RMIT Design Hub - RMIT University
RMIT Design Hub detail of external facia.
RMIT Design Hub detail of external facia.
The history and practice of Industrial Design in Victoria Australia is my research interest and this blog include posts related to this interest as well as my practice as a designer and design educator.
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
RMIT Design Hub - Update
The RMIT Design Hub has taken shape at the top of Swanston Street. Exciting times for design in Victoria in 2012.
Thursday, 19 January 2012
I spy ID
Encouraged by the positive reaction to my last post about products spied on my New Zealand trip I have created a Facebook page to offer all who might be interested to play I Spy ID as you travel the world. I am not certain which tool is best suited to curating this idea but I have begun with a facebook page which I invite you to like and join in.
Where are all the products we design? Who is using them? Post images from your travels of products designed by designers you know.
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Across the Tasman - I spy.
Victoria has proudly exported products for more than 175 years. Industrial designers from Victoria have designed products manufactured for export from all over Australia.
These are a few products I spied by local designers on just a short visit to New Zealand recently.
Trusty Ron Rosenfeld designed Vulcan Conray heater at Lake Taupo bach.
Visitor Centre at Waitomo Glow Worm Caves.
Visitor Centre at Waitomo Glow Worm Caves.
Caroma product at Auckland Museum.
These are a few products I spied by local designers on just a short visit to New Zealand recently.
Willow Little Bitty bin designed by David Flynn at Bayly Design used for clothes pegs at Lake Taupo bach.
Holden VE Commodore hire car at Lake Taupo
PED traffic button design by Neilsen Design outside Auckland University.
Sebel Intregra chair by Victorian born industrial design pioneer Charles Furey.
Tamaki Maori Village, Roturua.
Charles Furey's iconic Integra chair for Harry Sebel inside the Wharenui - The Sacred Meeting House, Tamaki Maori Village, Roturua.
Visitor Centre at Waitomo Glow Worm Caves.
Visitor Centre at Waitomo Glow Worm Caves.
Caroma product at the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves.
Interior Auckland Museum foyer.
Classic Wiltshire Bar B Mate - Lake Taupo breakfast.
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
Silvan New Zealand - PasturePak
New Zealand has a lot of sheep and a lot of cows that eat a huge amount of pasture. The Silvan 600L and 800L PasturePak linkage sprayers are ideal for New Zealand farming applications and in particular for the maintenance of quality pasture.
The current PasturePak was designed whilst I was design manager at Outerspace Design with the team including Simon Kooymans.
The current PasturePak was designed whilst I was design manager at Outerspace Design with the team including Simon Kooymans.
Silvan PasturePak linkage sprayer.
RMIT alumnus industrial designer Ian Wong pictured at Silvan dealer in Taumarunui, New Zealand with the PasturePak linkage sprayer. Silvan Australia exports a comprehensive range of products designed in Victoria by Mr Wong.
Australian designed Silvan PasturePak linkage sprayer.
Designed by ejo design in 2007 the website for Silvan New Zealand featured the 50 litre SpotPak, the 400 litre DieselPak, and the 600 litre PasturePak designed by industrial designer Ian Wong.
Monday, 16 January 2012
Segway - Single Person Transport
Research can be a lot of fun!
The Segway single person transport vehicles are finding many applications including during the drinks breaks in our cricket. I could not pass the opportunity to test drive one whilst in New Zealand recently.
Technology like this is the platform for concept vehicles like Ryan Fonceca's RMIT industrial design project in my studio in 2011 and the Holden designed EN-V.
The Segway single person transport vehicles are finding many applications including during the drinks breaks in our cricket. I could not pass the opportunity to test drive one whilst in New Zealand recently.
Technology like this is the platform for concept vehicles like Ryan Fonceca's RMIT industrial design project in my studio in 2011 and the Holden designed EN-V.
RMIT industrial design student Ryan Fonceca's single person concept vehicle.
GM Holden designed EN-V concept car.
