MINI AUSTRALIA CELEBRATES BRIGHT RAYS

On Wednesday night, 2016 MINI Australia celebrated the six BRIGHT RAYS finalists and announced the winner of the BRIGHT RAYS campaign in a decadent affair at Melbourne’s Kensington Collective.

The night was hosted by media personality and motor enthusiast Kate Peck, and joined by well- known guests including House Husbands, Firass Dirani, Survivor castaways Rohan Maclaren and Phoebe Timmins, The Bachelors’ Steph Dixon, St Kilda’s David Armitage and partner Jessie Hultgren, social media influencer Tahan Lew Fatt and X-Factors Brentwood and Timmy Knowles.

Inside the industrial space, guests were treated to canapés and catering by Fred & Ginger, along with drinks from Mist Wood Gin and Sample Brew. A favourite of the night were Fred & Gingers’ infamous ‘Steak and Fries’ followed by a must-have dessert, ‘Dulce de latte Doughnuts’.

Throughout the evening, the finalists showcased their work, sharing their creative visions and offering guests a chance to meet the young hopefuls and be inspired. On hand to congratulate and support each of the six BRIGHT RAYS finalists were BRIGHT RAYS Mentors, Sasha and Russel from Koskela, Katherine Sabbath, Tiff Manuell and Mel Tan.

Later in the evening, Industrial Designer Martin Tauts (Red Block) was announced as the winner of the BRIGHT RAYS campaign, winning a $29K business grant, a MINI Ray for 12 months and a mentoring session with one of the Bright Rays mentors, to not only make a change to Tauts’ business Red Block, but to encourage and support design and manufacturing in Australia.

Estonian born, Martin Tauts started his design firm Red Block in 2015. Tauts started designing and making custom, hand-made concrete lamps coloured with earth from regional Australia, while still undertaking his studies at the Design Centre in Enmore, Sydney. Now based in Newcastle, Red Block is a furniture and lighting brand that focuses on tying in Scandinavian and Japanese minimalism with Australian materials and modern manufacturing, with all works 100% designed and made in Australia.

About BRIGHT RAYS

The MINI Australia BRIGHT RAYS campaign was a socially-led competition created to inspire and encourage young Australian talent across fashion and design by offering them a chance to propel their vision through a business grant, a MINI Ray for 12 months and mentoring. Visit www.mini.com.au/mini-news/category/bright-rays to find out more about the BRIGHT RAYS Winner, Finalists and Mentors.