Apprentice & Awnings Highly Commended at National Awards
We are thrilled to announce that our Douglas Innovation workshop received two Highly Commended awards at the ATA NZ Awards! This recognition underscores our commitment to excellence and innovation in the industry.
From left: Suzanne and Pete, owners at Douglas, Apprentice Sebastian Devlin-Hall (Seb), with Production Manager Adam at the 2024 ATA NZ Awards in Christchurch.
Our Rising Star: Apprentice Sebastian Devlin-Hall (Seb)
We are exceptionally proud of our apprentice, Seb Devlin-Hall, who was very close to clinching the Apprentice of the Year title. His project, The Chill Chair, demonstrated commercial viability and innovative design. Although the winner’s piece featured remarkable technical craftsmanship, Seb’s practical and market-ready creation stood out. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the winner and are proud of Seb’s outstanding achievement.
Seb completed his apprenticeship in April 2024 and shared his insights: “The most surprising aspect of the apprenticeship was discovering the multitude of ways to tackle and solve various problems. It significantly honed my problem-solving skills.”
He added, “The most enjoyable part has to be witnessing the transformation of raw materials into finished products and the variety of projects that keep the work engaging and dynamic. Few careers offer the diversity and continual learning that the textiles industry provides.”
The Chill Chair
Seb’s highly commended project, The Chill Chair, began as a concept for a slim, foldaway chair but evolved into a more aesthetically pleasing design.
Inspired by his new home with beautiful big trees hanging over the front yard, Seb wanted to create a chair that offered comfort while blending with nature.
The chair’s materials, including durable Sunbrella fabric in Indigo and 10-year long-lasting Dunlop foam, were chosen for their ability to withstand outdoor conditions while providing comfort. The mesh base, made from Vision Tex, included eyelets for lacing, enhancing both comfort and an area to allow moisture to escape.
Our workshop manager, Adam, commended Seb: “Seb began as a general hand and quickly grasped the intricacies of the trade. His dedication to completing his industrial textile fabrication apprenticeship and his ongoing contributions at Douglas are truly commendable. Seb’s willingness to learn and his proactive approach to problem-solving are invaluable assets to our team.”
We are immensely proud of Seb and his achievements and look forward to supporting him as he continues his career. Well done!
A Second Bright and Bold Star: Awnings at the Tile Warehouse
At Douglas Innovation, we take pride in delivering custom solutions that not only meet but exceed our clients’ expectations. Our second highly commended project was a commercial fixed awning for the Tile Warehouse in Hastings, located on busy Omahu Road.
The client’s brief was clear: they needed a weather-resistant entryway solution that would also stand out amid the competing signage of neighboring businesses. They were after an eye-catching design that aligned with their brand and provided a noticeable presence to attract more foot traffic.
In response, our team designed a large fixed awning in the elegant Spanish hoop style, featuring a Flame Red PVC fabric (Mehler’s FR-580 from Rainbow Shade) to match the Tile Warehouse’s brand colours.
This vibrant awning not only offered practical weather protection but also transformed the storefront, giving it a much-needed facelift.
For our team this awning was no small feat. The bright and shiny fabric required meticulous attention to detail during fabrication to ensure a flawless finish. Two of our talented craftspeople took on the challenge, working hard to meet the quality standards we uphold at Douglas.
Tile Warehouse was thrilled with their striking red awning from both its form and its function, and we are grateful for their trust.
Three Years of Awarded Hawke’s Bay Apprentices
For the third consecutive year, Douglas Outdoor Innovation and our talented Hawke’s Bay apprentices have made their mark at the ATA NZ Awards for Excellence. These annual awards provide an invaluable platform for apprentices to demonstrate their technical prowess, design excellence, and innovative spirit on a national stage.
In 2023 our own Georgie Fry was honored with the Apprentice of the Year award, and the year before, Georgie won Tier 1 and Alexi Faulkner (then an apprentice) earned high commendation in Tier 2 for her exceptional efforts.
We are so proud of all their efforts. Participating in the ATANZ Conferences is a career-expanding experience for our apprentices, offering the opportunity to network with industry peers and gain valuable insights into the latest trends and technologies.
