oyal watching isn’t exactly one of our hobbies, but design watching certainly is. The two combined last week when Corporate Culture’s Richard Munao was presented with the Diploma of the Danish Export Association and HRH Prince Henrik’s Medal of Honour for services to Danish export in an event attended by Danish Crown Prince Frederick and his Australian-born wife, Princess Mary.

After a career as a cabinet maker, as well as working with leading design brands, Munao founded Corporate Culture in 1997 to fill what he saw as a gap in the Australian design landscape, providing distinctive products and a new ‘corporate culture’ that values quality design. While showcasing design from around the world, Corporate Culture has always shown a special interest in Danish brands, including Fritz Hansen, HAY, Stelton, Louis Poulsen and Georg Jensen. In recent years, this has involved an increased focus on residential interiors as well.

Munao was nominated for the Diploma and Medal, awarded in recognition of an outstanding effort in promoting and marketing Danish products abroad, by the CEO of Fritz Hansen, Jacob Holm. Corporate Culture is the exclusive dealer of Fritz Hansen in Australia and together the two have helped to contribute to not only the increased popularity of mid-century and contemporary Scandinavian design, but also awareness of authenticity.

Indeed, Munao is a co-founder of the Authentic Design Alliance, which aims to raise awareness of and support original and authentic design. In collaboration with companies such as Herman Miller, fresh off their settlement with Matt Blatt, the Alliance is working towards better protection of unique and original design in Australia. All in all, Munao sounds like an award-worthy guy.

Corporate Culture
680 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
(03) 9066 1177

corporateculture.com.au