The Melbourne Review has arrived in print and online.
Feature article on recent Design Institiute of AustraliaTOP 5 x 5 published.
IMAGE: Melbourne Design Review
The history and practice of Industrial Design in Victoria Australia is my research interest and this blog include posts related to this interest as well as my practice as a designer and design educator.
Friday, 21 October 2011
Thursday, 20 October 2011
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.
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.
Launch with LaunchPad
LaunchPad by Sprocket allows controlled access to ORANGE blog posts for more details on objects on display in the exhibition. Sprocket CEO and Design Institute of Australia Hall of Fame member Gerry Mussett is represented in the exhibition.
Sprocket LaunchPad at ORANGE exhibition Design Gallery, Oct 6th-28th
ORANGE Floor Talk
Savoy crackers, Skyhooks music and 1970s TV commercials added to the atmosphere at the well attended floor talk at ORANGE by curator Ian Wong.
Curator Ian Wong presents a brief floor talk at ORANGE exhibition at the Design Gallery
70s inspired food.
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
Hurricane Returns - Restored and bright orange!
Holden has gone back to the future, restoring its very first concept car – the 1969 Holden Hurricane.
The futuristic research vehicle described as an experiment “to study design trend, propulsion systems and other long range developments” has been restored to its former glory as a labour of love by a dedicated group of Holden designers and engineers.
Code named RD 001; the Hurricane is a mid-engined, rear-wheel drive, two-seater sports car which incorporates a remarkable array of innovative features and technology, much of it way ahead of its time.
Features such as electronic digital instrument displays, station-seeking radio, automatic temperature control air conditioning, rear vision camera and an automated route finder were all showcased in this ground-breaking vehicle 42 years ago. Many of these technologies have only recently made their way into mass production, demonstrating Holden’s remarkable foresight into both design and engineering technology.
The Hurricane stole headlines and dropped jaws nationwide when it debuted at the 1969 Melbourne Motor Show.
Michael Simcoe, Executive Director GMIO Design, said it was fantastic to see such a significant vehicle restored.
“At Holden we have always prided ourselves on our ability to look into the future through our concept cars,” Mr Simcoe said.
“It’s amazing to think that the features we take for granted today were born out of creative minds over 40 years ago.”
As its code name suggests, the RD 001 was the first product of the GMH Research and Development organisation, staffed by a small squad of engineers working in conjunction with the Advance Styling Group at the Fishermans Bend Technical Centre in the 1960s.
The team that designed and built the original Hurricane employed some advanced technologies and techniques when it came to the powertrain. Powered by an experimental 4.2-litre (253 cubic inch) V8, this engine was a precursor to the Holden V8 engine program which entered production in late 1969.
The Hurricane’s V8 engine featured many advanced design components such as the four-barrel carburettor – a feature which wouldn’t be seen on a production 253ci Holden V8 until the late 1970s. The end result was approximately 262hp (193kW), a towering power output in 1969 and one that ensured the Hurricane had the go to match its show.
But perhaps the two most innovative features were the “Pathfinder” route guidance system and the rear-view camera.
The “Pathfinder”, essentially a pre-GPS navigation system, relied on a system of magnets embedded at intersections along the road network to guide the driver along the desired route. A dash-mounted panel informed the driver of which turn to take by illuminating different arrows, as well as sounding a warning buzzer.
The rear-view camera was also a ground-breaking innovation.
Engineers using a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system with a camera mounted in the rear bumper feeding vision to a small black-and-white TV mounted in the centre console.
Former Holden Chief Studio Engineer Rick Martin led the modern-day Hurricane team in researching the vehicle’s components, systems and history in order to restore it.
“There are some genuinely remarkable ideas and technology in the Hurricane,” said Mr Martin.
“From the automatic air-conditioning and magnet-based guidance system, to the inertia-reel seat belts and metallic paint, this was a car that was genuinely ahead of its time.
“The hand-picked team of engineers and designers who built the original Hurricane worked in strict secrecy and began Holden’s now proud tradition of ground-breaking concept cars.”