Sunday, 15 January 2012
Wilhelm Wagenfeld - Bauhaus
Wilhelm Wagenfeld is a celebrated german industrial designer from the Bauhaus. He also happens to be the grandfather of my colleague and good friend at RMIT University Malte Wagenfeld. Malte and I studied industrial design together and his grandfathers career was often referenced during our studies. I have long sought one of his famous lamps for my collection. Whilst visiting the Auckland Museum it was wonderful to see his tea set on permanent display in the design and decorative arts section.
Tea set designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld. Bauhaus. Germany
Label for Tea Set designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld. Auckland Museum.
Label for Tea Set designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld. Auckland Museum.
Lamp designed by industrial designer Wilhelm Wagenfeld.
New Zealand Bumble Bee - Chevy Camaro
An encounter with a bumble bee of the insect variety was something I had anticipated whilst visiting New Zealand as this species of bee is not found in mainland Australia. Imagine my delight when the first bumble bee I spied was in fact a four wheeled version Chevy Camaro on the streets of Auckland. This species of bumble bee was bread in the studios of GM Holden in Melbourne and like the flying variety is not common in Victoria. This Bumble Bee was attracting a lot of attention while standing still. The yellow VE Holden Commodore hire car photographed at our bach in Lake Taupo is the GM Zeta platform the Camaro is built on. At the time of the Camaro Concept Car launch - GM global design executive Tony Stolfo said Camaro was a prime example of GM's ability to successfully work across continents on global projects. "Chevrolet Camaro's engineering and design work is happening right here, right now, at Fishermans Bend." Mr Stolfo said. "We are very excited about helping style the look and developing the thrilling drive performance that are hallmarks of this iconic nameplate."
The following day I did encounter New Zealand bumble bees on the lawn outside the Auckland Museum.
The following day I did encounter New Zealand bumble bees on the lawn outside the Auckland Museum.
Chevy Camaro Bumble Bee.
Chevy Camaro Bumble Bee in Auckland New Zealand.
Holden Commodore hire car at Lake Taupo bach.
New Zealand bumble bee.
Auckland Museum.
Saturday, 14 January 2012
Michael Smythe - New Zealand by Design
Whilst in Auckland I had the pleasure of catching up with New Zealand industrial designer and author Michael Smythe and his partner Helen Schamroth. It was a delight to discuss our shared interest in local design history and to gain some insight into the long and winding road to publication. Michael inscribed my copy of his new book with a challenge that is similar to the one he received during a lunch time meeting with Peter Haythornthwaite many years ago (see back story of Michael's book).
Released recently New Zealand by Design comprehensively documents the history of New Zealand product design.
New Zealand industrial designer and author Michael Smythe signs a copy of his new book New Zealand by Design for PhD candidate Ian Wong.
In Melbourne get your copy at your local bookstore. Brunswick Street Bookstore in Fitzroy and the Coventry Bookstore in South Melbourne currently have copies.
To obtain a signed and inscribed copy from the author simply order through www.designarc.org.nz –cost NZ$60 for the book plus NZ$15 freight.
Released recently New Zealand by Design comprehensively documents the history of New Zealand product design.
In Melbourne get your copy at your local bookstore. Brunswick Street Bookstore in Fitzroy and the Coventry Bookstore in South Melbourne currently have copies.
To obtain a signed and inscribed copy from the author simply order through www.designarc.org.nz –cost NZ$60 for the book plus NZ$15 freight.
New Zealand by Design by Michael Smythe.
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
New Zealand - Peter Haythornthwaite
On the eve of a trip to New Zealand it seemed appropriate to post about one of my treasured design objects acquired at the very beginning of my career.
Networking and contacts are critical in a design career so it was with delight that I chose the Peter Haythornthwaite designed "Arti-fact-s" Flip File to record my early career contacts. The all black iconic A100 was purchased from the original R.G Madden store in Toorak Road, South Yarra, in mid 1986. I had not long started at John Westwood Design Associates and could now afford some designer luxuries.
The "Arti-fact-s" range was of particular interest because Peter had presented a lecture at RMIT on his practice - Peter Haythornthwaite Design whilst I was a student and the images presented on MerryWare brushes are still vivid in my mind. The iconic A100 Flip File is classic pure geometry and also included the designers name engraved on the product.
