Monday, 23 December 2013

Merry Xmas 2013 - Industrial Design in Victoria

To celebrate the festive season this year I have chosen to feature the Blinder 4 Cross rear bicycle light designed in Melbourne by award winning industrial designers Hugo Davidson, Mal McKechnie and the team at Knog.

The Blinder 4 Cross is one of the range of Knog products featured by curator Simone LeAmon on the Design Wall for Melbourne NOW at the National Gallery of Victoria. 

Wishing all the compliments of the season and a prosperous 2014.

Merry Christmas!





Friday, 20 December 2013

Melbourne NOW - Willow 5L jug limited edition

Willow have released a limited edition Melbourne NOW version of the 5L jug designed by industrial designer David Flynn and featured on the Design Wall at the NGV.

Available at the NGV Shop from Saturday December 21st. Be quick!


Limited Edition Willow insulated jug designed by David Flynn



Wednesday, 18 December 2013

Decor - Habana beaker set

A modest but important addition to my collection of Victorian industrial design arrived in the post today.

Decor have manufactured millions of products since Brian Davis first tooled up to make the Habana beaker set in the late 1950s. The concept was to design an all plastic moulded set to compete with the popular anodized aluminium travel cup sets with leather cases. Brian had seen the potential of plastics in his sales role with Australian toy maker Toltoys. This was Brian's first product and it's success would launch Australia's award winning homewares company Decor Corporation.

Sixty years after production Ebay has allowed me to find a pristine Habana set, unused and with the original display packaging label in perfect condition. In my research work this is like an original Coke bottle, the first Nike shoe, or Apples first product the Apple 1.

One for the pool room!


Habana beaker set  - Brian Davis Plastics


Typical 1950s anodized aluminium travel cup set.

Sunday, 8 December 2013

Orbitkey - Xmas Gift

Are you are still looking for the perfect gift for someone for Christmas?

Only a few more days to support the innovation and creativity of Orbitkey on Kickstarter

Click on the link below to support this project.


Orbitkey



Saturday, 7 December 2013

Phillip Zmood - Shanghai Centre Shanghai China

Australian Hall of Fame automotive designer Phillip Zmood returned to Shanghai this week and visited the Shanghai Centre where he lived for three years with his wife Barbara and family while working in Shanghai.

The Shanghai Centre has recently been fully refurbished and is an award winning apartment centre right in the heart of Shanghai.


Shanghai Centre. Shanghai. China.


Shanghai Centre. Shanghai. China.


Shanghai Centre. Shanghai. China.


Shanghai Centre. Shanghai. China.






Thursday, 5 December 2013

Phillip Zmood - Patac China




Patac automotive design staff celebrated together with Phillip Zmood in Shanghai.

Phillip Zmood - Southeast University-Monash University Joint Graduate School (Suzhou)

Design Institute of Australia Hall of Fame designer Phillip Zmood visited the Southeast University-Monash University Joint Graduate School (Suzhou).


Phillip Zmood with Master of Industrial Design Program Director Ian Wong at the Southeast University-Monash University Joint Graduate School (Suzhou).


Designer Phillip Zmood shares his experience with Master of Industrial Design students at the Southeast University-Monash University Joint Graduate School (Suzhou).


Australian industrial designer Phillip Zmood shares his experience with Master of Industrial Design students at the Southeast University-Monash University Joint Graduate School (Suzhou).


Phillip Zmood with Master of Industrial Design students at the Southeast University-Monash University Joint Graduate School (Suzhou).


Automotive designer Phillip Zmood shares his experience as design director of General Motors Holden with Master of Industrial Design students at the Southeast University-Monash University Joint Graduate School (Suzhou).





Wednesday, 4 December 2013

Professor Cai Jun - Tsinghua University Industrial Design


Professor Cai Jun Tsinghua University and Ian Wong Monash University


Professor Cai Jun Tsinghua University, Dr Ethan Wang Monash University 
and Professor Mark Armstrong Monash University.



Monday, 2 December 2013

Tsinghua International Design Management Symposium - Shenzen 2013

The Tsinghua International Design Management Symposium was held in Shenzen China December 1st and 2nd 2013.

Professor Mark Armstrong and Phillip Zmood represented Australia conducting workshops and participating in panel discussions over the two day design management symposium.


Professor Mark Armstrong comments during panel discussion at the Tsinghua International Design Management Symposium.

Keynote presenters were:
Paul Gardien 
Vice President of Philips Design
Jeffrey Swystun 
Global Branding & Marketing Executive | DDB Worldwide | Interbrand | Price Waterhouse
Simon Bolton
Associate Dean for Research and Enterprise, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design 
Matt Mayfield
Assistant Dean, Academics at IIT Institute of Design
Ning XIAO
Assistant to Head of Research Institute, Chief Officer of Planning, GAC Engineering
Jikun LIU
Associate Professor, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University


Tsinghua International Design Management Symposium 2013 Opening Ceremony


Tsinghua International Design Management Symposium 2013



Keynote speaker Paul Gardien Vice President of Philips Design presents at the Tsinghua International Design Management Symposium 2013


Keynote Ning XIAO Assistant to Head of Research Institute, Chief Officer of Planning, GAC Engineering presents at the Tsinghua International Design Management Symposium 2013


Tsinghua International Design Management Symposium 2013 panel.
L-R: Professor Cai Jun, Ning XIAO, Matt Mayfield, Paul Gardien, Jeffrey Swystun, Professor Mark Armstrong.


Phillip Zmood introduces the Australian innovation the 'ute' to Chinese designers.


Phillip Zmood Qilin concept car project Patac China.




Tsinghua International Design Management Symposium - Phillip Zmood workshop. 


Professor Mark Armstrong shares the Monash University bionic eye project Tsinghua International Design Management Symposium Workshop in Shenzen China.


Professor Mark Armstrong delivers Tsinghua International Design Management Symposium Workshop in Shenzen China.


Tsinghua International Design Management Symposium 2013
L-R: Professor Mark Armstrong, Dr Ethan Wang, Professor Cai Jun,  Simon Bolton, Ian Wong, Jeffrey Swystun, Matt Mayfield, Phillip Zmood, Paul Gardien,  and Mr Wang.


QUT students at the Tsinghua International Design Management Symposium 2013