Philips Clayton - Jan Huyboom

The Philips Centre for Industrial Design in the suburb of Clayton in Melbourne Australia was one of many studios established by Philips worldwide. The Centre was established in the 1960s soon after Philips purchased from Pye, the factory of the Australian television and radio manufacturer Radio Corporation. Radio Corporation was famous for the iconic Australian Astor brand of radios, televisions and whitegoods. The factory had the capacity to manufacture black and white television picture tubes.

Jan Huyboom, a Dutch industrial designer came to Melbourne as manager for the Centre for Industrial Design during the 1970s. The centre soon became a major employer of the industrial design graduates from programs at RMIT, Gordon and Prahran. Design management at Philips, a global design leader, has been well researched and documented and the establishment and success of this centre in Melbourne has in my view had a major influence on industrial design practice in Victoria. 

The current exhibition 'a design life 17-71' demonstrates the influence of the Philips design management on one young industrial designer, Ian Edgar, and also the influence on the many talented staff that Ian would go on to manage at the Centre for Industrial Design.

Jan Huyboom and industrial designer Ian Edgar pictured at the Philips Centre for Industrial Design in Clayton, Victoria, Australia.

Milan 2012 - Kjell Grant

This morning I met designer and Melbourne Movement President Kjell Grant at Federation Square for a photo shoot as part of preparations for Milan Furniture Fair 2012. Works from seven new Melbourne Movement members will be packed this week to send to Milan. We are truly in a digital world as this afternoon, at Sumo Visual Solutions in Port Melbourne, large format exhibition banners were produced from art that included the shots of Kjell.

Professor Kjell Grant RMIT University

Digital image in camera of Kjell Grant from Federation Square photo shoot.

President and founder of Melbourne Movement Professor Kjell Grant.

Images used to produce large format banners within hours.

Thumbnail of large format banner art for Milan 2012. 

Melbourne Movement banners generously sponsored by Sumo Visual Solutions.

http://www.melbournemovement.com/

http://www.sumovisual.com.au

Mark Armstrong - Eva and Marc Besen International Research Chair

RMIT industrial design alumnus Mark Armstrong has recently been appointed as the Eva and Marc Besen International Research Chair in Design at Monash University.

This is a very prestigious position and is structured in such a way as to allow Mark to continue his very hands on role at his design consultancy Blue Sky and use his industry knowledge and contacts to contribute to Monash University’s design-based research capability.
The role will allow Mark to follow a long standing passion to become more involved in significant design research programs. It’s also very interesting for Blue Sky and its clients as the relationship that Mark now has with Monash University will foster exchanges of ideas and technologies between both organisations.
A major element of the role is making connections for staff and students with key international design institutions and research partners. The Chair is expected to win competitive research funding leading to significant developments in design and its role in improving the human condition.
The Chair, and the University’s growing international reputation in design research, will increasingly attract the finest staff and high calibre students, particularly PhD candidates. Above all, the Eva and Marc Besen International Research Chair in Design will help develop the reputation of the Faculty of Art Design & Architecture as an international leader of studio based design research and teaching.

http://www.blueskydesigngroup.com.au

Ryan Fonceca - RMIT Graduate Employment

Ryan Fonceca began his professional career today as an automotive designer joining the advanced design studio at GM Holden. Congratulations Ryan.

The communications course at RMIT industrial design has responded to industry expectations of graduate attributes with the establishment of the Wacom Lab and a greater emphasis on sketching and visualisation skills which greatly assisted Ryan during the selection process for the position at Holden. Lecturer Bernie Walsh provides students interested in a career in automotive design with expert tuition in the practice of vehicle design and most importantly encourages creativity. Bernie is an alumnus of the industrial design program at RMIT University and began his career like Ryan at the GM Holden studios in Fisherman's Bend.

RMIT University industrial design graduate Ryan Fonceca begins his career with a position in the advanced design studio at GM Holden.

RMIT lecturer Bernie Walsh provides expert advice and feedback to Ryan during his studies at RMIT industrial design. Ryan is one of many automotive designers who Bernie has mentored over the years.

GM Holden Head of Design Tony Stolfo examines Ryan's final year project at the RMIT industrial design graduate exhibition with Communications Coordinator Ian Wong. Ryan was a GM Holden CO-OP student spending one entire year at GM during his studies at RMIT University. 

Ryan's final year single person transport transport project supervised by Bernie Walsh and Ian Wong was supported by industry partners Delineate and Autodesk.

RMIT industrial design graduate Ryan Fonceca's single person transport vehicle concept.

A design life 17-71 - Ian Edgar retrospective

Ian Edgar's first job started on Monday March 3rd 1958 following his 17th birthday on the previous Friday February 28th. This week Ian celebrated his 71st birthday and continues to practice as an industrial designer.

Ian's career as an industrial designer is celebrated in an exhibition 'A design life 17-71' now open at the Design Gallery of the Design Institute of Australia.

The exhibition is a work in progress evolving over two weeks in the space and will have a formal opening event on Thursday March 22nd.

Industrial designer Ian Edgar on the drawing board at Philips in Melbourne.

Ian Edgar with staff at Philips Centre for industrial design; Don Robinson, Ian Edgar, Graham Duell, Mark Armstrong, John Hadley, and Ross Whitehead.

Ian Edgar with Federal Science and Technology Minister Barry Jones.

DIA - 2012 Planning

The members of the Victorian Branch council met recently for a planning session for events for 2012.

Design Institute of Australia Victorian Branch Council team; Clare Beale, Daniel della Riva, Paul Charlwood, Valerie Mack, Ian Wong, Dominic Russo, Caroline Ceneva, and President James Harper during 2012 planning session.

 www.dia.org.au

Deanne Koelmeyer - Unitec New Zealand

Congratulations to my colleague at RMIT industrial design Deanne Koelmeyer for her appointment as a Head of the Department of Design and Visual Arts at Unitec Institute of Technology in New Zealand.

Deanne is an alumnus of RMIT industrial design and was one of my students during the early part of my career with Ted Kayser, Peter Carr, Des Harris, David Lugton, Lorraine Furzer, and Harold Medd as course coordinator. Deanne worked with the Centre for Design, completed a Masters and was Program Director of the industrial design program from 1999 to 2004.

RMIT University farewells alumnus Deanne Koelmeyer pictured with Ian Wong.