Rob Eales - Masters Exhibition

Monash University Master's candidate Rob Eales’ research project aims to close the loop between 3D printing and recycling, by creating a system where items previously printed can be recycled in the same system. He believes online sharing of ideas and design will encourage a state of mass customisation. He envisages consumers’ tastes becoming more individual as they become exposed to more ideas and designs. ‘The plan is to relocalise manufacturing,’ he says.

Supervisior Mark Richardson and Masters candidate Rob Eales.

Rob Eales Masters exhibition

Upcycled plastic extruder provides material for 3D printers. 

Design Institute of Australia - AGM Vic & Tas

The Design Institute of Australia held it's annual general meeting for the Victorian and Tasmanian Branch on Wednesday evening August 22nd.

Design Institute of Australia - Victorian and Tasmanian Branch Council 2012

2012 Branch Council

Dominic Russo - President/National DIA Councillor

Claire Beale - Vice President

Marie Larkin - Secretary

Paul Charlwood - Treasurer

James Harper - National DIA Councillor

Ian Wong - National DIA Councillor

Valerie Mack - National DIA Councillor

Michael Chijoff

Daniel Dalla Riva
Jaime Calero

Jan Henry-Jones
Daniella Casamento

Monash University - Microsoft Tech Lounge

I had an opportunity to explore the new Microsoft Tech Lounge at the Clayton campus today and in particular experience Microsoft surface for the first time. The Tech Lounge includes two Xbox 360s with Kinect, a surface device, 17 laptops and three desktop computers.

Monash Tech Lounge - Microsoft Surface

Microsoft has supplied the lounge – designed as a funky common room – with computer hardware and software, and sponsored the design and fit-out of the space. The Tech Lounge is a partnership between Microsoft and Monash divisions: eEducation Centre, eSolutions, and Facilities and Services.

Paul Randazzo, Education Audience Marketing Manager for Microsoft Australia said they hoped the lounge would add value and excitement to the student experience at Monash University.

Microsoft PixelSense table.

Monash Tech Lounge provided an opportunity for Ian Wong - Program Director Master of Industrial Design to explore the potential of the Microsoft surface for studio collaboration or brainstorming.

“Built and designed with students in mind, the Tech Lounge is an experiential space that provides students with a place to study, play, socialise and interact with the latest Microsoft technologies," Mr Randazzo said.

Monash University Tech Lounge.

The Tech Lounge is open on weekdays from 8am-6pm.

CobaltNiche - Premier's Design Award 2008

Designed by leading Australian industrial design consultancy CobaltNiche the Varian 900LC liquid-chromatography system was awarded a 2008 Victorian Premier’s Design Award.

CobaltNiche designed Varian 900LC was awarded a 2008 Victorian Premier’s Design Award

Unlike its predecessors and most of its competitors, the 900LC series integrated a number of 'standalone' components within one compact enclosure providing a pre-configured plug-and-play solution.

A major project for both CobaltNiche and Varian, the instrument introduced a number of ‘firsts’ for this market segment, especially in the use of innovative twin-skin thermoformed moulding technology, that offered lower-cost and provided extremely strong and lightweight enclosure panels.

The instrument’s styling was a progression of Varian’s corporate product design language also developed by CobaltNiche. This style features pure geometries, consistent colour use and strong branding. 

  Varian 900LC designed by industrial design consultancy CobaltNiche.

Dr Stephen Jia Wang - International Tangible Interaction Design Lab

The International Tangible Interaction Design Lab at MADA, Monash University recently hosted a visit from Professor Nobuhiro Suwa - President of Tokyo Zokei University and  Professor Toshiro Tamada - Head of Department of Industrial Design Tokyo Zokei University. The International Tangible Interaction Design Lab is a research collaboration between Monash University, Tokyo Zokei University, and Tsinghua University.

