Creative Industries - Orbitkey

Finalists

Find out about the Australian Export Award finalists across all national award categories. Be inspired by their success.

Orbitkey

Richmond (Wurundjeri), Victoria.

Australian Export Awards supports the systems

Recognition as the winner of the 2025 Creative Industries award validates our collective hard work, inspires our team, and encourages other local businesses to pursue international opportunities with confidence.

Rex Kuo, Co-Founder.

Orbitkey unlocks export success

Orbitkey was born to solve a common everyday problem: noisy, messy keys.

It was a simple idea shared between 2 friends. Charles, an industrial designer, and Rex, a pharmacist. Today, Melbourne’s award-winning design brand, Orbitkey, crafts elegant and functional accessories that elevate the way people work, travel, and carry their everyday essentials.

The 2025 winner of the Creative Industries award category, Orbitkey’s thoughtfully designed range brings clarity, function and simplicity to people around the world.

Operating from 5 third-party logistics warehouses, the brand currently exports to more than 100 countries. In the past 3 years, Orbitkey has grown its annual revenue by 40%.

Sustainability in the bag

‘As a certified B Corp, we’re committed to thoughtful design that improves people’s daily lives while minimising environmental impact,’ says Rex Kuo, Orbitkey’s Co-Founder.

Orbitkey is also certified as a climate-neutral business, offsetting 100% of its carbon emissions through global carbon reduction projects.

‘We use recycled materials including nylon and PU leather to minimise our environmental impact,’ says Kuo. ‘We hope to show both customers and businesses that success and responsibility can coexist.’

Local presence a key success factor

One of Orbitkey’s most impactful international milestones in the past year was the launch of a third-party logistics warehouse in the UK.

Previously, UK customers faced long shipping times, costly duties, and value-added tax (VAT) complications.

‘Establishing a local warehouse allowed us to overcome these barriers, enabling faster delivery, reduced costs, and a much smoother customer experience,’ says Kuo.

Canada: The next growth market

Canada is Orbitkey’s next growth priority. ‘It shares many similarities with Australia from cultural diversity to consumer values and appreciation for well-designed, innovative products,’ says Kuo.

With a newly established logistics hub to ensure faster, more convenient shipping, Canada is a natural extension of Orbitkey’s success in the US.

‘It allows us to expand our reach while building deeper relationships with Canadian consumers,’ says Kuo.

Accessories sales soar in South Korea

South Korea has become an unexpected but significant growth market for Orbitkey, reflecting strong demand for design-led accessories.

‘Initially, sales in Korea were slow as traditional keys are less common there. But as we expanded into desk and tech accessories, demand surged,’ says Kuo.

‘This growth shows the value of building genuine, long-term relationships with partners who believe in your brand, even before the market catches up.’

The Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) gave us the confidence to invest heavily in international growth during our early years. Knowing part of those costs would be reimbursed allowed us to exhibit at key global trade shows and build networks in new markets without overextending.

Rex Kuo, Co-Founder.

Australian Export Awards supports the system

Kuo sees the Australian Export Awards as a great opportunity to gain recognition both here and abroad.

As a first-time national finalist and winner of the 2025 Creative Industries award category, he would strongly encourage other exporters to apply and showcase their own achievements.

‘Recognition validates our collective hard work, inspires our team, and encourages other local businesses to pursue international opportunities with confidence.’

Export Market Development Grant boosts confidence

Austrade’s Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program helps small and medium Australian businesses to start and grow exports in international markets.

‘The EMDG gave us the confidence to invest heavily in international growth during our early years,’ says Kuo.

‘Knowing part of those costs would be reimbursed allowed us to exhibit at key global trade shows and build networks in new markets without overextending.’

The key to ongoing export success

Orbitkey’s export growth over the next 5 years will be driven by strategic investments in product development, e-commerce scale, and global retail expansion.

‘Our direct-to-consumer e-commerce channels will remain a key growth engine,’ says Kuo. ‘As we scale, we are investing in supply chain resilience and local warehousing infrastructure to ensure consistent service levels across markets.’

These strategic efforts will allow Orbitkey to grow sustainably, deepen brand visibility, and expand its presence across continents.

Visit Orbitkey website.

(Host) Our next award is creative industries. This award is for outstanding international success in any creative industry. To present the award from Creative Australia is head of public affairs Nicola Grayson. Creative Australia is a third time silver sponsor of the Australian Export Awards.

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Orbitkey

Orbitkey is a design-led brand creating elegant accessories that declutter daily life.

Scott Leggo

Scott Leggo captures Australia's stunning landscapes, transforming them into unique and premium Australian made artworks and gifts.

(Nicola Grayson – Creative Austra) Good evening everyone. I am absolutely delighted to present the creative industries award on behalf of Creative Australia, the Australian government's principal investor and advocate for arts and creativity in Australia. The creative industries not only contribute to our economy, but also share our rich culture and stories with the world. Congratulations to all the finalists and the winner of the creative industries award goes to Orbit Key.

(Rex Kuo - Orbitkey) We did not expect to be up here. So, we're we're

(Charles Ng - Orbitkey) It's not going to be as prepared.

(Rex Kuo - Orbitkey) No, we're going to wing it. Um but honestly Charles and I started Orbitkey 12 years ago and you know I was a pharmacist and Charles was an industrial designer and you know we when we launched the product it was really just a product for ourselves and we did not expect to be here among such great company. Um yeah, I want to thank um Austrade uh as well as Creative Australia and most of all I want to thank Charles my co-founder um and our awesome team like we really have a great team and we're really proud to be representing Australian design and creative industry all around the world. Thank you everyone. Yeah.

(Host) Congratulations Orbitkey. Now tell us what kind of devices could we use uh that you've created in our everyday lives to make it more streamlined.

(Charles Ng - Orbitkey) So um our first product that we created was a key organizer and the whole idea of it is to keep your keys in a neat silent stack. Um but originally we created it so I don't have to deal with jingling keys when I went for a run. Um, but we now expanded into other products such as tech accessories and also things that like bags and cross body slings.

(Host) Who's showing more or the most interest for Orbitkey?

(Charles Ng - Orbitkey) Me.

(Rex Kuo - Orbitkey) Yeah, I I think we're pretty lucky. Like when we first launch online, we had quite a global reach to start with, but I would say US is probably our biggest market at the moment. Yeah.

Creative Industries winner – Orbitkey. For the full transcript please visit the Creative Industries Award 2025 - Orbitkey video on YouTube.

Creative Industries finalists

National category winners

Agribusiness, Food and Beverages - Marquis Macadamias

For outstanding international success in the field of manufactured foods, beverages or agricultural products.

e-Commerce - Humanitix

For outstanding international success selling goods or services to customers overseas via e-Commerce, including cross-border e-Commerce and online sales.