RD 001 stands just 990mm high and has no doors in the conventional sense. A hydraulically-powered canopy opens upwards and forward over the front wheels, combined with twin “astronaut type” power-elevating seats which rise up and pivot forward, along with the steering column for ease of access. Occupants are then lowered to a semi-reclining position before the roof closes over them.
The wind tunnel-tested fibreglass body consists of three segments; the canopy, the engine hood and body shell and was finished in an experimental aluminium flake-based metallic orange paint.
Safety innovations included a foam-lined fuel tank, integrated roll-over bar, digital instrument readouts, ignition safety locks, interior padding and a fire warning system.
The project to restore RD 001 began in 2006 and has been a genuine labour of love for some very dedicated Holden employees. The entire restoration process has been driven primarily by volunteer labour from Holden designers and engineers in their spare time.
But the Hurricane first entered Holden Design in less than immaculate condition. RD 001 had a residency in a trade school where apprentices practised their welding on the priceless concept.
After being returned to Holden in 2006, the Hurricane restoration project has taken many thousands of painstaking man hours to lovingly restore RD 001 to concourse condition.
Holden’s Manager for Creative Hard Modelling, Paul Clarke, has been largely responsible for managing the restoration of RD 001. He ensured as many of the original parts as possible have been used or remade using modern techniques to 1969 specification, in order to preserve the authenticity of this hugely important Holden.
“The entire team has done a fantastic job in bringing this beautiful concept back to life,” Mr Clarke said.
“The talent we have within the Holden organisation is simply outstanding. Every time we take on a project I’m constantly amazed by the passion and talent in this company, making it a genuine pleasure to work on these projects.
“The Hurricane plays a crucial role in Holden’s story and the company has such a great sense of history and heritage that it was very important to bring RD 001 back to life. It’s been a challenging but incredibly rewarding process.”
Since the debut of the Hurricane in 1969, Holden has continued to build a global reputation for envisioning and executing world-class concept vehicles. Holden is recognised globally within General Motors as a centre of excellence for concept vehicle and show car development and is one of only three GM design studios that is capable to design and build concept cars.
Michael Simcoe added that the Hurricane holds a particularly special place in Holden’s history as it kick-started Holden’s long love affair with concepts that has since seen the likes of the iconic GTR-X, Torana TT36, Coupe 60, the GMC Denali XT (which was requested specifically by GM for the North American market) and the award-winning EFIJY.
The Holden Hurricane will be on display to the public at the classic car show Motorclassica, held at the Melbourne Royal Exhibition Building from October 21 – 23.
The futuristic research vehicle described as an experiment “to study design trend, propulsion systems and other long range developments” has been restored to its former glory as a labour of love by a dedicated group of Holden designers and engineers.
Features such as electronic digital instrument displays, station-seeking radio, automatic temperature control air conditioning, rear vision camera and an automated route finder were all showcased in this ground-breaking vehicle 42 years ago. Many of these technologies have only recently made their way into mass production, demonstrating Holden’s remarkable foresight into both design and engineering technology.
The Hurricane stole headlines and dropped jaws nationwide when it debuted at the 1969 Melbourne Motor Show.
Michael Simcoe, Executive Director GMIO Design, said it was fantastic to see such a significant vehicle restored.
“At Holden we have always prided ourselves on our ability to look into the future through our concept cars,” Mr Simcoe said.
“It’s amazing to think that the features we take for granted today were born out of creative minds over 40 years ago.”
The team that designed and built the original Hurricane employed some advanced technologies and techniques when it came to the powertrain. Powered by an experimental 4.2-litre (253 cubic inch) V8, this engine was a precursor to the Holden V8 engine program which entered production in late 1969.
The Hurricane’s V8 engine featured many advanced design components such as the four-barrel carburettor – a feature which wouldn’t be seen on a production 253ci Holden V8 until the late 1970s. The end result was approximately 262hp (193kW), a towering power output in 1969 and one that ensured the Hurricane had the go to match its show.
But perhaps the two most innovative features were the “Pathfinder” route guidance system and the rear-view camera.
