Friday 25 January 2013

Design + Industry - Monash University China

Industry engagement is fundamental to the Master of Industrial Design program which will commence in March at the Southeast University - Monash University Joint Graduate School (Suzhou) China. 

This week staff from the Master of Industrial Design program visited award winning industrial design consultancy Design + Industry. Creative director Paul Taylor presented recent projects including the Australian International Design Award of the Year - James Cameron's Deepsea Challenger one-man submersible. 


Paul Taylor, creative director Design + Industry, Dr Ethan Wang and Ian Wong


James Cameron's Deepsea Challenger

Thursday 24 January 2013

Dr Ethan Wang - Monash University

Dr Ethan Wang arrived this week in Melbourne to take up his position as lecturer in the Department of Design at MADA Monash Art Design and Architecture. Dr Wang will conduct research and teach into the Master of Industrial Design program in Suzhou China at the Southeast University - Monash University Joint Graduate School (Suzhou).


Dr Ethan Wang

Tuesday 22 January 2013

Bernie Walsh - Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Demo

Bernie Walsh road tested the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet this week and the results were impressive. We are currently evaluating tablet options for students enrolled in the Southeast University Monash University Joint Graduate School (Suzhou) Master of Industrial Design program starting in March in Suzhou China.

Students will have access to the latest Wacom Cintiq tablet technology on campus to develop sketching and communication skills and the Samsung tablets may be ideal as personal tablets for each student.


Samsumg Galaxy Note 10.1 demo by Bernie Walsh.

Bernie completed a speed sketch using Autodesk Sketchbook Pro which downloaded in seconds to the device. The Wacom S pen was a particular hit with Bernie and the battery life of over three days is ideal for industrial design concept sketching on the move.

We are keen to take students out of the Wacom Lab in Suzhou and the portability of the Galaxy Note 10.1 is great. The tablet will also facilitate new approaches for teaching and learning of industrial design students in China.


Bernie Walsh using Sketchbook Pro on the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet.


Speed sketch using Sketchbook Pro by industrial designer Bernie Walsh.


Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1



Students interested in the Master of Industrial Design (Double Masters) delivered in Suzhou should contact ian.wong@monash.edu

工業設計  



学习工业设计。

Saturday 19 January 2013

Australian International Design Festival - Sydney



Australian International Design Festival

Image courtesy of the Australian International Design Awards, a division of Good Design Australia.

The Australian International Design Awards is now aligned to Vivid Sydney, the annual festival of light, music and ideas, to create the inaugural Australian International Design Festival.

The Design Festival will take place during Vivid Sydney 2013 from 30 May to 10 June and will feature an international design conference, a public design showcase, the prestigious Australian International Design Awards Presentation Ceremony and a series of design celebrations.

Brandon Gien, Managing Director of Good Design Australia, believes that aligning the Design Festival to Vivid Sydney is a natural fit and will highlight Sydney’s position on the world design map and elevate the important role good design plays in our daily lives.

"The inaugural Design Festival will promote Australian design to the world and will reinforce the message that Sydney is an international city with iconic design at its core. We are looking forward to working with the NSW Government, through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, and Business Events Sydney to deliver a world class design event.”

The Design Forum, an integral part of the Design Festival, will feature some of the world's most prominent design leaders who will talk about the latest industry trends and spark debate on how design is playing a leading role in shaping a better future.

The Australian International Design Awards will be calling for entries from 1 February 2013 to feature in the inaugural Design Festival. Finalists will be invited to take part in the Good Design Showcase at Westfield Sydney, Bondi Junction and Parramatta shopping centres during the Design Festival.

Thursday 10 January 2013

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



Grant Featherston - Aristoc Scape stool with steps

Grant Featherston designed the scape range of chairs and stools for Aristoc which included this very practical set of steps. I have previously posted about the dining chairs here and the stools here.


Grant Featherston designed Aristoc scape stool with steps.

Wednesday 9 January 2013

Decor - Pourer

Decor pourer designed by Richard Carlson.


Decor pourer designed by Richard Carlson.


Decor pourer designed by Richard Carlson.


Decor pourer designed by Richard Carlson.



Decor - Kids Cup

Insulated plastic cups with image inserts were very popular in the 1960s, often in sets of four or six. This kids size is much less common.


Decor insulated kids cup by Brian Davis Plastics.

Decor - Quick Whipper

Decor Quick Whipper and Egg Separator designed for Brian Davis Plastics.


Decor Quick Whipper and Egg Separator


Decor Quick Whipper and Egg Separator


Decor Quick Whipper and Egg Separator


Decor Quick Whipper and Egg Separator


Decor - Colander

Travelling in regional Victoria during the Summer break has always been very productive for my collection of Australian industrial design products and this year is no exception. The only issue is keeping the vintage plastic items safe from the 40+ degrees in the car.


Decor colander designed by Richard Carlson.


Decor colander designed by award winning Australian industrial designer Richard Carlson.


Orange colander by Decor.


Decor 1970s colander designed by Richard Carlson

Tuesday 8 January 2013

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.


Monday 7 January 2013

Decor - Kitchen canisters

Pure geometry dominates the design of these Decor canisters from the 1970s designed by Richard Carlson. Textiles, wallpapers and patterns from the 70s feature similar geometric designs. 
Four Decor canisters make a geometric pattern.

Decor kitchen canisters designed in Australia by Richard Carlson.


Australian Vinlon wallpaper design from the 1970s features geometric circles.
Image: Historic Houses Trust collection.

Link to Historic Houses Trust collection here


Decor - Picnic set

Designed by Richard Carlson for Brian Davis at Decor the PicNic set is another classic 70s orange addition to my collection.


Decor 'PICNIC' bucket designed by industrial designer Richard Carlson.


Decor 'PICNIC' set in classic 1970s orange and brown.