Thursday 1 November 2012

Kjell Grant - Lexus Australia Scholarship Program

RMIT University Professor Kjell Grant and his commitment to emerging designers has been honoured today with the announcement of the Lexus Australia Scholarship Program to be administered by Melbourne Movement.


Adam Cornish, Professor Kjell Grant and Lisa Vincitorio.


The announcement was made today by Peter Evans, Lexus Australia’s Corporate Manager, Marketing and After Sales, at the inaugural Lexus Design Lunch at the new Design Hub building at RMIT University.

"Support for our emerging designers is my passion and the Lexus Australia Scholarship Program will ensure Australian designers not only shine bright in Tokyo but worldwide." said Melbourne Movement founder RMIT University Professor Kjell Grant.

The design lunch was attended by the Australian designers who have collaborated on the fit out of the Lexus Design Pavilion, including RMIT and Melbourne Movement alumnus Simone LeAmon, the two US-based designers of the Lexus LF-LC concept car, Edward Lee and Ben S. Chang, and by the Design Editor of Monocle Magazine (UK), Hugo Macdonald.



Robert Buckingham welcomes distinguished guests at the RMIT Design Hub launch of the Lexus Australia Scholarship Program. The Alessi Fruit Loop designed by Lisa Vincitorio is pictured in the foreground.


Monocle Magazine Design Editor Hugo MacDonald is welcomed to Australia by Melbourne Movement founder and President Professor Kjell Grant.


Robert Buckingham and Kjell Grant at the RMIT Design Hub launch of the Lexus Australia Scholarship Program.


Distinguished guests at the RMIT Design Hub launch of the Lexus Australia Scholarship Program.


Lexus Design Lunch 2012 at the RMIT Design Hub.


Professor Kjell Grant and RMIT Alumnus and Melbourne Movement member Helen Kontouris.


Guests at the RMIT Design Hub launch of the Lexus Australia Scholarship Program.


Guests at the RMIT Design Hub launch of the Lexus Australia Scholarship Program.


Melbourne Movement director Gyungju Chyon and President and founder Professor Kjell Grant at the RMIT Design Hub launch of the Lexus Australia Scholarship Program.


RMIT alumnus and Melbourne Movement director Ian Wong and Lexus lead designer Ben Chang at the RMIT Design Hub launch of the Lexus Australia Scholarship Program.

The Lexus Australia Scholarship Program is a $60,000 investment over 3 years to promote Australian designers internationally. 

The Scholarship Program will support a delegation of Australian designers to Tokyo Designers Week through:
a) display of the work of up to 6 emerging Australian designers at Tokyo Designers Week in October (2013 - 2015);
b) funding for Professor Kjell Grant, Professor of Design at RMIT University to accompany the delegation;
c) travel scholarships for two emerging Australian designers to attend Tokyo Designers Week each year 2013 – 2015.

The Lexus Australia Scholarship Program will be managed by Melbourne Movement, a not-for-profit organisation that has been taking emerging designers to the Milan Furniture Fair for more than thirteen years.

Innovative young, emerging designers will be selected for involvement in the Scholarship Program through an online application/submission process managed by Melbourne Movement and open to designers from all over Australia. The two scholarship winners will each receive travel costs, accommodation and support from Melbourne Movement to attend Tokyo Designers Week.

The Scholarship Program, known as the "Lexus Australia Scholarship Program"' recognises the role that design legend Kjell Grant has played in promoting Australian design in both Europe and Japan. Kjell, now 85, will attend the lunch. Kjell has lived in Japan, speaks some Japanese and over the years has taken dozens of graduates to Milan and Tokyo to show their work. He was an early champion of Marc Newson and through his contacts in Japan helped kick start Newson’s career. Kjell is well respected in Japan and has attended Tokyo Designers Week many times.

Lexus Australia is proud to be associated with Melbourne Movement and RMIT University – who have supported the promotion of Australian design through Kjell Grant’s establishment of Melbourne Movement and his role as Professor of Design, RMIT University.


Professor Kjell Grant pictured in Swanston Street outside the RMIT University Design Hub.





No comments:

Post a Comment