The “Pathfinder”, essentially a pre-GPS navigation system, relied on a system of magnets embedded at intersections along the road network to guide the driver along the desired route. A dash-mounted panel informed the driver of which turn to take by illuminating different arrows, as well as sounding a warning buzzer.
The rear-view camera was also a ground-breaking innovation.
Engineers using a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system with a camera mounted in the rear bumper feeding vision to a small black-and-white TV mounted in the centre console.
Former Holden Chief Studio Engineer Rick Martin led the modern-day Hurricane team in researching the vehicle’s components, systems and history in order to restore it.
“There are some genuinely remarkable ideas and technology in the Hurricane,” said Mr Martin.
“From the automatic air-conditioning and magnet-based guidance system, to the inertia-reel seat belts and metallic paint, this was a car that was genuinely ahead of its time.
“The hand-picked team of engineers and designers who built the original Hurricane worked in strict secrecy and began Holden’s now proud tradition of ground-breaking concept cars.”
RD 001 stands just 990mm high and has no doors in the conventional sense. A hydraulically-powered canopy opens upwards and forward over the front wheels, combined with twin “astronaut type” power-elevating seats which rise up and pivot forward, along with the steering column for ease of access. Occupants are then lowered to a semi-reclining position before the roof closes over them.
The wind tunnel-tested fibreglass body consists of three segments; the canopy, the engine hood and body shell and was finished in an experimental aluminium flake-based metallic orange paint.
Safety innovations included a foam-lined fuel tank, integrated roll-over bar, digital instrument readouts, ignition safety locks, interior padding and a fire warning system.
The project to restore RD 001 began in 2006 and has been a genuine labour of love for some very dedicated Holden employees. The entire restoration process has been driven primarily by volunteer labour from Holden designers and engineers in their spare time.
But the Hurricane first entered Holden Design in less than immaculate condition. RD 001 had a residency in a trade school where apprentices practised their welding on the priceless concept.
After being returned to Holden in 2006, the Hurricane restoration project has taken many thousands of painstaking man hours to lovingly restore RD 001 to concourse condition.
Holden’s Manager for Creative Hard Modelling, Paul Clarke, has been largely responsible for managing the restoration of RD 001. He ensured as many of the original parts as possible have been used or remade using modern techniques to 1969 specification, in order to preserve the authenticity of this hugely important Holden.
“The entire team has done a fantastic job in bringing this beautiful concept back to life,” Mr Clarke said.
“The talent we have within the Holden organisation is simply outstanding. Every time we take on a project I’m constantly amazed by the passion and talent in this company, making it a genuine pleasure to work on these projects.
“The Hurricane plays a crucial role in Holden’s story and the company has such a great sense of history and heritage that it was very important to bring RD 001 back to life. It’s been a challenging but incredibly rewarding process.”
Since the debut of the Hurricane in 1969, Holden has continued to build a global reputation for envisioning and executing world-class concept vehicles. Holden is recognised globally within General Motors as a centre of excellence for concept vehicle and show car development and is one of only three GM design studios that is capable to design and build concept cars.
Michael Simcoe added that the Hurricane holds a particularly special place in Holden’s history as it kick-started Holden’s long love affair with concepts that has since seen the likes of the iconic GTR-X, Torana TT36, Coupe 60, the GMC Denali XT (which was requested specifically by GM for the North American market) and the award-winning EFIJY.
The Holden Hurricane will be on display to the public at the classic car show Motorclassica, held at the Melbourne Royal Exhibition Building from October 21 – 23.
Holden Hurricane - ORANGE
The Holden Hurricane concept from 1969 features in the current exhibition ORANGE at the Design Gallery. Released in a distinctive orange paint scheme the Hurricane is classic.
Holden Hurricane 1969
Holden design studio in the late 1960s. Phillip Zmood pictured in the foreground. Concept car tape drawings and sketches show the design process of this exciting period in Australian automotive design. The Holden Hurricane and GTRX were developed in this period.
