SPARK 12 Spring08 Web

8/8/2019 SPARK 12 Spring08 Web

1/12

Leigh Ryan, Monash University graduate, and recent winner othe Industrial Design category o the 2008 DIA Student DesignAwards, has achieved what many design students might think isimpossible. Leigh landed his dream job in London straight atergraduation with one o the worlds highest prole design andmanuacturing companies, Dyson - maker o radically styled, highperormance vacuum cleaners.

Getting noticed

Leighs award-winning entry in the 2008 DIA Student DesignAwards, Ravi, brought him to the attention o the judges and theindustry, and won him a prize o a Wacom Tablet and SketchbookPro rom award sponsor Envizage.

In addition to highlighting Leighs obvious design talent, his awardwin conrmed that his think big approach and determination tosucceed were crucial in getting him noticed by those that matterin the proession.

I had two goals in mind when developing my Ravi design, andentering the DIA Student Design Awards, said Leigh.

Firstly, I wanted to design something with real substance andmeaning behind it. My other ocus was to showcase my skills asa designer in just one piece o work - a kind o culmination oeverything that I am and everything I can do as a designer.

Aiming high

I set my targets pretty high as I wanted to make a workingprototype which rmly put me out o my comort zone, but I knewit was the perect bridging step between tertiary projects and thereal world.

Leigh wanted his Ravi design to showcase a way to power smallelectronics goods in a sustainable, cost eective manner. >

The Voice of Professional Design

www.design.org.au

k

S

i

2

Manifesting the dream

01

2008 DIA Student Design Award

winner cleans up in UK.


2/12www.design.org.au

:to kindle,excite oranimate

Spring_2008

The DIA started, like most professionalorganisations, as a small group of peoplewith a common interest in the support andpromotion of their speciality. In 1947 designas a professional specialisation was relativelynew and the number of practitioners wassmall. A hands-on, personal organisationmanaged and run by designers wasappropriate to the time.

For 40 years until 2007 the DIA used theassociation management services of the

Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerceand Industry (VECCI) to ensure the day today running of the professional body. In itsearly years, and even up to the mid 1980s,it was quite feasible and necessary forthe volunteer directors of the DIA and theNational President to involve themselves inhands-on management and promotion ofthe organisation. But since then there hasbeen significant change.

Computerisation brought about both achange in pace of business and heightenedexpectations of business performance andpresentation. Social and economic changesprogressively affected the time that peoplehad for volunteer activities. Communication

changes (including the internet) broughtabout overwhelming changes in businessmodels and competition.

In the last 30 years design has maturedas a professional occupation and is firmlyunderpinned by a sizeable tertiary educationsystem. The number of practitioners in thecommunity is now substantial and stillgrowing strongly. The work of the DIA is bothgreater and considerably more complex.

My time as president has been spentpreparing the DIA for this new businessenvironment, culminating in theestablishment of an independent officewith increased and dedicated staffing. Theintent is to relieve State Branch appointedDirectors and the National President fromthe majority of national administrative andmarketing concerns and leave them free toconcentrate on issues of importance to theprofession.

Joanne Cys brings a strong interest inprofessional issues to the presidency thatwill serve the direction and developmentof the DIA well. Ive been honoured to betrusted with the stewardship of the DIA forthe last eight years, and I trust I l eave thevoice of professional design in Australia in astronger position than when I started.

David Robertson LFDIA Accredited Designer

DIA National President

The power required to use these products is quite minimal,explained Leigh. But when you take into considerationhow many users there are globally o these type o things(mobile phones, iPods, etc), the gures are monstrous.

Initially I looked a lot into kinetic-powered products, but toencourage a sustainable liestyle, I wanted to make it as non-invasive as possible, hence I ended up opting or solar power.

When the time came to actually put pen to paper, I had areally strong oundation to work rom, and as the projectwent on, this initial blueprint proved invaluable.

Emotional connection

According to Leigh, he wanted Ravi to make the

reduction o greenhouse emissions seem achievable orthe everyday person, by developing a product that the usercould connect with.

The technology in Ravi is nothing new, said Leigh. Youcould achieve the same result with a square solar panel ona stick, but the beauty o Ravi is that it is a product youwant to engage with.

It has an emotional connection with the user, even purelyas a concept.

Leigh said that an emphasis on getting the messageacross quickly and clearly is the best advice he could giveto achieving success in competitions like the DIA StudentDesign Awards.

The submission requirements are or only two panels,so to sum up eight months o detailed work in a quicksnapshot is pretty challenging! he said.

