Australian Open Court Furniture

A new look for an iconic event

Introducing the Australian Open’s biggest ever visual change

In 2008, the Australian Open underwent a significant visual transformation, a pivotal moment in its hundred-year history. Cobalt played a pivotal role in this evolution, spearheading the design and development of crucial on-court elements—player and umpire seating, serve-speed indicators, court borders, and the iconic players' arch, all contributing to the tournament's new signature look.

The tournament's on-court environment transcends being a mere playing field for tennis elites. It functions as a versatile space—a stage, a television studio, a workplace, and a prime advertising site—making its visual aspects paramount.

As one of the prestigious 'Grand Slam' events, alongside Wimbledon, French Open, and the US Open, the Australian Open stands in an elite league. Drawing over 500,000 live spectators to Melbourne's tennis hub and reaching a global TV audience nearing a billion, the tournament's significance is undeniable.

The revamped aesthetics, including the spotlight on the Plexicushion playing surface, and the meticulously designed on-court furniture, underpin the Australian Open's ongoing quest to uphold its reputation as one of the world's premier sporting extravaganzas. This transformation projects a distinct and contemporary vibe, essential for capturing the global tennis audience's imagination.

Tennis court players seating Australian Open

Focus Areas

Design Strategy
Industrial Design
Product Engineering
Design for Manufacture
Supplier Sourcing
Production Support

Year

2007

Client

Australian Open

Design Outcomes

Identity

Appeal

Hierarchy

Materials and Form

The new design reflects the Australian Open’s refocused brand attributes of “fresh, innovative and high performing’ through a distinct and identifiable visual language and industrial design outcome.

Built around a new brand identity colour the new on-court equipment was designed to attract a variety of sponsors by incorporating large, visible branding space, that is suitable for both live spectators and TV audiences.

The umpire’s chair became the thematic leader for other on-court elements, creating a visual hierarchy that reinforced that importance of the position. The chair design projects a dynamic, victorious thrust while players seating uses similar forms for the overhead shade structures, creating a cohesive visual style.

A variety of materials and finishes were used to create a cohesive, integrated design. Tensioned fabrics are used to produce complex surfaces in place of traditional solid structures. Secondary elements such as seating feature smooth formed shapes fitted over solid forms incorporating theme colours of white and blue.

The Team We believe good design happens when experts work together as a team

Warwick Brown

Daniel Booker