Kudos' dream design competition

In partnership with Hotelier Middle East, the outdoor furniture specialist’s dream design competition promises to transform sketches into real-life prototypes and offers a place, with royalties, for the winning creation in its new Designer furniture collection:

Many companies producing products for the hospitality industry claim to have a strong design ethos that sets them apart from the rest but few would go to the lengths of organising a competition to find the next design star, whose winning creation will not only go into production but take pride of place in its new ‘Designer’ collection.

But that is exactly what Kudos Global – the specialist in outdoor furniture with some 23 years experience in the Middle East – has committed to with the launch of its competition to design a daybed destined for luxury five-star hotels; the top three shortlisted designs will be made into real-life prototypes and displayed at this year’s Hotelier Middle East Awards (30 October, 2013), where the winner will be decided by 600 top hoteliers attending the event.

“We work within distinct markets in hotels whether that is pool and beach, F&B, banquet or housekeeping providing everything from furniture through to umbrellas and cushions but are now looking to ‘design’ and the design community to give us an edge going forward with the business,” says general manager, Dan Lacey, who is the brains behind the design competition.

In line with this design-driven focus, Kudos Global plans to introduce a new Designer collection into its 2013 portfolio of furniture that includes its signature hand-woven all-weather wicker furniture, plus a funky range from Spain offering colourful chairs and look-a-like wicker that’s less costly than its premium designs, as well as a new, upcoming cutting-edge furniture collection designed around a series of modular fiberglass platforms where sofas and chairs sit lotus-style on the decks as if levitating above them.

“Our new focus begins with the Designer collection, which will include the competition’s winning concept,” says Lacey. “This will be a collection of furniture that integrates sun shading plus we have a few ideas around interconnecting modular pieces already on the drawing board – we are committed to growing our range through design; it’s the only way to lead.”

Make a statement
As such, Lacey’s advice to those looking to enter the competition is to think about where and how the daybed will be used. “We supply high-end hotels and this will be a destination or focus piece within a sea of sun loungers,” he adds, “so use the opportunity to make a statement.”

The concept could be contemporary and stylish, cool and classic or inspired by the locale with an authentic Arabian air. “Also think about how you can include shading from the sun into the design, whether that’s umbrellas or some other idea and the materials we use i.e. aluminum frames woven with wicker,” Lacey adds.

“The sky’s the limit though. You might want to experiment with new kinds of weave that produce never-seen-before patters or fuse our all-weather wicker with aluminium in a new way. As we are now owned by Absolute Pools, we’re also looking at the possibilities of fiberglass [the material used in the manufacture of the pools], which can be fused with wicker or aluminum to create a hybrid product.”

Lacey also urges the region’s potential design stars to think about practicality as well as aesthetics. “It’s got to be appealing and attractive but also comfortable,” he adds. “The winning design will be one that says that’s where I want to spend my day.”

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Future Plans
The Kudos Global design competition is just one of the initiatives the company will launch this year as part of its significant plans for growth. Not only will the company extend its reach into the residential sector in 2013 with the launch of Kudos Home but it is building on its reputation for after-service and is extending its offer to the hospitality sector.

“We have nine guys dedicated to the operational side on the road every day, delivering, fixing and servicing and we are adding four more in the next few months,” Lacey says.

Kudos Global can also now claim to be a true manufacturer having purchased the Philippines factory that produces its products, which says Lacey, will give the company greater flexibility when it comes to supplying the region and expanding into new territories.

“The furniture is all still made by hand though, which is something most people don’t realise about our product,” he says. “Once we have the aluminium frame made, it goes to the weavers in the factory who do everything by hand; a daybed, for instance, can take two days to make, it’s still very much a cottage industry.”

The biggest change at Kudos Global this year, however, will be the introduction of its Cebu concept for the hospitality sector, which will offer hoteliers a buy-back deal similar to those offered by the car industry.

“Basically, once the furniture that is ordered needs to be replaced, we will take it back and give clients a discount on any new furniture when they upgrade within a three-year cycle,” says Lacey.

“Plus we will guarantee to service the furniture for the customer, and again at the end of the three years, guarantee to buy it back at 10% of the value it was purchased for.”

The concept goes one step further, however, with RF, a new furniture division, which will revamp the furniture bought-back from hoteliers to sell on to three- or four-star hotels or home owners looking for affordable pieces.

“The refurbished concept will also be very eco-friendly,” Lacey adds.

Another spin-off of the concept will be Kudos Global rental, where refurbished pieces will be held for film and TV shoots as well as events and parties. “We had a lot of requests for this in the past so are now offering the service,” Lacey says.

How to enter
- Create your design: Lacey says it can be as simple as a hand-sketched drawing or a full rendering.
- Email your entries to: daybedcomp@itp.com by Thursday 25 July 2013.
- An expert judging panel of hoteliers and designers will shortlist the entries leaving just three finalists.
- The three shortlisted designs will be voted upon at the Hotelier Middle East Awards at the JW Marriott Marquis. Dubai on October 30 and the winner announced.
- Visit www.hoteliermiddleeast/awards/competition for more information.