I know that my entire project was ar more impressivethan what was allowed to be submitted, so I eel veryortunate that I was able to impress the judges with thesmall amount o inormation they and I had to work with.

Thinking ahead

But while Leighs win in the DIA Student Design Awardsundoubtedly boosted his condence and real worlddesign skills, he was already developing the qualitiesnecessary to achieve success as a designer rom quite earlyin his studies.

I was riends with a lot o guys that graduated in 2006,explained Leigh, and I learnt a lot rom seeing how theywent about getting jobs once they graduated.

Apart rom the guys that were in the automotive streamand were pretty set in their desired career paths, mosto the other graduates were let on the wayside with no

direction or anything to go or.

The most talented o them all (in my opinion), was one othe very last to get a job.

Thats when I decided that I absolutely needed a rm goalto work towards i I wanted to get a decent design job.

Clear goal setting

So I thought, I I could have any job in the world, whatwould it be?

My answer was Dyson, as Ive always been a an not onlyo their design and innovation, but more importantly theirphilosophy and how they value innovation.

Beore Id even decided on what my nal year projectwould be, I knew whatever I did I wanted to make aworking prototype, as I elt it was a necessary step to

bridge between my current skill set and where I wantedto be in the proessional world and because I thought itwould impress Dyson!

Luckily or me, it did!

Armed with his Ravi design and prototype, Leighcontacted Dyson in middle 2007, and explained who hewas, what he did, and why he wanted to work or them.

To his surprise and delight, Dyson contacted Leigh a ewweeks later and asked him to send them more examples ohis work.

Impressive results

I put together a small olio o ve to six pieces and postedit to them, recalled Leigh. In early August they phonedme rom London, and I had an interview with two Dysondesign managers or an hour and a hal.

The interview was pretty intense, and they even threwin trick questions to see how I thought on the spot, like:Why is a manhole round?.

At the end o the interview they said I had done reallywell, and to contact them in November with my resultswhen I graduated, so they could make me an oer!

I was pretty blown away by this stage, but still tried tokeep a level head about it as I didnt have the job just yet.

As Dyson was the only job Leigh had applied or so ar, hedecided to prepare just in case it ell through, and beganto setup a website or his olio.

Who dares, wins

The week I nished Uni I contacted Dyson with my results,he said. I thought it would be quite a drawn-out process,with another couple o interviews at least, but they repliedalmost immediately, oering me a job as a Graduate DesignEngineer, and wanting me to start in January!

I couldnt believe my rst job out o Uni was my dreamjob, and that I got it rom only one phone interview!

I think it was absolutely vital to my success in having aclear plan and goal to work towards - and I never did getthe time to nish my website portolio.

So whats lie like or a new Graduate Design Engineer

at Dyson?Leigh says that a typical week at Dyson is incredibly varied.

Steep learning curve

Thats one o the things I like best about my job, he saysenthusiastically. I could be doing anything rom buildingrigs and prototypes in the workshop, to delving deep intocost calculations on Excel, concept brainstorming sessions,detailed design on CAD, testing on the user course, or cardmodeling. Sometimes all in the same day!

The culture at Dyson and in Research Design andDevelopment (RDD) specically is very competitive, but in areally good way.

Everyone really pushes each other to develop things better,and always questions why something is done a certain wayand how it could be done better.

Everyone is very open to what others are working on, andwhen developing rigs and prototypes, people will alwaysstop to have a play and really take the time to understandwhat you are doing and bounce o ideas and advice.

03

02


3/12

spark_Spring2008

3

www.design.org.au

For many years I have saidpublicly that it is not appropriateor a design academic to take therole o DIA National President.

As the DIA is the organisation thatrepresents designers, the presidentshould ideally be a practitioner.

Obviously I have changed mymind, and it might be useul orme to explain the reason or this.

Hard act to follow

David Robertson was DIA President or eight years romNovember 2000 to November 2008.

During this time he consolidated and strategised allaspects o DIA operations - big shoes to ll!

As each year o his presidency went by, the shoes gotbigger. There was a distinct eeling within National Councilthat Davids enormous commitment and successulachievements or the DIA were inimitable.

How could any successor ever hope to measure up?

Who else could possibly dedicate the same amount otime and methodically set and tick-o tasks at such anastonishing rate?

On refection I think it is because this situation arose that Iaccepted the nomination to become President Elect in 2007.

DIA elects new

National PresidentA new approach

I see my contribution not only as DIA National President,but as providing a period o transition within the history othe DIA.

