Design Icon - Regis glasses from Crown Corning

Today I collected this set of six Crown Corning Pilsners. The iconic Regis range of glasses designed by Edward Kayser used the high speed glass production equipment previously only used to make beer glasses for an entire wine/beer range in the late 1960s. (see previous posts)

This set of Crown Corning Pilsners in original packaging provide a strong link to the history of the Australian innovation to produce wine glasses in one piece using high speed glass production techniques.

Regis glasses designed Australian industrial designer Edward Kayser

Regis range of iconic Australian glassware.

IXL Jam Jar - Australian Design Icon

The iconic conic shape of the IXL Jam Jar was designed in Melbourne Australia by industrial designer Robert Pataki.

This week I visited at the Economic Free Trade Zone at the Port of Tianjin China and I was pleased to see the familiar iconic Australian brand.

Designed in Melbourne and made in the Goulburn Valley where I grew up IXL jam demands shelf space across China.

Iconic Australian Design - IXL Jam Jar designed by Robert Pataki.

To see other posts on Robert Pataki click here.

Designed in Melbourne - Brian Davis

Decor Corporation is an iconic Australian brand and it all started with one product the Habana beaker set. Today I interviewed Brian Davis who established Brian Davis Plastics which became the Decor Corporation in 1958. I first met Brian in 2009 while researching STILL09. Decor products have long been a focus of my research and collecting. Brian was recognised for his contibution to design in Australia with membership of the Design Institute of Australia Hall of Fame in 1996.

Design Institute of Australia Hall of Fame member Brian Davis pictured with his very first product the Habana beaker set and his most iconic the Decor BYO wine cooler.

More posts on Decor Corporation here

Designed in Melbourne - Australia Day 2015

Don't forget the ice…. it's Australia Day.

Celebrating Australia Day with a refreshing glass of wine at the beach.

Celebrating Melbourne designers Max Beck (Wynn's Coonawarra wine label - 1954), Ed Kayser (Regis glass and carafe - 1969) and Richard Carlson (Decor BYO wine cooler 1978)

This Australia Day when you grab the esky, a stubbie of VB or lob the well worn Kookaburra cricket ball over the fence you would probably know these products are as Australian as a meat pie.

No matter how you choose to celebrate January 26th this year, more than a few of the products you will use were designed in Melbourne and have endured in our globally competitive market.

My research is particularly concerned with products that have endured and the research questions the common view that products are designed for obsolescence. The Decor BYO wine cooler designed in 1979 by Richard Carlson is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and also available today for $22.00 at a store near you.

Designed in Melbourne - Decor BYO Wine cooler designed by Richard Carlson 1979

Australian design icon the Regis glassware range designed by industrial designer Edward Kayser for Crown ACI. The Regis carafe is still in production.

This year it is fifty years since Stuart Devlin AO designed our decimal coins and more than 15,200,000,000 coins have been minted. That is just our coins. Stuart who grew up in Geelong and studied in Melbourne has designed coins for over 30 countries.

Designed in Melbourne - Decimal Coins - Stuart Devlin 1964

If you have a cup of tea with your lamington it is likely the cordless kettle has a round base. In 1994 Gerry Mussett and Paul Taylor working with the Centre for Design team and Kambrook staff created the Axis Eco Kettle with the now universal round base. 'We wanted to bring the kettle to the table and out of the kitchen…..like you would a teapot or water jug.' said Paul Taylor.

Designed in Melbourne - Kambrook Axis Eco Kettle designed by Paul Taylor and Gerry Mussett 1994

Design registration for Axis Eco kettle innovative base design adopted worldwide.

Products designed in Melbourne that you might use on Australia Day.

