Kambrook 8L Family Urn - Robert Pataki Design

The Kambrook 8L Family urn is a classic Australian product used in community halls, footy clubs and tea rooms all across the country.

Designed in Melbourne Australia by Robert Pataki Design the Kambrook 8L Family Urn.

Kambrook Family Urn designed in Australia

Packaging for Kambrook Family Urn designed in Australia

Designed in Melbourne - Kambrook PB-1 power board

Monash Univeristy researcher Ian Wong and Design Institute of Australia Hall of Fame designer Robert Pataki discuss the origins of the Kambrook PB-1 power board.

The world's first power board the PB-1 designed in Melbourne by Robert Pataki Design for Kambrook. The powerboard concept was invented by Kambrook in 1972 but it was this design from 1979 that established the configuration that would be adopted worldwide. It was never patented.

The team at Robert Pataki Design at that time included Robert Pataki, Gerry Mussett and Philip Slattery. Gerry Musset recalls working on the detailing of the internal electrical contacts for the PB-1.

Kambrook - Powerboard advertising

Tina Arena and the Young Talent team promote Kambrook products during Young Talent Time in the early 1980s. Tina Arena is shown holding the PB1 power board designed by Robert Pataki Design for Kambrook.

Tina Arena advertising the Australian designed Kambrook power board in the early 1980s.

Designed in Melbourne.

The PB2 Powerboard designed by Robert Pataki Design featured in the 2010 exhibition '175 Years of Design in Victoria' curated by Ian Wong.

Robert Pataki Design - Melbourne Australia

Decor - 1980s insulated cup

The classic Australian Banjo Patterson poem 'The Man from Snowy River' appeared as a film in 1982 starring Tom Burlinson, Singrid Thornton, Jack Thompson and Kirk Douglas.

I found this promotional item for the film this week, an insulated cup by iconic Australian brand Decor.

The mould was most likely from the 1960s having the engraved early logo and a 1980s logo appears as a sticker on the base. The yellow insert is also perhaps a 1980s refinement with the domed bottom.

Man from Snowy River 1980s version of the classic Decor insulated cup.

Decor insulated cup

Decor logo circa 1982 as sticker on cup base.

Decor Corporation logo circa 1982

Kjell Grant - Ecco chair

Ecco chair designed by Kjell Grant.

Mario Matkovich - Sharpsmart containers

The Sharpsmart medical sharps containers designed by Swinburne University industrial design alumnus Mario Matkovich are an outstanding example of Australian industrial design. The patented product and system was developed to address concerns raised by HIV infections in the 1980s and has become a standard in hospitals worldwide. The Sharpsmart was featured in the exhibition STILL09

Innovative Australian industrial design the Sharpsmart medical waste system designed by Mario Matkovich.

Daniels Sharpsmart medical waste container photographed recently at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Carlton.

Daniels Sharpsmart system youtube video.

Baby Capsule - Australian Design Icon

The Britax Safe n Sound baby capsule has been in production for close to thirty years and is still manufactured in Sunshine Victoria.

This brochure was produced in 1984 when the product was first launched and represents the beginning of an Australian Design Icon. Millions of Australians have travelled safely home from hospital in this iconic product designed by RMIT industrial design alumni Robert Pataki and Phillip Slattery.

Original brochure from 1984 for the Australian design icon the Safe n Sound baby capsule.

Australian design icon the Safe n Sound baby capsule designed by industrial designers Robert Pataki and Phillip Slattery.

Tim Peacocke - Wilco Industrial Switchgear

The Wilco "A Series' of industrial switchgear was a significant example of the value of industrial design at the time and more importantly the product range has proven to be a major success over the past thirty years. Designed by RMIT industrial design alumnus Tim Peacocke in the early 1980s it is a classic industrial design project success story.

Wilco's technical manager Michael Lumley was responsible for the project and briefed the young and talented Peacocke on the project that would result in a system of 34 castings.