I cant replicate Davids mode o operation, and quiterankly, I dont want to. This will be an important aspect omy term as president.

I am hopeul that my presidency will allow other DIAmembers to see that all sorts o designers can eectivelytake on the role - even interior designers who have turnedtheir careers to academia.

I am particularly hopeul that when my term ends in 2010,there will be one or more prominent DIA members ready totake over.

Looking outwards

But enough o my desires.

What are the aspirations and priorities or the DIA that canbe addressed over the next two years?

Beore I continue, it is necessary to acknowledge that itis only because my predecessors term concluded withthe DIA in such a strong position that uture strategicdirections can be considered.

It will benet all designers and Australias design sectorgenerally i the DIA exercised its voice beyond its ownmembership.

We need to make a concerted eort to speak out regularlyin public and government orums locally, nationally andinternationally, not only on issues o design, but also onareas that design expertise can contribute to.

International engagement

An increased, coordinated and deliberate DIA presence ininternational orums will be a strategic move and wouldestablish the Australian design sector as being engagedand relevant nationally and internationally.

Another initiative that Australian design can only benetrom is collaboration between the various proessionalbodies that represent designers. I use the term designersbroadly here to include architects.

The time or the DIA to talk to the AIA is long overdue,as is the time or the DIA to recommence conversationswith AGDA.

Coming rom a state that has one o the smallestdesign sectors, I am a committed champion o designcollaboration both in practice and proessional advocacy.I have witnessed the results that cooperation and commonpurpose can achieve when proessional organisationswork together.

Expanding membership base

Finally, the DIA should begin to champion and serviceemployed designers - the oten unseen and unacknowledgedpractitioners who work or others - within manuacturingcompanies, government departments, architectural practicesand other organisations.

The DIAs strategy here is to provide services and benetsor both design employees and o course its traditional

jurisdiction o design employers.

Thats our things in two years.

David Robertsons presidency achieved hundreds othings in eight years. Someone else should be able togive it a go! SPARK

Inspirational workplace

I work in Malmesbury, a quiet country town in South WestEngland, approximately two hours drive orm London.

Dyson has over one thousand employees working on-site, and where I work in RDD there are over our hundredpeople in my department alone.

Working at Dyson is an amazing, inspiring place to be andIm learning every single day. Im on a team o nine people,and we are working on what will be part o the 2010range o DYSON cleaners.

Leighs girlriend has moved to the UK with him, and theyhave a loose plan o maybe returning to Australia in three

to ve years, depending on how things go.

Tips for success

For other students and aspiring designers who would like toemulate Leighs stellar career path thus ar, Leigh believes itis critical to set denite goals and believe in yoursel.

You must plan and set goals, even i they seem ridiculouslyhigh, and believe in yoursel and your ideas, said Leigh.

Too many times at Uni, I would see people change theirconcept or idea just to please a lecturer.

By all means take their advice and criticism - thats whatthey are there or - but people can become lost in whatthey are doing when trying to please others all the time,and lose sight o the bigger picture.

Staying focused

I cant stress enough the importance o thorough planningand working towards a goal.

It proved invaluable or me. As cheesy as it sounds, whenI knew I wanted to work towards getting a job at Dyson, Iprinted a picture o a Dyson DC11 and stuck it on my wallso that every day I would look at it and think, SomedayIm going to design one o those!

And here I am! SPARK

01-03_Ravi, a portable solar generator or small electronic appliances.

04_Leigh Ryan and his award-winning Ravi prototype.

05_The Ravi is ideal or recharging devices like iPods.

04

05


4/12

k

www.design.org.au

Luxury venue

Previous workshops have been held in classrooms andlecture halls at UTS and at Ultimo TAFE, but this yearworkshop participants enjoyed the hospitality and luxurious

surroundings o a urniture showroom kindly madeavailable by Corporate Culture.

Speakers included Leanne Crots, a textile designerworking or Morris Yarns, and a past GOTYA winner; ScottRosen, an industrial designer rom Ideal Industrial; PetrinaKernchen, an interior designer working at Geyer; andSerhat Ferat, a graphic designer rom Frost Design, andpast GOTYA winner.

Each speaker oered a unique view on portolio preparationand the job search and interview process, using their ownportolios, plus tips and practical experiences that had gotthem all design jobs within the last ve years.

Every year the NSW DIA student council (DIAS) runsa portolio design workshop - their biggest and bestattended event o the year.

