments, resulting in impressions of shade, light, and depth across elevations.
“It’s thrilling to see that every surface, every element, inside and out, is being considered in the overall colour scheme when a designer or architect is devising the palette.
“From coloured ceilings in retail outlets to painted external details in commercial settings, they all have a role to play in defining a space,” said Lucena-Orr.
The winners of the 38th Dulux Colour Awards will be announced at an exclusive event at Sydney Opera House Bennelong, during Vivid Sydney on Wednesday 29 May.
This year’s panel of leading architectural and design experts:
- Shaun Carter, Founder of Carter Williamson
- Monique Woodward, Co-Founder of WOWOWA Architecture
- Sarosh Mulla, Director of Pac Studio
- Eva-Marie Prineas, Founder of Studio Prineas
- Nick Travers, Co-Founder and Director of Technē Architecture + Interior Design
2024 Dulux Colour Awards project categories:
- Commercial Interior – Workplace and Retail
- Commercial Interior – Public and Hospitality
- Commercial and Multi – Residential Exterior
- Residential Interior
- Single Residential Exterior
- Temporary or Installation Design (BRAND NEW CATEGORY IN 2024)
- Student AU and NZ (Years 1-6)