Kookaburra cricket ball - Kookaburra - Moorabbin 1890
Chanell 9 logo  - Brian Sadgrove - Albert Park 1970
Decimal coins - 5c,10c,20c,50c,$1 - Stuart Devlin - Geelong/London 1964
Polymer bank notes - $10 Max Robinson, $20 Garry Emery, $50 Brian Sadgrove.
Lamington tin - Willow - North Melbourne 1928
Nylex kitchen swing top bin - Lionel Suttie - Richmond (Icon Plastics) 1966
Wiltshire Barb B Mate - Wiltshire - South Melbourne 1980s
Wiltshire Bar B Tongs - Outerspace Design Group - Richmond 1986
Redheads matches  - Brian Sadgrove - Albert Park
Willow Alpine cooler - David Flynn - Tullamarine
Decor BYO Wine Cooler - Decor - Richard Carlson - Hawthorn 1978
Regis Carafe - Edward Kayser - 1968
Esky - Willow/Nylex/Esky
Knog bike locks and lights - Catalyst Design - Richmond
Knog - Go Pro and iPhone flash units - Catalyst Design - Richmond
Crumpler Bags - Crumpler Design - Melbourne
Globe shoes - Derek Yuen - Port Melbourne
Tomato sauce bottle - Jim Samartgis - Decor
Victoria Bitter stubby  - ACI Glass - Footscray 1967
Crown lager bottle  - ACI Glass - Footscray 1970
Cascade beer bottle - Julian Ditchburn - Hawthorn
Ronstan yacht fittings - Ron and Stan from Black Rock
E-Series tram - CobaltNiche/Bombardier Design - North Melbourne/Dandenong
Quest EFPOS card payment terminals - Outerspace Design Group - Richmond
Channel 7 logo - Cato Brand Partners - Collingwood
Holden Commodore and Caprice - Holden Design - Port Melbourne
Ford Territory, Falcon, and Ranger - Ford Australia - Broadmeadows
Any power board  - Frank Bannigan, Robert Pataki Design, Peter Talbot - Caulfield
Cordless kettle with a round base designed by Gerry Mussett and Paul Taylor - Kambrook
KeepCup  - CobaltNiche - North Melbourne 2009
Robert Timms coffee  - Cato Brand Partners - Collingwood 1970s
Baby capsule - Robert Pataki and Phillip Slattery - Caulfield - 1984
Visit the Zoo and use the Art Processors digital app on an iPhone - Art Processors - Collingwood
Orbitkey - Charles Ng - South Yarra
Drink lots of water….321 water bottle  - Charlwood Design - 2009
Clean up with the Oates Tilt a Matic mop - Charlwood Design - 2005
…..and finally remember don't party too hard!
Booze Bus  - CobaltNiche - North Melbourne

Designed in Melbourne - Willow cooler designed by David Flynn 2013

Early Willow cooler designed and manufactured in North Melbourne. Circa 1960

Designed in Melbourne - Australia Day 2015. 

Max Beck (Wynn's Coonawarra wine label - 1954), Ed Kayser (Regis glass and carafe - 1969) and Richard Carlson (Decor BYO wine cooler 1978)

Designed in Melbourne - the VB stubby beer bottle 1967

This Australia Day raise a glass, like I did to our designers and those who commission them.

Stuart Devlin - Wiltshire Staysharp Knife MK1

Summer vacation each year provides a welcome opportunity to visit antique stores, markets and opp shops seeking items for my collection of products designed in Melbourne Australia.

The Wiltshire staysharp knife has often featured in my exhibitions and blog posts but until yesterday the MK1 designed by Stuart Devlin in 1969 had never appeared on ebay or on the shelves of any opp shop. Just $1 was all I was required to outlay to acquire this very important object for my collection. I had only ever seen one before and that was in the Powehouse Museum collection in Sydney when I visited in 2009.

Original MK1 Wiltshire Staysharp Knife designed in Melbourne by Stuart Devlin based on an invention by Wiltshire design engineer Dennis Jackson.

Wiltshire Staysharp Knife designed in Melbourne by Stuart Devlin

Stuart Devlin - Australian decimal coins

Fifty years ago in 1964 Stuart Devlin was selected to design Australia's new decimal coins. This work was a significant achievement for Stuart at the time and the nation celebrated his design talent during the extensive public advertising campaign as we went decimal in 1966.

Designed in Melbourne - Australian 20 cent coin with iconic platypus design by Stuart Devlin.

I have interviewed Stuart for my research and viewed his original sketches at the Australian Mint Museum in Canberra. See previous post here. 

Melbourne NOW Show & Tell - Melbourne Collectors

Melbourne NOW featured Show & Tell - Melbourne Collectors on Sunday 24th as part of the opening weekend events.

