Off court action - Quantum Seating

If you watched Australian Bernard Tomic on court at Wimbledon last night, you were also watching another amazing Australian in action, but off court. The Camatic Quantum chair is installed the world over, and was designed here. Camatic is located next to a division of Silvan Australia in Lewis Road, Wantirna, where I was design manager, so I saw a lot of export containers of innovative Camatic product leave the despatch bay. Innovative industrial design in Victoria exported globally.

Quantum seating exported globally and 'Still' in production.

http://www.camatic.com/

World Industrial Design Day - Our best?

On World Industrial Design Day I found myself unexpectedly seated, with my sick daughter, in a doctors surgery waiting room. "What would I post on this day?" was contemplated over and over as my wait grew longer and longer. My answer came as a young mother entered with a perky toddler and a new born child asleep in the removable basinet of the Safe n Sound baby capsule. If not our best, this product must make the list of our most significant contributions, as a profession, to life in Victoria. Designed by Robert Pataki and Phillip Slattery - Robert Pataki Design and PA Technology. Millions of Victorians have gone home, and are "still" going home safely, in this product. Worth celebrating!

Original concept sketch by industrial designer Phillip Slattery for the innovative Victorian designed Safe N Sound baby capsule. Outstanding industrial design worth celebrating. (see other posts on this project)

As cold as ice - Icetrek Sled

In 1998-99 Eric Phillips skied to the South Pole with Jon Muir and Peter Hillary (Son of Sir Edmond Hillary). The expedition of 1425 km and 84 days started from Ross Island and pioneered a new route up the Shackleton Glacier. This expedition was significantly supported by RMIT research and design innovation in the form of the innovative twin wall Icetrek Sled designed by industrial designer Ian Wong and aerospace engineer Lachlan Thompson. Sleds were designed and manufactured for this expedition and purchased by the Australian Antarctic Division where they are used with ATV's. I remember during the extensive testing, dropping a bowling ball on to off tool samples, at -40 degrees, in the Nestle icecream factory in Clayton. The parts shattered into a million pieces - take two - linear low density cross linked material which worked a treat. I will never forget it!

Polar explorer Eric Phillips.

John Muir, Eric Phillips, Peter Hillary at Scott Base pictured with the RMIT Icetrek Sled designed by industrial designer Ian Wong and aerospace engineer Lachlan Thompson.

RMIT Icetrek sled, Antarctica, 1998

http://www.icetrek.com

Bruce Hall - A.G.Healing

RMIT Alumnus industrial designer Bruce Hall designed radios and televisions for A.G.Healing in the 1960's. I first met Bruce when he was my examiner at RMIT with Greame Reade or Elivio Bonollo for second year external projects. Recently Bruce shared with students some of his recollections of his time at Healing. Awarded a Good Design Label for his record player model 201G 'Hit parader"which was also selected by Robin Boyd to represent Australia at the Montreal Expo 67. The injection moulded case for the 'Hit parader" was one of the first uses of ABS plastic in Melbourne.

Award winning A.G Healing record player designed by industrial designer Bruce Hall. 1966

Black and White television concept sketch by industrial designer Bruce Hall.

Healing television brochure.

ISM - MOMA and Madame Ruby

ISM Objects directors Celina Clark and Simon Christopher studied industrial design together at RMIT University in the mid 1980's and formed the company soon after graduating. The Madame Ruby lamp manufactured from recycled red, orange and white, automotive tail light resin, was selected for the exhibition - Mutant Materials in Contemporary Design, The Museum of Modern Art, New York 1995.

ISM Objects Madame Ruby lamp designed by industrial designers Celina Clark and Simon Christopher.

RMIT industrial design students visit ISM Objects and meet company director Celina Clark.

ISM Objects I Do lamp.

http://www.ismobjects.com.au

Rural beginning - Seeding a career.

The Alfarm Air Seeder was in the beginning just a design project for me as a young designer at John Westwood Design Group, with a Job No, a Job Bag and a line on my timesheet each week. I related to the job because I had grown up in Shepparton on 18 acres and I really enjoyed seeing my concept through to prototype and production, but it was one of many projects in the office. This project however ultimately lead to a long career for me working for Silvan Australia, edp, and other Australian manufacturers in the agricultural machinery sector. Ejo began at this time and it was whilst visiting an agricultural machinery Field Day to view the first production Alfarm air seeders that I met and spoke to staff on the Silvan stand and so began my twenty plus year career designing agricultural machinery. My first project for Silvan was the 200 Litre Truck Pak. (see previous post)

Alfarm air seeder concept rendering by industrial designer Ian Wong, 1988. 

Note 80's background technique in the shape of the Alfarm logo. John Westwood and Mario Matkovich at JWDA were Philips trained industrial designers and passed on many rendering techniques.

Industrial designer Ian Wong with the classic 200 litre TrukPak designed in 1989 and the DieselPak 400L and DieselPak 100L for Silvan Australia.  

Wacom Lab - Strength to strength

The development of industry skills in sketching and visualisation by industrial design students has been significantly enhanced by the Wacom Lab opened by RMIT University Vice - Chancellor and President Professor Margaret Gardner in 2010. Recent work completed by students is testament to the availability and utilisation of this unique resource.

RMIT University Vice - Chancellor and President Professor Margaret Gardner, Communications Coordinator Ian Wong, and GM Australia Design Director Anthony Stolfo with students at the Wacom Lab opening 2010.

Vehicle directional control concepts by Ryan Fonceca - Yr 4.

Click to enlarge.

Australian inspired Dinkum toy concepts by Dustin Bailey - Semester 1.

Click to enlarge.

Australian inspired Dinkum toys by Richard Picciani - Semester 1.

Click to enlarge.

see more here

 http://berniewalsh.blogspot.com

Chris Emmerson - Honoured.