The project was featured in issue 3 of 'Design World" November 1983 and the concept sketches, simple geometric design and bold graphic blue and yellow color scheme inspired us all as students.

This year marks thirty years of production for the 'A Series' range. The Wilco 'A Series' industrial switchgear were featured in the exhibition STILL09 celebrating industrial design that has endured curated by Ian Wong.

Wilco 'A Series' industrial switchgear designed by RMIT industrial design alumnus Tim Peacocke.

Current Wilco Industrial Switchgear brochure featuring the 'A Series' designed by industrial designer Tim Peacocke 1982.

Design World magazine Issue 3 November 1983 featuring Wilco 'A Series' industrial switchgear.

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.

Peter Haythornthwaite designed A100 Flip File for "Arti-fact-s"

Iconic A100 Flip File for "Arti-fact-s" by industrial designer Peter Haythornthwaite.

Studying Industrial Design at RMIT University

I was looking at an old backup today and found this RMIT Industrial Design Course brochure from 1986. I assume this was put together by Elivio Bonollo, or perhaps Dean Holmes at the time.

Interviews for places for 2012 were held at RMIT over the past few days which made me think to write this post. I still remember I was interviewed by Gerry Mussett in room 2B1 and still have some of the items from my application folio.

This brochure from 1986 features Mark Wright's space man full size airbrush which was very famous amongst ID students at the time. This was done in Bernie Walsh's class. In my first year at RMIT the program installed full size automotive pinboards in room 2B2 and lecturers like Bernie and Chris Emmerson had students doing full size tape drawings and airbrush renderings. It was an amazing atmosphere, exactly like a professional design studio. We learnt so much watching the progress of senior students projects on the walls and in the workshop - 2B3.

Mark Wright went on to an automotive career at Ford but his spaceman we all remember well. Projects by Steve Martinuzzo - portable vacuum cleaner, Alphons van Maanen - digital music reader and my final year major project, a dialysis machine are featured on the rear of the brochure.

All the best to current applicants for all ID programs. It is a great career.

RMIT Industrial Design brochure 1986

RMIT Industrial Design brochure 1986

Portable Vacuum Cleaner - Steven Martinuzzo

Digital Music Reader - Alphons van Maanen

Dialysis Machine - Ian Wong

Mario Matkovich - Where is Mario?

Driving along Beach Road around 3pm today listening to the cricket on the ABC I noticed the wind was up and a huge number of Kite flyers were out and about. My mind turned back to 1987 and to just one amazing designer....Mario Matkovich.

I was fortunate to work with some great designers at John Westwood Design Associates; John Westwood, Jack Magree, Phillip Slattery, and Ross Williams, ...... but the most unique and amazing was Mario.

Mario taught myself and Jack heaps as we watched his incredible productivity and creativity honed from years working for Philips Clayton CID. It was not however the skills and capability that Mario possessed that brought him to my mind today, but his love of the bay.

If the wind was up on Port Phillip Bay like it was today Mario would not be at his drawing board, he would be on the water. John, Ian Edgar, and Robert Pataki all employed Mario and I am sure all would share my thoughts with a smile....where is Mario?

Kites off Brighton Beach before "knock off" time.

Swinburne University alumnus industrial designer Mario Matkovich.

Philips television concept design by Mario Matkovich. 1970s

Philips television concept design detail by Mario Matkovich. 1980s

VCR concept design by industrial designer Mario Matkovich. 1980s

Mistral - Gyro TwinAire fans

Classic 1980s industrial design techniques of markers and pastel on grey canson were used to create concepts for these Mistral Gyro TwinAire fans. Color trends in the Australian market are also illustrated with the brown and beige model from the early eighties and the two tone grey from the late eighties. The concept of the Mistral Fan came from work by Peter Bayly and the first generation won the Dunhill Design Prize and Good Design selection. Models below featured in Issue No 1 of Colin Wood's Design World Magazine article on Robert Pataki.

