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.

STILL09 Exhibition 2009 - Video

The video record of my first exhibition related to my PhD - STILL09 has been uploaded to YouTube.

STILL09 Exhibition

STILL09 exhibition curated by Ian Wong

STILL09 exhibition curated by Ian Wong. Oil drip tray, and microwave egg poacher by industrial designer Jim Samartgis and Shell oil bottle by Phillip Slattery.

STILL - Yates 9 Litre Watering Can 21st birthday.

The Yates 9 litre watering can designed in 1990 by Blue Sky Design featured in an article by Colin Wood on Australian design in Issue 28 of DesignWorld magazine. Despite our recent drought and huge competition it continues to demand shelf space after 21 years and was featured in the exhibition STILL09. Happy 21st!

Yates 9L watering can featured in Issue 28 DesignWorld magazine.

Yates 9L watering can designed by Blue Sky Design celebrates 21 years in store.

STILL09 Exhibition curated by Ian Wong

STILL09 exhibition timeline detail featuring Yates 9L watering can by Blue Sky Design. 

Prince Philip Prize - STILL winners

The iconic status of the Safe n Sound baby capsule, the Cafe Bar, and the Decor BYO wine cooler as outstanding examples of Australian industrial design is without question. They were innovations, professionally designed and have been commercially successful with all three STILL in production today.

The current visit by Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh does remind us that these products were also awarded the prestigious Prince Phillip Prize for Australian Design. It is worth considering the benefit that this recognition and the significant support to industrial design in Australia provided by Prince Philip with the prize offered from 1968 to 1986. The profile provided by Prince Philip also saw the awards telecast nationally on the ABC on a number of occasions.

The GE K12 kettle designed by Barry Hudson was a winner of the prize in 1978. Finalists and Awards of Merit were also awarded to the Gold Phone (Paul Schremmer) 1986, Wiltshire Staysharp knife (Peter Bayly) 1972, Sebel Integra chair (Charles Furey) 1978, and the Caroma Dual Flush toilet cistern. 1982.

Decor BYO wine carrier designed by Richard Carlson

His Royal Highness Prince Phillip with the iconic Decor BYO wine cooler. Insets: Presenter Stuart Wagstaff, Decor CEO Brian Davis and industrial designer Richard Carlson.

Prince Philip Prize for Australian Design 1980

IMAGES: Decor Corporation publication with images from ABC TV.

Safe n Sound baby capsule designed by Robert Pataki and Phillip Slattery - Robert Pataki Design and PA Technology.

Prince Philip Prize for Australian Design 1986

Prince Charles and Lady Diana inspect the Safe n Sound baby capsule. 1985

Cafe Bar designed Neilsen Design Associates

Prince Philip Prize for Australian Design 1974

GE KE12 electric kettle designed by Barry Hudson

Prince Philip Prize for Australian Design 1978 awarded to the GE K12 Kettle.

Planet Lamp - Australian design icon

Always the collector, but this week a burnt orange Australian design classic available in time to be a part of the "ORANGE" exhibition had my name on it. It is in excellent condition, a handy local pickup from a very passionate mid century enthusiast living just a stones throw from the Chancellor and Patrick Iggulden House. The Iggulden House was the home of the John Iggulden, the brother of the Studio K lamp designer Bill Iggulton. Bill lived in Balcombe Park Lane in Beaumaris. The Studio K task lamp featured in the exhibition STILL09.

Studio K task lamp is an Australian design icon designed in 1962 by Bill Iggulden for his company Planet Lighting.

Chancellor and Patrick - Iggulden House Wells Road Beaumaris 1957-58. 

Image copyright SLV

Planet Lighting Webite

Tape Melbourne - Federation Square

Tape Melbourne is an inspiring installation by Numen currently spanning the West Terrace of Federation Square constructed from 30km of sticky tape. I was fortunate to experience it as I waited to meet Bernie Walsh prior to the Create Design Awards event. I could not help linking this work to the donut selloptape dispenser designed by Catalyst Design Group in 2006. The sellotape donut dispenser was featured in the exhibition STILL09 and was an entry in the 2006 Australian Design Awards. RMIT industrial design alumnus Hugo Davidson is a director of Catalyst. ......That's a lot of donuts!

Tape Melbourne installation by Numen - Federation Square Melbourne

http://www.fedsquare.com/events/tape-melbourne/

Sellotape donut dispenser design by Catalyst Design Group 2006

So good he bottled it - Julian Ditchburn

Cascade is just one of the local beers that is enjoyed the world over. Industrial designer Julian Ditchburn is not a brewer but his mark is on every bottle. The distinctive bottle shape, color, and signature Tasmanian tiger stripes at the base of the neck tell you it's a cascade as you reach unsighted for a cold one in an ice filled bath. A graduate from RMIT University industrial design Julian, now Senior Product Designer for O-I Australia, has designed glass packaging for many other household Australian products. I taught Julian in second year and we caught up recently to discuss industry collaborations with current RMIT students. The Cascade 375ml bottle featured in the exhibition STILL09....Cheers!