No one enjoyed the visit to Melbourne by legendary visual futurist Syd Mead more than Victorian designer and illustrator Chris Emmerson. Chris was another of the many talented industry based lecturers I had when I was a student at RMIT. We would often spend time looking at the pages of Syd's Sentinel book and students like; Mark Wright, Mike Englisch and Alphonse van Mannen would inspire us all with their raw talent and capacity to emulate Syd's work. Elivio Bonollo had installed wonderful full size pin boards in 2B2, just like an automotive studio, and many full size airbrush illustrations were in progress whilst us first years looked on. Chris's contribution to the education of industrial designers at RMIT University was recognised with a Wacom tablet named in his honour.

Legendary visual futurist Syd Mead is delighted to meet Chris Emmerson in the RMIT University Wacom Lab. Syd kindly signed a very rare and precious Syd Mead concept design publication given to Chris whilst he was an automotive designer with General Motors Holden GMH.

Holden designer Chris Emmerson working with airbrush on a full size tape drawing at Holden's Fishermans Bend studio in the early 1980's.

Chris Emmerson airbrush cutaway illustration of the classic Holden Monaro.

http://www.emmerson-design.com.au

Mop Bucket - Australian Innovation

The Oates All Australian mop bucket designed by industrial designers Gerard Mussett and Phillip Slattery is an outstanding example of design innovation from Victoria. The design concept was patented, has been recognised with Australian Design Awards, and is in the permanent collection of the Powerhouse Museum. The innovative mop bucket was in development in 1985 when I was still a student and I recall the project because a good friend was working with Gerry and Phillip in the Little Oxford Street studio of DesignLab. I was also very fortunate to have Gerry and Phillip as lecturers at RMIT. The team were briefed to provide concepts for the existing heavy galvanised metal buckets at a time when polished flooring was becoming more popular in Australia homes. The concept of an all plastic mop bucket was totally innovative at the time, and was, eventually, given the go ahead to prototype. Supported by patent protection this great idea has been an outstanding commercial success for more than quarter of a century.

Original fabricated prototype of the innovative Australian designed Oates All Australian mop bucket designed by industrial designers Gerard Mussett and Phillip Slattery 1986. The distinctive curved foot rest detail was added following prototype testing.

Image from design registration of the Oates All Australian mop bucket designed by industrial designers Gerard Mussett and Phillip Slattery.

The Oates All Australian mop bucket is still in production and was chosen as the hero image for the State of Design 2009 exhibition curated by Ian Wong - STILL09.

The Oates All Australian mop bucket featured in the 175 Years of Victorian Design exhibition curated by Ian Wong.

http://www.oates.com.au

Lightworks R800 - Tony Wolfenden

Design Institute of Australia Hall of Fame industrial designer Tony Wolfenden is known mostly for his extensive and outstanding work for Decor. This lamp for Lightworks is however classic Wolfenden.

The Lightworks R800 table lamp designed by industrial designer Tony Wolfenden. 

Label of packaging of Lightworks R800 table lamp.

Packaging of Lightworks R800 table lamp designed by industrial designer Tony Wolfenden.

Willow - David Flynn

The body of work by RMIT Alumnus industrial designer David Flynn for Willow Ware Australia continues today with his role as design director but I am very pleased to be able to add David's creative and inspired designs to my collection any time they pop up. The Little Bitty work in particular completed in the mid 1980's whilst David worked with the team at Bayly Design is brilliant and classic. These works featured in the STILL09 exhibition and items from this range, as well as many other David Flynn originals, are STILL in production. 

Australian classic design the Willow Little Bitty bin by industrial designer David Flynn.

Willow microwave ware by industrial designer David Flynn

Willow Little Bitty basket by industrial designer David Flynn.

Willow Little Bitty money box by industrial designer David Flynn

Concept sketches by industrial designer David Flynn for the very successful Willow Little Bitty range of products.

Willow Little Bitty range featured in the STILL09 exhibition as part of the State of Design Festival 2009 curated by Ian Wong.

http://www.willow.com.au

Willow - IceBrick

The Willow IceBrick by industrial designer David Flynn.

David Flynn sketch and CAD development of Willow Ice brick 2009.

EJO worked with industrial designer David Flynn on the development of the new mini, medium and large Willow Ice Bricks. 

Wiltshire - Seventies style added to collection

The Wiltshire brand logo was developed by Bayly Design in the seventies and seen on the Staysharp knives from this period. This example of package design for spoons from the early seventies is a classic. Another treat for my collection of Victorian design.

Wiltshire brand logo designed by Bayly Design

Classic 70's packaging by Wiltshire.

Wiltshire brand identity specifications by Bayly Design

Wiltshire Staysharp knives designed by Bayly Design featured in the exhibition 175 Years of Victorian Design curated by Ian Wong.

Kenji Ekuan - Kikkoman bottle inspires students

The task of developing sketching skills, and in particular ellipses in students, was made easier this year by an inspired choice of object by Phillip Slattery. The Kenji Ekuan classic design from 1961 celebrates fifty years this year, "STILL" in production. Students did not have to visit MOMA where it is in the permanent collection, they simply visited a local supermarket. Finding one is easy.....sketching it well demands attention to detail and builds an understanding of the complexity in a simple, elegant form. Sketching began in class and was supported by a tutorial using CAD software to section and slice the model to study and understand the geometry and details.

Design classic the Kikkoman Soy Sauce bottle - 1961.

Japanese industrial designer Kenji Ekuan

Sketch by RMIT industrial design student Soo Hyun Kim. Click to enlarge.

3D CAD model used to assist student understanding of geometry and develop capacity to see and construct the form.

Class demo render of 3D CAD image to demonstrate perspective and scale.