Left: Professor Toshiro Tamada - Head of Department of Industrial Design Tokyo Zokei University, Professor Nobuhiro Suwa - President of Tokyo Zokei University , and Dr Stephen Jia Wang - Director International Tangible Interaction Design Lab at MADA, Monash University.

Interaction design studio with guest lecturer Professor Nobuhiro Suwa and Dr Stephen Jia Wang - Director International Tangible Interaction Design Lab, MADA.

Dr Stephen Jia Wang outlines the research capability of the International Tangible Interaction Design Lab to staff from Monash University and Tokyo Zokei University.

Professor Shane Murray, Kanvar Nayer, Associate Professor Arthur de Bono, and Professor Nobuhiro Suwa attend presentation by Dr Stephen Jia Wang at the International Tangible Interaction Design Lab, MADA, Monash University.

 Professor Nobuhiro Suwa, Professor Toshiro Tamada, and Dr Stephen Jia Wang.

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.

China - Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre

Melbourne Architects Studio505 designed the iconic hexagonal based matrix facade that encloses and identifies the Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre.  Studio505 directors Dylan Brady and Dirk Zimmermann began working together on Melbourne's iconic Federation Square project where they also worked with Monash University Professor John Warwicker. The two projects are significant cultural buildings in cities located in sister states Jiangsu in China and Victoria in Australia. Victorian Premier Dick Hamer first established the Victoria - Jiangsu sister state agreement in 1979 and the current Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu has visited the region in 2011 to launch another major project by Studio505 the Wujin Lotus Conference Centre. The recent establishment of the Monash University China campus in Suzhou is another strong and significant cultural link.

Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China.

Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China.

Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu visits China.

Studio505 designed facade of the Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre.

The base building, designed by Paul Andreu, houses opera halls, cinemas, cultural centre facilities, galleries, gardens located on the edge of Taihu Lake. The dual skin and patterns are made from 16 unique tiles assembled in 42 selected permutations throughout the 24,000sqm of external facade.

www.studio505.com.au

Passing Through Memory exhibition at the Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre.

Passing Through Memory exhibition at the Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre.

Passing Through Memory exhibition at the Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre.

Melbourne Movement - Salone Satellite 2012

Melbourne Movement directors Kjell Grant, Gyunju Chyon and Ian Wong along with members Tate Anson, Dusko Lapcevic and Jasna Manolios recently reported to sponsors and outlined the success of Salone Satellite 2012.

Sponsors the City of Melbourne, RMIT University, Monash University and Sumo Visual provided generous financial and in kind support to ensure our talented designers are afforded the opportunity to present as Melbourne Movement at the world's premier furniture exhibition in Milan.

Shane McIlroy - International Advisor and Ben James - Business Coordinator from the City of Melbourne congratulated Melbourne Movement on the many outcomes from this years event and were delighted to see Federation Square feature in the exhibition stand design. Dean of Architecture and Design at RMIT University Professor Richard Blythe commended the initiative, commitment and vision of Kjell Grant and acknowledged the deep contribution Melbourne Movement makes to design internationally.

LtoR: Jasna Manolios, Tate Anson, Gyunju Chyon, Shane McIlroy, Ben James, Kjell Grant,  Professor Richard Blythe, Dusko Lapcevic and Ian Wong.

Professor Richard Blythe Dean of Architecture and Design at RMIT University emphasises the significant contribution made by Melbourne Movement to international design in discussions with sponsors and Melbourne Movement members.

www.melbournemovement.com

Open Day - Industrial Design

RMIT University Sunday August 12th 2012

Swinburne University Sunday August 19th 2012

Monash University Sunday August 5th 2012

Open Day - Augmented reality display

Open Day at Monash University Art Design and Architecture featured an impressive augmented reality display. Student work appeared on iphones and ipads of visitors as they toured Open Day displays.

The image below shows the award winning work of Frederik Dallmeyer from industrial design superimposed over the printed poster in situ.

Open Day at Monash University featured the latest in augmented reality technology.

Augmented reality featured at Monash University Open Day.

Marc Pascal - Origins of genius.

