Locus Research Original product development

The exhibition profiled New Zealand technology and design working together to create extraordinary concepts and designs. It provided a forum for New Zealand's designers and furniture makers to interact with the public and a chance to be part of an exhibition with a positive environmental message.

The Brief

• To design an item that explores the potential of an innovative new design material
• To design an item which explores the concept of transformation and renewal
• To illustrate how we can design and make objects that reduce the impact we have on the environment
• To design with an emphasis is on personal expression and exploration of these issues
• To focus on a material, process, technique, idea or even a design method to achieve the result
• Each piece should include an explanation and reasoning behind the work
• Other materials can be used in combination with Greenseal

Metaform 2003 Competition

The three major New Zealand design schools, Unitec, Massey University and Victoria University participated and included the competition as part of their curriculum. Greenseal material was supplied to these courses to allow the students to become familiar with the product properties, experiment with the product, and produce a design.

Metaform

03 was open to entry for the general design, designer/maker, and architectural community as well as the participating design schools. There were two categories for entering the exhibition - Open and Student. Initial design proposals were judged, with successful proposals receiving the appropriate amount of Greenseal product to bring their design to life.

The exhibitions were held at Auckland Museum in August 2003 and the Dowse in Wellington in 2004.

Metaform encouraged designers to show how innovation and design can work together to push traditional boundaries. Designers had the challenge of exploring the potential of Green Seal - a new product which has the appearance and performance characteristics of a hardwood, yet comes from sustainably managed New Zealand plantation forests.