Real world advice

Designed to help students prepare the best possibleportolios, with advice rom real DIA designers andemployers, the workshop has gone rom strength tostrength - and will now be a permanent inclusion in theSydney Design Festival calendar.

Linda Gehard, ormer DIAS Coordinator, and driving orcebehind the portolio workshop, said that this years eventrefected the quality and standards appropriate to its newparticipation in the Sydney Design Festival.

Outstanding event

Councillors went above and beyond previous eorts toput on a top notch event, enthused Linda.

Ideas and concepts were taken rom sources such as tradeshows and industry conerences, with sixty-six attendees

joining us or an aternoon o serious discussion about

portolios and the interview process.

There was a antastic energy about the day, withaudience members ully engaged in the process and keento participate in discussions with presenters and ellowattendees, explained Linda.

Interaction between audience members and speakerswas easy and inormal, with questions reely asked anddiscussed as much as time constraints would allow.

I enjoy being associated with the DIA as I amcontinually in the loop with information onindustry events.

The emails that come through are an easy way forme to keep up with the latest information withouthaving to chase it.

Even though I am a one-person operation, thereare others out there just like me in the sameindustry, who I meet at different events.

Tania WrightDIA Graduate member

Interior Decorator and Designer

Green Room Interiors, Melbourne

Why Im in the DIA

The Voice of Professional Design

www.design.org.au

Personal feedback

An aternoon session then provided individual eedbackrom senior designers or students brave enough to bringin their own portolios or comment!

This was a highly successul part o the event, said Linda.

Three interior designers, one industrial, one urniture andthree graphic designers each spent a ull hour and a halspeaking to students about their portolios.

This is a major contribution to the success o this event,and DIAS and our student audience greatly appreciated theparticipation o senior designers who come along to help out.

A lasting impression

Students received showbags containing design magazines,specially printed t-shirts, product samples, and a bookletcontaining leading DIA designers survey responses on thetopic o portolios, job hunting and the interview process.

Feedback rom the audience was almost universallypositive, and I think we can say that the day was aresounding success.

What will you be doing next year?

DIAS grateully thanks Corporate Culture, and the ollowing

individuals:

Portfolio reviewers:

Louise Pratt, interior designer, geyerGreg Pierce, interior designer, geyer

Toni Ford, interior designer

Louise Eastwood, graphic designerMike Hart, graphic designer, Landor

John Johnston, reelance art director, interactive design

Oliver Kratzer, industrial designerGeo Fitzpatrick, urniture designer, DIA National Strategy Director

DIAS Councillors:

Alice Haworth, Workshop Organiser

Linda Gehard, ormer DIAS CoordinatorToni Ford, DIAS CoordinatorJessica Leckie, Forums Organiser

Anastasia Bickley, PR CoordinatorPhilippa Wilkinson

David DenneLouise Eastwood

Oliver Kratzer

Geo Fitzpatrick

Student Portfolio Design WorkshopStanding out from the crowd

01_Students listen attentively to industrial designer Scott Rosen.

02_Petrina Kernchen rom Geyer discusses portolios.

03_Textile designer Leanne Crot spins a yarn.

04_Interior designer Greg Pierce evaluates portolio contents.

05_Jessica Leckie and Alice Haworth - DIAS Councillors.

06_Toni Ford displays T-shirts kindly printed by Signature Prints.

01

02

0403

05 06


5/12

spark_Spring2008

5

www.design.org.au

Architects build foundations onsocial responsibilityWell known Brisbane-based architectural practice, Thomson Adsett Architects,

has a reputation for its work on social and community projects.

Founded thirty-seven years ago partly on that premise, thepractice has continued its social ocus, oten serving clientson modest budgets to make their dreams come true.

Making a difference

Practice co-ounders Ian Thomson and Rob Adsettworked as architects by night and as volunteers by dayor charity Teen Challenge, helping to give troubledyoung people a second chance at lie.

Matthew Hutchinson, the principal who heads the Socialand Community discipline within Thomson Adsett,has developed a passion or ser ving clients who mightotherwise ind themselves lost in the cut and thrust othe commercial jungle.

A passion for design

When Matthew was handed a brie rom BrisbaneCity Church, he knew the client wanted to create acontemporary, welcoming, and relevant inner-city church.

The rectilinear orm o the existing building providedexcellent bones or a contemporary civic exterior,said Matthew.

The result is an 1100-seat auditorium, new youth areas,ample parking, and an outer appearance that refects thelively and welcoming nature o the Churchs community.