Four Melbourne collectors displayed their collections at the National Gallery of Victoria St Kilda Road Community Hall designed by McBride, Charles, Ryan architects for Melbourne NOW. Victoria Gridley’s amazing collection of over 400 PEZ dispensers, Ian Wong’s collection of orange products designed in Melbourne, David Beaumont’s wacky collection of prosthetic limbs, religious status and mannequins; and Simon Matthews shared part of his Christopher Dresser collection.

Ian Wong's vivid collection of 'orange' products designed and manufactured in Australia featured the work of industrial designers and manufacturers: Richard Carlson, Tony Wolfenden, Barrie Hudson, Lionel Suttie, Peter Bayly, Celina Clarke, Simon Christopher, Edward Kayser, Grant Featherston, Robbie Napper, Willow, Nylex, ISM Objects, Rosebank, Caroma, Bessemer, Capri, Decor, Wiltshire, Planet Lamps, Ventura, and Kambrook.

Melbourne NOW - Show & Tell Melbourne Collectors at the National Gallery of Victoria.

Melbourne NOW - Show & Tell Melbourne Collectors at the National Gallery of Victoria.

David Beaumont shares his collection of prosthetic limbs, religious status and mannequins.

Simon Matthews shares his Christopher Dresser collection.

Victoria Gridley shares her amazing collection of PEZ dispensers

Melbourne NOW - Show & Tell Melbourne Collectors at the National Gallery of Victoria.

Melbourne NOW - Show & Tell Melbourne Collectors at the National Gallery of Victoria.

Collector Ian Wong discusses an early product from Moulded Products. This Melbourne company started in North Melbourne, moved to Richmond and finally located to Mentone and Seaford changing the company name to the iconic brand Nylex. 

Ian Wong setting up his collection of orange Victorian designed products at the waterwall of the National Gallery of Victoria for Melbourne NOW Show & Tell Melbourne Collectors Sunday November 24th 2013.

Melbourne NOW - Show & Tell Melbourne Collectors at the National Gallery of Victoria.

Melbourne NOW - Show & Tell Melbourne Collectors at the National Gallery of Victoria.

Melbourne NOW - Show & Tell Melbourne Collectors at the National Gallery of Victoria.

Ian Wong with some of his collection of products designed in Victoria on display at the National Gallery of Victoria.

Blue Sky Design - Monash University China

The Cochlear bionic ear and the Resmed CPap designed by BlueSky were exhibited as part of the opening ceremony events at the Southeast University-Monash University Joint Graduate School(Suzhou) opening in China this week.

The Monash University Bionic Eye project by BlueSky Design director and Monash University Professor Mark Armstrong was also featured.

The exhibition at the new Monash campus in China showcased Australian innovation and industrial design expertise in medical and scientific device design.

Australian innovation - Cochlear bionic ear

BlueSky Design - Australian innovation

Australian Innovation - Minister for Trade & Investment Andrew Robb visits the Monash University Master of Design program in China.

Australian innovation and industrial design excellence demonstrated to Professor Shen Jiong Vice President of Southeast University in China.

www.blueskydesigngroup.com.au

Be Seated - Mid Century furniture

The Danish Deluxe Inga arm chair was manufactured in Victoria in the 1960s. Danish Deluxe was a major Victorian furniture manufacturer from the 1950s to the 1980s. The company was formed by Neville Askanasy, John Westacott and Borg Gjorstvang.

Be Seated from Portland Victoria specialise in restoring Mid Century modern furniture including; Danish Deluxe, Fler, Featherston, Meadmore, Parker and Tessa.

Danish Deluxe Inga arm chair restored by Be Seated.

Be Seated - Mid Century modern furniture.

Christmas Gift ideas - Australian Design

A few suggestions to encourage support for Australian design this Christmas. Most of the listed products have featured in previous posts. Search top left if you would like some background.

