Feltex Carpets and RMIT University (BA Textile Design program) have joined forces to launch the inaugural Feltex Design Award.

With an emphasis on design innovation, Feltex Carpets Product Development Team has for the first time involved textile students in the design development stage of carpet production.

RMIT staff and students worked alongside Feltex Carpets Trend Designer, Charlene Spiteri in developing a range of tufted carpet designs for the inspirational new suburban home and apartment/townhouse consumer market.

The key objective was for students to investigate how carpet impacts the environment, the character of a space and today's new technologies.

All 16 final year students participated designing several innovative designs. New fashion colours for home interiors, pattern, motif direction and forecasting trends were all incorporated in their final work.

This year the award, together with the cash prize, was presented to Nell Oliver for her Regenerate series based on urban cityscapes, with Sarah Gaunt being awarded second prize for her Zelij Moroccan theme. Nell will now undertake two weeks work placement with the Feltex Design Team in August learning and experiencing all aspects of the carpet design business.

Feltex Carpets is committed to development of future talent and plans to conduct the Feltex Design Award, together with RMIT, on annual bases. This will allow emerging young designers to generate and bring fresh and innovative concepts to the table as well as gaining beneficial industry training for future employment.