Continuing commitment

Current projects underway or recently completed romThomson Adsetts Social and Community discipline includea rehabilitation acility or Teen Challenge, and a specialpalliative care hospice at Townsville or Cancer CouncilQueensland with research, administration andeducation acilities.

In addition, Thomson Adsett has partnered with BrisbaneState High School to upgrade their technical classes with adonation o $10,000 towards Autodesk Revit sotware.

Continuing, inspirational design work has also resulted inThomson Adsett being the only architectural rm to makethe nals o this years Telstra Business Awards, winningthe Social Responsibility award category. SPARK

Thomson Adsetts design or the Brisbane City Church, eaturing:

01_reception02_caeteria

03_entrance (detail)

04_main exterior view.

01

02

03

04


6/12

k

www.design.org.au

Living the high life

Taking out the top prize - the Laminex Award orDesign Excellence - was Brooking Design Practice withtheir contemporary transormation o a West EndFremantle lot.

The coveted award has a prize o a $5,000 travellingscholarship, and was judged by a panel o designproessionals.

Fiona Murphy, Event Manager or the WA DesignAwards, said that the judges were impressed withBrooking Designs clean juxtaposition between theoriginal structure and the insertion o new contemporaryinternal spaces.

Multiple awards

This brought Brooking Design Practices award tally toour or the evening, said Fiona.

They also received an Award o Merit or theirdramatic tout at Lives Headquarters in Subiaco,and a Commendation or their Bohemian-inspired MadMonk Brewery.

Other deserving Award o Merit winners includedMarshall Kusinski Design Consultants or their decadentChampagne Lounge interior, and Luminosity or theirvisually rich BaoBag brand identity.

Rewarding excellence

Now in its sixth year, the awards program is an initiativeo the Western Australian Chapter o the DIA, and is theStates only multi-disciplinary design program promotingand recognising excellence and innovation in design.

All entrants in the awards had their work publiclyacknowledged during a week-long exhibition in the QV1Foyer at St Georges Terrace, Perth.

Congratulations to all award winners as ollows:

Laminex Award for Design Excellence

Brooking Design Practice, West End Fremantle Lot

Interior Spaces

ResidentialAward o Merit - Brooking Design Practice, West-End

Fremantle Lot

Hospitality & RetailAward o Merit - Marshall Kusinski Design Consultants,

Champagne LoungeCommendation - Brooking Design, Mad Monk BreweryCommendation - Roxby Architects, Mount Hospital PharmacyStudent Award o Encouragement - Baille Liddle o Edith

Cowan University, Future Eden by Sony

CorporateAward o Merit - Brooking Design, Live HeadquartersCommendation - Habitat 1, Horizon Power

Commendation - Woodhead, Perth International AirportOce Fitout

PublicCommendation - Woodhead, Edith Cowan University

Lecture Theatre

Product Design

Industrial designCommendation - David Smith Studio, Webb & Brown

Neaves Signage

Furniture DesignStudent Award o Encouragement - Jessica Dodd o Edith

Cowan University, The Guggy ChairStudent Award o Encouragement - Nathan Port o Curtin

University, Fossil Furniture

Visual Communication

Corporate IdentityAward o Merit - Luminosity, BaoBag Brand Identity

Digital MediaCommendation - 3D Millipede, St Marys Cathedral SPARK

01_Mount Hospital Pharmacy by Roxby Architects.

02_West-End Fremantle Lot by Brooking Design Practice.

03_Team at Brooking Design Practice.

04_Live Headquarters by Brooking Design Practice.

05_Champagne Lounge by Marshall Kusinski Design Consultants.

06_Horizon Power by Habitat 1.

07_Edith Cowan University Lecture Theatre by Woodhead.

08_BaoBag Brand Identity by Luminosity.

WA Design Awards 2008Western Australias leading design practitioners and aspiring

design students have been recognised with fifteen awards at

a spectacular DIA WA Design Awards held on Friday

September 5, 2008.

0301

04 05

07


7/12

spark_Spring2008

7

www.design.org.au

Putting a Buzz into

Ella BachBuzz creative products agency, a Melbourne-based DIA

Practice Member, has won a Cosmetic and Health Care award

in the 2008 Australian Packaging Awards.

The agency won the award or its design work on a strikingChristmas pod case or Ella Bach skincare products, whichhighlights the eel and colours o the Australian summer andbeach culture.

Appealing freshness

Doug Buckle, Buzz Creative Director, said that the award-winning pod was designed to reinorce the youthulreshness o the Ella Bach brand.

