New Zealand designer David Trubridge has recently had an extraordinary run of international success. Not only is there the substantial export deal with US design store Design within Reach - a significant step forward in exporting New Zealand design to the world, but his designs also featured when UK's TopShop launched its Kate Moss label recently to world-wide media attention.
Image: Still from David Trubridge's April Milan show New Zealand designer David Trubridge has recently had an extraordinary run of international success. Not only is there the substantial export deal with US design store Design within Reach - a significant step forward in exporting New Zealand design to the world, but his designs also featured when UK's TopShop launched its Kate Moss label recently to world-wide media attention.
Image: Still from David Trubridge's April Milan showIn April Trubridge exhibited in the Zona Tortona district in the heart of Milan's design hub at this year's Milan Furniture Fair. For the first time in Europe Trubridge displayed the full lighting collection, plus the 'Float' bed made by Design Mobel. And all-white photographer's studio was the perfect space. The event continues to grow and enormous crowds thronged through the space continuously over the six days of the show.

Four new designs were featured: Squirt, Twist, Pulpo and Flax lights.

In April under the design label Essenze Trubridge exhibited in the large ICFF trade show, and their stand included the three new lights Squirt, Twist and Pulpo. Off site, in the increasingly trendy Meatpacking district, Trubridge had a solo show in the store 'An Earnest Cut and Sew' which will remain in place for six weeks. From here Essenze are launching their marketing in New York of the lights. David also gave a lecture at the American Crafts Centre.

In May Top Shop on London's Oxford Street launched a new collection of Kate Moss clothing drawing world-wide press attention. And a major part of the presentation was a collection of Trubridge lights, thanks to the efforts of MOA in Paris.

Trubridge also won an international art prize on June 5th, World Environment Day, an art exhibition, organised by the World Art Museum under the United Nations Environment Programme, opened in the Nobel Peace Centre in Oslo. This included David's mural 'On Thin Ice' which was a result of his Antarctica Arts fellowship in 2004. The steel triptych was awarded the 'Green Leaf Sculpture Prize'. David was
offered a free trip to Oslo to receive the prize but had to reluctantly decline because he was already travelling too much. The exhibition travels to Brussels, Monaco, Chicago and possibly New Zealand.

Also The organisers of the 2007 Taiwan International Design Award have invited David to Taiwan to be a selector for their awards and to speak at their conference in September.

Thanks to the work of Essenze in the USA Trubridge has secured a contract to supply the enormous American chain of design stores 'Design Within Reach' with three light designs. The potential export numbers could be huge for us. To accommodate this we have expanded into a new building which is set up just for light assembly. In May the first 40 foot container of sample lights left Cicada and there are two more orders to follow. This is a significant step forward in exporting New Zealand design to the world.

For the third year David will be teaching a workshop at the summer design school at Boisbuchet, France run by the prestigious Vitra Design Museum. For more information see www.boisbuchet.com

11/6/07