Cascade 375ml bottle designed by industrial designer Julian Ditchburn.

Industrial designer Julian Ditchburn pictured with the Cascade bottle he designed in 2004. 

Swinburne Open Day - Sunday August 21st

The industrial design and product design engineering programs will be on show at Swinburne Open Day this weekend. Graduates Paul Taylor, Ian Dryden, Troy Nyssen and Mario Matkovich have been mentioned in previous posts. Troy was one of my students at Swinburne and others from that period include: Soren Luckins - Buro North, Andrew Wong - Frog Design, Ben Wilson - Braun, Jonathan Lawson - Kube Creative, Kate Hannaford - Moth Design, Tom Seymour, Kate Luckins, Dean Phillips, Chris Peters - CP Design, and Luke Troja.

Designed in 1993 the Britax Nova booster by industrial designers Paul Taylor and Gerry Mussett featured in the exhibition STILL09. Innovative Australian design.

Award winning wayfinding by Buro North

http://www.buronorth.com

Concept sketches for the Queens baton by industrial designer Jonathan Lawson whilst on staff with leading industrial design consultancy Charlwood Design.

http://www.charlwood.com.au

Innovative Australian design for underground water tank by industrial designer Luke Troja.

Concept sketches - Kate Bissett Johnson

RMIT alumnus Kate Bissett Johnson is an outstanding industrial designer and design educator and has in particular demonstrated and developed concept design sketching skills amongst students at RMIT and Swinburne Universities. Kate graduated the year after me and was a GMH award winner for best second year student whilst at RMIT. The project shown here is from her period as a consultant designer with Catalyst and this Nylex jug was featured in STILL09 and is still in production. We worked together at RMIT and also more recently on several VEIL projects.

Concept sketches by industrial designer Kate Bissett Johnson.

Nylex Eski jug designed by Catalyst.

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

Concept Sketching - Visit by Co Huang Vu

RMIT industrial design students have been fortunate to have alumnus industrial designer Co Huang Vu visit over the past two weeks and sketch in class demonstrating his concept sketching skills. Vu was an outstanding student and he was in the first group of students I taught at RMIT in 1989. His sketches for a highlighter pen are still vivid in my memory and I recall displaying them in the glass cases in the corridor of Building 2 Level 2 for RMIT Open Day that year. Current students are working on tableware concepts and these sketches were done last week in class providing students personal experience of industry concept sketching practice for industrial design. Vu graduated with honours in the first year it was offered at RMIT. (see previous post)

(click to enlarge)

Industrial design concept sketch by Co Huang Vu.

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Concept sketches for tableware objects by industrial designer Co Huang Vu.

Innovative Australian design for the Victa lawn mower catcher, one of many design projects by Co Huang Vu and the team at Invetech. Designed 1999 and still in production.

Stack Fresh - Tony Wolfenden

The Stack Fresh range of kitchen containers designed in 1974 by Tony Wolfenden featured in my recent TOP 5X5 presentation on the color orange. This Australian Design Award winning range has been a major seller for Decor and some items in this range are still in production after 27 years. The Stack Fresh range featured in the exhibition STILL09.  Tony Wolfenden is a Hall of Fame member of the Design Institute of Australia.

Decor Stack Fresh container designed by industrial designer Tony Wolfenden.

Tony Wolfenden pictured discussing the original drawings and a seventies brown sample of the award winning "Stack Fresh" containers with RMIT University PhD researcher Ian Wong.

Staying power - Staysharp Knife

In 1964 a US market survey showed that 80% of Americans didn't know how to sharpen a knife. 'Aha!' thought Dennis Jackson, a design engineer for Wiltshire Cutlery in Melbourne, 'a knife that sharpens itself is the answer!' In an instant he had identified a whole new range of products with an advantage over any blade ever sold before. Peter Bayly one of Victoria’s pioneering consultant designers developed the successful range of knives which have sold well over nine million products. The Wiltshire Staysharp knife featured in the exhibition STILL09.

Australian innovative design, concept still in production, the Wiltshire Staysharp knife by industrial designer Peter Bayly.

Tidy design - Decades in fashion

The simple Nylex tidy bin designed by Lionel Suttie has seen kitchen design evolve and fashions change, but it's simplicity and functional design mean it is still in production after more than forty years. The Nylex kitchen tidy featured in the exhibition STILL09.

Classic Australian Nylex kitchen tidy, in seventies orange, designed by industrial designer Lionel Suttie. 

1971 advertisement for BX Plastics custom moulding featuring designs by Lionel Suttie including the kitchen tidy.

A detail of the original 1960's technical drawing by Lionel Suttie for the kitchen tidy. 

1960s version of the product brochure for the kitchen tidy range of Nylex products.

1970s version of the product brochure for the kitchen tidy range of Nylex products.