It was great this week to catch up with RMIT alumnus industrial designer Marc Pascal in his studio.

Marc will soon relocate his studio and I was keen to explore his archive in particular illustrations and drawings. I was so delighted to see a real blast from the past, an exploded view illustration of a light he designed whilst at RMIT in my second year design class. This design concept was the first of what would become his signature product - lighting. Marc built a fully functioning prototype model. I recall the light was exhibited in the Open Day show and also featured on the RMIT industrial design course brochure.

Industrial designer Marc Pascal with the illustration of his first design for lighting completed whilst a student at RMIT industrial design.

Ian Wong and Marc Pascal pictured with original sketches for ceramic vases circa 1996.

www.marcpascal.com

DQ - Melbourne Movement Milan 2012

Design Quarterly features Milan 21012 Salone Satellite exhibition by Melbourne Movement.

DQ Magazine feature article on Melbourne Movement in Milan.

Monash University - VACC winners

Monash University industrial design students won three of the major awards at the 2012 VACC automotive design competition.

Graduates, Ali Jafari, James Robertson, and Beichen Nan are on the road to promising careers after being recognised as talented and passionate next generation designers at a recent award ceremony in Melbourne.

The competition, now in its eighth year and run by the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC), is divided into four categories; model-making, design, essay and the newly introduced People’s Choice Award.

Beichen Nan won the People’s Choice Award for his Amphi-X amphibious vehicle, a concept he created as his final year project as a student. His vehicle design offers a transport solution for busy cities with water arteries looking to ease traffic congestion.

Beichen Nan's design the Amphi-X amphibious vehicle.

Ali Jafari's sustainable urban transport concept.

James Robertson motorbike concept.

“The Target 2030 encourages you to be creative. The competition is great for students wanting to get into the industry as they get the opportunity to directly interact with automotive designers,” Beichen said.

“My design, Amphi-X, looked at how we could really employ an alternative route for traveling instead of using busy congested roads, especially in big cities.”

Fellow graduate James Robertson was the winner of the tertiary model-making category for his light-weight motorcycle concept, and winner of the tertiary design category, Ali Jafari, received an award for his sustainable urban transport concept.

This is not the first time Monash University has taken top prize at Target 2030. In 2010/11 they scooped top prizes in all tertiary level categories.

Course Coordinator and Senior Lecturer in Industrial Design, Mr Selby Coxon said it was an outstanding result for the Department of Design.

“This award shows that Monash University is leading within the industrial design industry. Our students produce extraordinary work during their time at the Faculty of Art Design & Architecture,” Mr Coxon said.

(Left to right): Tania Romano, James Roberton, Ali Jafari, Minister Dalla-Riva, James Patrick, Beichen Nan, Sam Karopoulos, Todd Linnett.

Mark Richardson - Best paper at PACE

Monash University industrial design lecturer Mark Richardson was awarded best paper in the manufacturing stream at the 2012 PACE Global Annual Forum in Shanghai China.

'Designer/Maker: The rise of digital manufacturing and the implications for the automotive industry."

Monash University industrial design lecturer Mark Richardson is presented with his award for best paper in the manufacturing stream at the 2012 PACE Global Annual Forum.

Monash University's Mark Richardson presents his award winning paper at the 2012 PACE Global Annual Forum in Shanghai.

Frog Design - Shanghai Studio China

A visit to the Frog design studio in Shanghai was a highlight of my recent trip to China.

Swinburne industrial design alumnus Andrew Wong is one of my past students and Andrew has worked for Frog in Germany and Shanghai. I was introduced to members of the Frog China team by Andrew on my last trip and took the opportunity to visit the studio whilst in Shanghai.

Emily Chong- Frog, Ian Wong - Monash University, and Ian Lee - Frog, at the Frog design studio Shanghai China. Classic Harmut Esslinger design for Apple mac proudly on display in the foyer.

Frog design studio Shanghai China.

Frog design - China