Cero 2002. Designer: Brian Steendyk Photo: Brian Steendyk

Queensland's sights are firmly set on design with Premier Anna Bligh recently announcing plans for a new design triennial for Queensland.

The Premier announced $1.5 million in funding for a major triennial design event which will promote design culture, nurture business collaborations and showcase design excellence.

The event will be a focal point for the $3 million Designing Queensland program, which is part of the Smart State Strategy. Other elements of Designing Queensland are funding for the Smart State Designer of the Year award, to be boosted from $10,000 to $50,000, and a four-year $80,000 commitment to Brisbane Indesign, an industry event presented by Indesign magazine.

Queensland design continues to shine with the fresh, eclectic approach of seven leading Queensland designers charming the design elite in two of the world's most discerning markets - Milan and New York.

Brian Steendyk, Marc Harrison, Alexander Lotersztain, Ari Athans and Pamela Easton and Lydia Pearson, of Easton Pearson, have enjoyed a string of international successes.

Brian, Marc and Alexander were three of the five Queensland designers showcased in the Design Five publication produced by Arts Queensland and the Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry's Creative Industries unit.

Brian's cero chair, already well-known to Queensland's design conscious, was unveiled to the European market during Milan's prestigious Design Week in April. The cero is now made and marketed by Italian company Serralunga.

Marc's Husque bowls, an iconic Queensland design created from macadamia nut husks, are now on sale at New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), one of America's leading authorities on design objects. Since securing the deal with MoMA, Marc has received orders from Tokyo and other design retailers in the United States.

Alexander's success has been closer to home. He designed almost every element of the glamorous Limes Hotel, part of the global Designer Hotels group which recently opened in Fortitude Valley.

Brian and Alexander's work also appeared alongside jeweller Ari and fashion designers Easton Pearson in the Freestyle exhibition featuring 40 of Australia's leading designers at Milan's prestigious Triennale Design Museum. Arts Queensland supported Freestyle's Milan tour with a $20,000 development and presentation grant. Freestyle opened at Melbourne Museum in late 2006 and toured to Sydney and throughout Australia in 2007.

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