Designed in Victoria by Robert Pataki and Associates the Mistral Gyro TwinAire Fan

Australian innovation the Mistral Fan designed by Peter Bayly.

Ford Capri

The Ford Capri was an automotive export project by Ford Australia, Broadmeadows in the eighties. This one appeared recently at the end of my street and is proudly driven by a local store owner, purchased from the original owner, a retired CEO. Over 66,000 were produced from 1989 to 1994 with over 90% exported, mainly to the US as the Mercury Capri.

Ford Capri rear tail lamp and badge detail.

Australian automotive export program - the Ford Capri

Ice Barrel - Richard Carlson

The Decor Ice Barrel is a new addition to the collection and is one of over 300 registered designs for RMIT Alumnus industrial designer Richard Carlson. Richard's work on the BYO wine cooler for Decor is his most acknowledged, but it is his enormous body of outstanding work over his career that is his greatest achievement. Richard is a Hall of Fame member of the Design Institute of Australia. The Ice Barrel was awarded an Australian Design Award in 1986.

Award winning Decor Ice Barrel by industrial designer Richard Carlson.

Decor BYO Wine Cooler designed by RMIT University alumnus industrial designer Richard Carlson.

Concept Sketch - Phillip Zmood

Concept sketch for Holden by RMIT alumnus and Australia's first head of design at Holden Phillip Zmood.

Automotive concept sketch by industrial designer Phillip Zmood.

Knog - Hugo Davidson

Hugo Davidson studied industrial design at RMIT and has been responsible for many iconic and awarded Australian products. Industrial design consultancy Catalyst and bicycle accessory company Knog have been established by Hugo and Malcolm McKechnie in Richmond.

Knog established by RMIT University Alumnus Hugo Davidson.

Knog Strongman bicycle lock.

Iconic Nylex 50L Esky designed by Catalyst Design Group and still in production. 

www.knog.com.au

Peter Carr - RMIT visit

Peter Carr returned to RMIT industrial design today and enjoyed sitting in on a CAD class with first year students. Drawing tables like those manufactured by Carr industries are long gone but the principles of good layout, draft angle, and appreciation of 3rd angle projection are still important to this new generation of industrial designers. Peter first taught at RMIT industrial design in 1971 under Gerard Herbst and later with Elivio Bonollo and Des Harris.

Peter Carr outside RMIT University Building 2 in Bowen Street.

Injection moulded icecube trays, modelled in class using Solidworks during Peter's visit, by first year industrial design students Dustin Bailey and Sean Cai.

Peter Carr outside his old office at RMIT industrial design 2B1A.

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Lunchtime - A bit more bitty

More magic for the collection. David Flynn's touch brings life and character to the simplest of objects.

Little Bitty "Fun Box" lunch box by industrial designer David Flynn of Willow Australia. 1980s

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Helmut Lueckenhausen

Professor Helmut Luekenhausen's zoomorphic sculptural pieces have always delighted. A graduate from RMIT University studying industrial design during the Bauhaus influenced period of Gerard Herbst, his work is acknowledged in National Collections and has been exhibited internationally.

Design World feature article and cover celebrating the outstanding work of designer Helmut Luekenhausen. 1987

Exceptional paper engineering and sculpture by designer Helmut Luekenhausen. Professor Luekenhausen was commissioned to create works for the opening of the Powerhouse Museum. 

National Gallery of Australia collection - Table 1982. Helmut Luekenhausen.

http://lueckenhausen.com

Stackhat - Classic

The introduction of the now legendary Stackhat helmet in the early 1980’s, established Rosebank as Australia’s leading manufacturer of bicycle and multi-sports helmets. Designed by the team at PA Technology, Clayton, it is the most successful Australian manufactured helmet of all time with nearly 2 million helmets sold.

Australian innovative design the Rosebank Stackhat designed in Victoria.

The Rosebank Stackhat was featured in the exhibition 175 Years of Victorian Design curated by industrial designer Ian Wong