Nineteen entries chosen by the judging panel will be awarded during  Movelsul Brasil, 26-30 March, in Bento Gonçalves   More than shape, the 2012 edition of Salão Design Competition focused on a new market, and especially how to meet its needs. Guided, among other technical criteria, by the theme of Movelsul Brasil, which approaches the new Brazilian middle class, the winners bring to the market discussions about function and adequacy of design.   - The market realized that the dimensions and proportion should be deeply studied to fit into the new buildings. In practice, it is possible to see that the production of stackable and collapsible goods has considerably grown  in the industry - says Ademir Bueno, manager of design and trends at Tok & Stok and member of the judging panel. During two days the judges evaluated  75 selected entries. One of the highlights was modular furniture such as bookshelves and sofas that can extended according to the user’s needs.   This year, the categories evaluated included Bedroom Furniture, Living Room Furniture, Kitchen and Laundry Room furniture, Bathroom Furniture and Knocked-down Furniture for the International Market – which is run in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, Apex / Brasil. All categories were judged in three classes - Student, Industry and Professional. In addition to the theme of the fair, the judging criteria included durable goods, both in terms of daily use and aesthetic. - A piece of furniture cannot fail. Much is said about design because it captivates, but it also needs to have structure, fitting and to follow the changes in the world. Apartments are getting smaller, but people still have the same size. It is up to the industry to understand and adapt to the proportions and robustness required - says Ivens Fontoura, designer and museographer from Parana. Two other wards included the Alternative Woods Award, which encourages the sustainable management of native forests, and the Professor Advisor award for the professor specified in the registration of the award-winning students. - Just like jacaranda (Dalbergia spp.) was a symbol of a time and then we saw lots of furniture made of tauri (Couratari spp.), we can encourage the industry to seek new kinds of wood, in a sustainable manner. Today, there is a growing use of Muiracatiara-rajada (Anacardiaceae), for example - explains José Alves Camargo, technologist at the Brazilian Woods Forest Service, who was responsible for the analysis of the wood. In its 16th edition. the Salão Design Competition has judged 9,479 entries since 1988. Besides the award winners, all entries selected for the final evaluation will be part of the exhibition of the Movelsul Brasil 2012 competition.  See the winners on Salão Design blog: http://www.salaodesign.com.br/blog