Over the years we've seen many a creative masterpiece that's been born from ideas doodled upon a classic cocktail napkin, and after stumbling across a similar idea from the US; we at Design Folio have decided to launch a competition based around the genius of these embryonic sketched ideas. Our inaugural Cocktail Napkin Sketch Contest is open to all those with a design leaning. Send us the machinations of your creative doodles and our extremely qualified team of judges will choose a winner. Up for grabs is a case of the superb award winning Man O' War Merlot Cabernet 2008 to help toast your success, along with the enviable chance to become an artistic hero amongst your design piers. We'll be sure to publish the best, the most interesting, the most creative, and the ugly, right here on the website.

Email us your scanned images along with a brief synopsis to us here by Tuesday 31st August.

Potential Energy Lighting Collection by Whatswhat Collective from Stockholm.

 Truncheon task light by Commenweath for Mattermade Collection Number One.

Kika stool by Patricia Urquiola for Mabeo.

Swarm room divider by Mike and Maaike for Council.

Loop table lamp by Timo Niskanen, part of the New Finnish Design exhibition.

After our extended design travels through Europe and the UK recently we didn't quite have the tenacity to make it to the ICFF in New York. Lucky for us we have been sent a vast array of images from our various sources of what was on offer this year. Above are a few of our favourites for your enjoyment.

These products are all part of the Quotidian exhibition showing now at Objectspace in Auckland. Featuring New Zealand designers across a range of disciplines from fashion design, product design, furniture design and typography - each designer was asked to draw a reference back to an everyday item that lead to their finished design. Featuring New Zealanders such as Cybele Wiren, Adrian Hailwood, Jamie McLellan, Alt Group and Peter Haythornthwaite among others - it's definitely worth checking out which ordinary items inspired extraordinary outcomes.

Objectspace, 8 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland.

Last Thursday evening we partnered with ECC to launch the first official Tom Dixon space in New Zealand. Housing the largest collection of Tom Dixon lighting and furniture ever seen here - the space was packed with leading architects and designers, all fueled by our friends from Veuve Clicquot. In conjunction with the launch of Tom Dixon, we also launched our eagerly awaited Issue 3 of Design Folio, which all guests got to leave with on the night.

To receive a free copy of the new Tom Dixon catalogue email us your postage details here.

The Design Folio Xmas Party held last Thursday night at Inovo turned into quite the affair. Aided perhaps by the generosity of our sponsors Drambuie, Man O War Vineyards and Steinlager Pure, some of the architects present felt comfortable enough to slip out of their dignity and into the hot steaming Dimension One spa pools. An act greeted by both praise and awe from the guests who crowded around to get a look in. Thankfully there was plenty of water on offer from Premium New Zealand Trading Co to cool down the rising temperatures, before everyone hit the dance floor to cut shapes to the fine tunes of Mr Roger Perry.

Design Folio would like to thank all those who attended for helping make such a memorable evening. And of course our always supportive and generous sponsors!

Established in 1999 by Aucklander's Gary Willis and Sue Haldane, The Boiler Room specializes in restoring and re-working objects. Playing on the pieces industrial past, the duo give new life to furniture and objects that have formed part of our country's industrial heritage. With an large collection of new and interesting pieces recently completed, The Boiler Room is hosting an exhibition, details of which are as follows:

The Boiler Room Exhibition
November 30 – December 24
Shed 8, 90 Wellesley Street, Auckland
10am – 6pm. Open 7 days.

Last Friday night Absolut vodka gathered together a cutting-edge collective of New Zealand artists and designers, sculptors and photographers, jewellers and tattooists  - all briefed to do things differently with familiar media: wood, silver, skin, film, paper and paint. The results were unveiled at an exceptional event with outstanding cocktails.

To celebrate the launch of our second issue we threw a party at the head quarters of Rhubarb Lane. Once again our fantastic supporters Man O' War Vineyards and Steinlager Pure helped the celebrations along with their fabulous libations. And the good folks from the Ponsonby Road Bistro whipped up batches of their finest Mac n Cheese, all the perfect ingredients for an excellent knees up!

Don't forget to get your copy of Design Folio!

To get your hands on a copy of the design savvy's must have companion email us at subscriptions@designfolio.co.nz

For a limited time we'll send you Issue Two for only $15.00 including postage, and we'll throw in a copy of Issue One free of charge.

Email us here for payment details.