Designer's Institute's APOLLO 13 Wins Purple Pin

It was a battle that pitted the house of New Zealand's most prominent legal minds against a theatre show created by two young kiwis that borrowed an American story. In other words, APOLLO 13: Mission Control 1 Supreme Court 0; there should be a law against this kind of upset.

In the NZ Designer's Institute's Best Awards, announced last night (October 1) Apollo 13 pulled off a shocking upset win over competition that included the New Zealand Supreme Court building and some of this country's best architects and interior designers.

The Best Design Awards is the annual showcase of excellence in graphic, spatial, product and interactive design.

Entries judged Gold in each of the four categories were awarded the inaugurAl Gold Pin, whilst the very best project in each discipline will be awarded the supreme, Purple Pin for work that raises the bar of New Zealand design.

Last night, that coveted Purple Pin went to APOLLO 13: Mission Control from the production team Hackman of co-creators Brad Knewstubb and Kip Chapman, with technical designer Robert Larsen. It also won the Gold Pin for the sub-category of Best Installation

Vanquished competition included Warren and Mahoney (Supreme Court building - WGTN), RTA Studio (K' Road's Ironbank building - AKL), and Jasmax (Coffee Supreme Brew Bar - WGTN), among others. More information on the awards and finalists can be found at www.bestawards.co.nz

"It was quite out of the blue to win the Purple Pin, it ook us by complete surprise," said Brad Knewstubb, Apollo 13's principal designer and co-creator. "We were up against some major projects designed by some of the most prominent design companies in New Zealand.

"So to be judged the best by our peers was both an honour and also quite bizarre. I thought it was a mismatch, a theatre show versus the Supreme Court, but it's good to know that guts and grim determination can allow you to stand out," he said.

APOLLO 13: Mission Control returns for a final New Zealand season at Wellington's Downstage Theatre, October 30 to December 18.

Future plans for Apollo 13 include seasons across Australia in 2011, while negotiations for a US tour have progressed significantly.

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