An exhibition of 'Tara-dise' design opens at Wellington's DeNada in September. House Trained features work by award-winning Taranaki company Unless - Sustainable New Zealand Design, and explores ideas around the personification of inanimate objects. It includes a coat and shoe-rack with packing crate ancestry, which was a finalist in the 2007 Home and Entertaining Design Awards.An exhibition of 'Tara-dise' design opens at Wellington's DeNada in September. House Trained features work by award-winning Taranaki company Unless - Sustainable New Zealand Design, and explores ideas around the personification of inanimate objects. It includes a coat and shoe-rack with packing crate ancestry, which was a finalist in the 2007 Home and Entertaining Design Awards.Directors Rebecca Asquith and Tim Wigmore have been steadily gaining recognition as innovators, and their unique designs have been exhibited throughout New Zealand and Australia.

The designers claim that all works are well-trained and they assure us that they are friendly. They are like pets or loyal companions: cheering you up when you need it, holding your cup of coffee, taking your coat, or providing a little light in those darker moments.

Works from the show include a biomimetic bent plywood lamp inspired by limpets and a coffee table that looks ready to slink away on its curvaceous legs at any moment.

Asquith and Wigmore are based in Okato, just west of New Plymouth. Earlier this year the pair started up Unless - Sustainable New Zealand Design, a design store which focuses on high quality, environmentally responsible New Zealand design objects.

When: 27 September - 3 November 2007
Where: deNada, 128 Featherston Street, Wellington

21/8/07