Christmas gift ideas - Australian design

Knog Blinder Bike Light - Catalyst
Cyclone garder pruner - D+I
Crumpler camera case - Crumpler
Popper pendant - Andre Hnatojko
Alessi Nut Splitter - Jim Hannon Tan
Weave lamp - Ed Linacre
Autobiographics - Alex Stitt
Knog Milkman Bike Lock - Catalyst
Wynns Coonawarra - Label design 1953 Richard Beck
Alessi Fruit Loop - Lisa Vincitorio
Alessi Scoup Egg Cup - Helen Kontouris
Tate Anson - Solaris Clock
Cascade Beer - Bottle design Julian Ditchburn
Curve magazine subscription - Belinda Stening
Alessi Piccantino Chilli Cruncher - Jim Hannon Tan
321 water bottle - Charlwood Design
Knog Kransky Bike Lock - Catalyst
Alessi Zucch - Lisa Vincitorio
Willow cooler - David Flynn
Dosh Wallet - Henri Spalle and Mark Armstrong
Globe shoes - Globe
Shady Table Lamp - ISMObjects - Daniel Barbera
VoVo vase - Marc Pascal
Keep Cup - CobaltNiche

If you have more suggestions post in comments below.

Australian Design Icon - Regis Glassware

A world first with production and export totalling more than 170 million units the Regis glassware range truly is an Australian industrial design icon.

Regis glassware range logo - Australian design icon.

Australian design icon the Regis glassware range designed by industrial designer Edward Kayser for Crown ACI.

Stuart Devlin - Archive drawings

It has taken me almost three years to get to Canberra to view the archive sketches of our iconic decimal coins designed by RMIT University alumnus Stuart Devlin. I interviewed Stuart in London and have wanted to views his sketches and study his process ever since.

Researcher Ian Wong examines Stuart Devlin original drawings for Australia's iconic decimal coins.

Stuart Devlin plasters for Australian decimal coins.

Ian Hutchison and Kerri Daniel at the Australian Mint Museum.

Australian Design Icon - Audio-tactile pedestrian detector

Designed by Neilsen Design Associates the Audio-tactile pedestrian detector ATPD is an Australian Design Icon.

Australian design icon the Audio-tactile pedestrian detector. 

Irwell Taps - Design classic

The Design Award winning taps by Paul Schremmer for Irwell are well documented as icons of pioneering Australian industrial design. They feature in the 1967 Australian industrial design promotional video I have referred to previously.

Today I was proudly able to post to my facebook page ispyid an image of the taps still in use taken at the Victorian College of the Arts.

Iconic Australian industrial design by Paul Schremmer for Irwell.

Paul Schremmer original sketches for the iconic australian designed Irwell taps.

Monash University Industrial Design - Blue Sky

The vivid blue sky at Monash University Caulfield campus this week welcomed Professor Mark Armstrong to Melbourne and to his new role as the Eva and Marc Besen International Chair in Design in the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture. Mark has begun to use his industry knowledge and contacts to contribute to Monash University’s design-based research capability and the position is structured in such a way as to allow Mark to continue his very hands on role at his design consultancy Blue Sky.

Associate Professor Arthur de Bono welcomes to Monash University the Eva and Marc Besen International Chair in Design, Professor Mark Armstrong.

Iconic Olympic torch designed by Mark Armstrong and Blue Sky for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Perry King - Valentine Typewriter

Industrial designer Perry King worked on the Valentine typewriter for Olivetti which is a twentieth century classic and also was the feature in the exhibition 'my valentine' at the Design Gallery recently.
Today whilst at the Salone Satellite Melbourne Movement stand in Milan I was visited by Perry King.

Industrial designer Perry King with researcher Ian Wong and the iconic Olivetti Valentine typewriter.

Olivetti Valentine typewriter.

Kjell Grant - Montreal Chair

Professor Kjell Grant was a colleague at RMIT industrial design over the past four years and his office was next to mine in building 87 and also in building 88. We would often chat as he sorted through his massive archive of drawings, publications and photographs.

This image from a photo shoot of the Montreal chair at Moorabbin golf course appeared recently. I have seen the archive images of this setting in Montreal at the 67 expo pavilion designed by Robin Boyd. It was a delight to see Kjell with the setting in Australia before it was shipped to Montreal.

Australian designer Kjell Grant pictured with the Montreal Chair and setting for the Australian Expo67 pavilion designed by Robin Boyd.

Professor Kjell Grant shares an archive photograph from 1967 of the iconic Montreal chair outside his office at RMIT University Building 88 - March 2012.