The image shows my card entry in the early nineties for RMAX with the contact Gary Haywood. Note the RMAX telephone number was recorded before the "9" prefix changes after 1994 all mobile numbers started with 018. Many will know Gary from his role with Design Victoria but we first met when I was design manager at Silvan. RMAX collaborated on an innovative tooling project with very early cnc wire cutting of urethane foam cut from CADKEY dxf files.
Gary has recently worked with Peter in a Design Victoria program based on the successful NZ "Better by Design" - it is a small world.
Networking and contacts are critical in a design career so it was with delight that I chose the Peter Haythornthwaite designed "Arti-fact-s" Flip File to record my early career contacts. The all black iconic A100 was purchased from the original R.G Madden store in Toorak Road, South Yarra, in mid 1986. I had not long started at John Westwood Design Associates and could now afford some designer luxuries.
The "Arti-fact-s" range was of particular interest because Peter had presented a lecture at RMIT on his practice - Peter Haythornthwaite Design whilst I was a student and the images presented on MerryWare brushes are still vivid in my mind. The iconic A100 Flip File is classic pure geometry and also included the designers name engraved on the product.
The image shows my card entry in the early nineties for RMAX with the contact Gary Haywood. Note the RMAX telephone number was recorded before the "9" prefix changes after 1994 all mobile numbers started with 018. Many will know Gary from his role with Design Victoria but we first met when I was design manager at Silvan. RMAX collaborated on an innovative tooling project with very early cnc wire cutting of urethane foam cut from CADKEY dxf files.
Gary has recently worked with Peter in a Design Victoria program based on the successful NZ "Better by Design" - it is a small world.
Peter Haythornthwaite designed A100 Flip File for "Arti-fact-s"
Iconic A100 Flip File for "Arti-fact-s" by industrial designer Peter Haythornthwaite.
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Marc Newson - Qantas
At this time of year we often have house guests as families gather for the festive and holiday seasons. Our recent house guest was quite disturbed by my interest his luggage as he prepared to depart. The Marc Newson designed Qantas luggage tag had caught my eye and his choice of red luggage made an appealing image.
Qantas luggage tag designed by Australian designer Marc Newson.
Sunday, 1 January 2012
Dolphin Torch - Australian Design Classic
The Dolphin Torch is an Australian classic design. Growing up in the country where outside was always "dark" the trusty dolphin would come in handy for locking up the chooks or even a game or torchlight 'tiggie'. The rugged durability of the design made it as popular as vegemite and the trusty blue healer. Designed primarily as a floating torch for boating and marine applications the Eveready Dolphin was for many years the largest selling torch in Australia.
Sydney industrial designer Paul Cockburn through his studio Design Field received the commission in the seventies to redesign this classic product. This project was critical in establishing Design Field as one of Austrialia's foremost industrial design consultancies. Born in Australia, Paul studied in London in the late 1960s returning to Sydney in 1970.
The yellow Dolphin version 2 has been in my family for at least thirty years and whilst we once had a pale blue version 1 this 70's orange one was acquired at an op shop recently for my collection.
Sydney industrial designer Paul Cockburn through his studio Design Field received the commission in the seventies to redesign this classic product. This project was critical in establishing Design Field as one of Austrialia's foremost industrial design consultancies. Born in Australia, Paul studied in London in the late 1960s returning to Sydney in 1970.
The yellow Dolphin version 2 has been in my family for at least thirty years and whilst we once had a pale blue version 1 this 70's orange one was acquired at an op shop recently for my collection.
Classic Australian design - the Eveready Dophin torch.
Iconic Australian design the Dolphin Torch.
Original Eveready Dolphin torch.
Orange original Eveready Doplhin torch (above) with yellow 1970s redesigned version 2 by Design Field.
Plan view of two versions of the classic Australian design the Dolphin torch by Eveready.
Marc Newson - Sydney NYE Fireworks 2011
Sydney Fireworks New Years Eve 2011 by Marc Newson.
Sydney NYE Fireworks 2011. Mark Newson.
Click IMAGE to see more images. Copyright jak666
Sydney NYE Fireworks 2011. Mark Newson.
Click IMAGE to see more images. Copyright brambooth
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