Monday, 17 October 2011
Colin Barrie - The Arts in Australia series 1962
I picked up this copy of Colin Barrie's 1962 book "Design - The part it plays in our lives." some time back. The recent post on the Studio K lamp by Bill Iggulden and setting it up at the Design Gallery for the ORANGE exhibition reminded me of it's inclusion on page 16 of Barrie's book. In 1958 Colin Barrie was appointed as the first National Director of what we now now as the Design Institute of Australia.
Monkey Grip - Adam Cornish
The Hula Hoop was a local child's toy that Decor founder Brian Davis took to the world through his connection with US toy maker Whamo in the late 1950s. RMIT alumnus Adam Cornish in his latest creative work pays homage to another mid century classic toy the Barrel of Monkeys. Monkey Grip was designed with space conscious living in mind. Monkey Grip is a system of linking pots which utilise space not currently available to common house pots. The pot’s unique shape not only enables the plants to be linked together to form a chain, but also houses a water reservoir in the bottom with a simple wick system that allows water overflow to be saved and wicked back to the roots of the plant.
Adam earlier this year won the Herman Miller Asia Pacific Design Competition for his Wooden Hammock design – launched Monkey Grip at this year’s Milan Salone. Monkey Grip was also a runner-up in the 2010 Bombay Sapphire Design Discovery Awards, rewarding emerging Australian designers.
On the market for less than a year the Monkey Grip pots have been selected as an example of contemporary design for inclusion in the ORANGE exhibition.
Classic child's toy "Barrel of Monkeys" first created by Lakeside Toys in 1965.
Monkey Grip pots designed by Adam Cornish. 2010
Floor talk - Orange exhibition
Extended public visiting hours until 7.30pm and a brief floor talk by curator Ian Wong at 6.30pm will be presented this Wednesday evening October 19th as part of the current Design Gallery exhibition "ORANGE". All welcome.
ORANGE - October 6th - 28th
Design Gallery
10am-4pm Monday-Friday
Design Institute of Australia
Level 1 - 175 Collins Street
Friday, 14 October 2011
Decor Stack Fresh - Drawing
The original 1974 drawing by Hall of Fame designer Tony Wolfenden for the Decor Stack Fresh range of food storage containers will be on display as part of "ORANGE" - Living in the 70s exhibition.
Detail of original technical drawing in pencil and ink on vellum by industrial designer Tony Wolfenden for the Decor Stack Fresh food storage containers.1974
An orange donut? - Luke Troja
Donuts are not usually orange, pink or chocolate maybe, but not often orange. The tankmasta "donut" underground tank design by industrial designer Luke Troja is also not usually in orange. Orange is the complementary color to blue so it stands out against our vivid blue sky and attracts attention. Most commonly this is for safety applications but here it is for product promotion and with the ORANGE exhibition on at the moment it certainly caught my eye. The innovative aspect of this design is the solid external ribs that exploit the rotomoulding process making a strong one piece tank. The Tankmasta Donut & Bagel Underground tanks won the ARMA Technical Product of the Year 2006, the Endevour Innovative Australian Product of the Year 2006 (Consumer) and the Green Plumbers® Product of the Year award 2005.
Australian innovation - the award winning Tankmasta "donut" underground tanks designed by industrial designer Luke Troja.
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Laine Furnishings support ORANGE
The iconic Stem chair by Grant and Mary Featherston has a bright orange stage thanks to the generous support by Laine Furnishings.
Iconic Stem chair by Grant and Mary Featherston. Stem chair appears courtesy of Gordon Mather Industries.
ORANGE exhibition supported by Laine Furnishings pure wool fabric - New Aquarius in Circus
ORANGE - Design Gallery Design Institute of Australia
"ORANGE" currently on show at the Design Gallery features the Grant and Mary Featherston Stem chair, the Aloha chair by Kjell Grant, the Studio K Lamp by Planet and more than forty products designed in Melbourne.
Aloha and Stem chairs feature in "ORANGE" exhibition curated by Ian Wong.
ORANGE - October 6th - 28th
Design Gallery
10am-4pm Monday-Friday
Design Institute of Australia
Level 1 - 175 Collins Street
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