The first exhibition of products outside Serra Gaúcha enhanced Salão Design Award popularity. Nineteen awards were handed out during a ceremony held on Wednesday - August 12, including winners, honorable mentions, Alternative Woods Award and the Teacher Advisor Award. Bento Gonçalves was represented by Cinex, awarded in the industry class for Coifa Pura – designed by Italian Adriano brothers in partnership with the product development team of the company. Sindmóveis will participate until Sunday  in the events of São Paulo Design Weekend in a 500 square meter space located at Jockey Club São Paulo.

The President of Sindmóveis Henrique Tecchio, points out that the 19 competitions held since 1988 have provided a genuine exchange of experiences to competitors, the organizing body and the judging panel. The 20th Salão Design will be held next year and competitors will have two opportunities to exhibit their work: in March at Movelsul Brasil, and in August, at Casa Brasil in São Paulo.

Tecchio reinforces the idea that over the years there has been a growing niche in the market for furniture with added value. "That is the main contribution given by the award to the furniture industry, which is a source of pride for all of us. The seed that Sindmóveis planted 27 years ago has grown successfully and we are honored by the importance that the award gained on the design scene in Latin America," said the president.

Products awarded in the following categories: Furniture for living and dining rooms, Furniture for outdoor areas, Furniture for bedrooms, Furniture for kitchens, laundry rooms and bathrooms, Furniture for offices and home-offices and Household utensils and lighting were chosen by architects Ilse Lang and Isabela Vecci and designers Ivens Fontoura, Leonardo Lattavo and Gláucia Binda.

Sponsored by Berneck, Salão Design Award aims to add creativity and technological innovation to the furniture industry through design. This year the exhibition of the award-winning products and finalists will be held until August 16 at the Jockey Club São Paulo, during the Design Weekend. Registrations for the 20th Salão Design are now open at www.salaodesign.com.br.

Surprise at the award ceremony

One of the designers had double satisfaction during the Salão Design award ceremony. Ricardo Graham Ferreira from oEbanista - Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, received an extra prize from the Brazilian Forest Service for his Alternative Woods Award winning product. Thanks to his Banco Sela, which also won in the Professional category, the designer will take part in an expedition into the Brazilian wood diversity. He will visit the institution head office and  forestry and wood processing areas in Amazônia.

Since 1996, Salão Design has given the Alternative Woods award to the best product made from species that the Brazilian Forest Service considers as not "widely used". Under the technical analysis of the Ministry of Environment,  products that value the huge diversity of Brazilian woods compete for this award. In addition, the initiative encourages the sustainable forest management, while absorbing its production, making them economically and ecologically viable.