We wanted to present the skincare range in a way that notonly attracted attention, but gave the consumer a reusablegit, explained Doug.

The pod is simple, elegant, and appealing to the Ella Bachtarget market.

It has a great tactile eel, with the neoprene look andsurace nish warm and welcoming to the touch.

The go anywhere eel o the pod makes it ideal or thebeach or bathroom, and the use o a transparent vac trayinside the pod appears to suspend the skincare products inmid air, adding to the overall lightness and appeal.

Memorable design

With a creative team including graphic designers, 3Dmodellers, copywriters and content developers, Buzz usesinnovative design as a key component in developing targeted,memorable, custom-built products or its wide-rangingclient base.

Its knowledge and interest in maximising sustainable packagingdesign and manuacture was also incorporated into the EllaBach pod.

In addition to being a brand reminder, the pod also servesas a permanent git, with the lie o the otherwise disposablepackaging signicantly extended, said Doug.

Congratulations to Buzz or its success in the awards. SPARK

01_02_Ella Bach delivers skincare products

with a beach culture eel in a pod casedesigned by Buzz creative products agency.

01

02

02

06

08


8/12

k

www.design.org.au

Vic DIA holds Top 8x8On 23rd July, the Victorian branch of the DIA held its Top

8x8 event as part of the Victorian State of Design Festival.

The Top 8x8 was the third in the DIAs highly popular andinspirational Top 10x10 series, and was held at the Thonetshowroom in Fitzroy, attracting an audience o some250 practising designers and those associated with thecommercial interior design industry.

Attendees o particular note included Paul Hecker o Hecker,Phelan and Guthrie, Michael Bialek o SJB, and StevenCornwell o Cornwell Design.

The organiser and MC o the event was James Harper,who coordinates the DIAs Victorian Commercial InteriorPractice Group.

Each o the eight speakers listed below was asked to presentthe top eight Infuences or inspirations in their proessionalcareer, using words, images, music and video.

Ryan Russell was the winner o the Best Emerging Practicein the 2007 Interior Design Awards. His store design orashion retailer Let won several awards and he works acrossthe elds o Architecture, Graphic, Interior, Industrial andSet Design. He presented his eight infuences with simplicityand purity using words alone: light, burn, humans, twists,

corners, anger, grie, silence, and elaborated with wellchosen narrative and insight.

Yeojin Bae, one o Melbournes hottest young ashiondesigners with an international ollowing, took a verypersonal approach to her presentation. She cited theinfuence o her grandparents and parents, as well as hereducation and training in Korea, time working in New Yorkwith Marc Jacobs and others, and more esoteric inspirationrom everyday objects and imagination. The supportingimages were selected with the same meticulous attention todetail as her collections.

Nik Karalis is the Global Design Director o Woods Bagotand one o the most infuential designers working in theindustry. His migration to Australia in the 1960s and theAustralian landscape were his early infuences, ollowed bythe inspiration o working with Sue Carr and realising someo his early projects including the iconic St Andrews BeachHouse. He has continued to be infuenced by architects

including Paul Rudol, Rem Koolhaas and Walter BurleyGrin, along with sculptor Tony Smith, graphic designerSteven Cornwell, and colleague Ross Donaldson.

Caroline Ryan runs Brand Experience company 2Fish,and her work includes the Melbourne Cup Marqueesor Emirates. Her infuences and inspirations includedignorance, resulting in an early project or Tooheys,emotion, as demonstrated by Tadao Andos Church oLight, brands, such as her client Red Bull, the worldaround you, letting go, tomorrow, limitations (andovercoming them) and deadlines.

John Wardle is one o Australias most respected architects,and his work such as the recently completed Nigel PeckCentre at Melbourne Grammar School has been highlyawarded. His entertaining presentation covered a widerange o infuences and inspirations, ranging rom romanticrecollections rom his youth through mentors, iconic cars,international architects, and holidays at his property onBruny Island in Tasmania.

Peter Geyer is the ounder o Geyer Design, and his broadinterests o music, lm, art, sport, ashion and architecturewere mined in his presentation. Under each heading, Petercited several examples that had infuenced his career andpersonality. As well as known design practitioners, Pete rincluded such obscure reerences as Fellinis Roma, artistsJannis Kounellis and Olaur Eliasson, and ashion designerMartin Margiela. His nal inspiration was his wie Sandy Geyer.

Richard Henderson is a graphic designer and principalo R-Co. He works extensively in the corporate sector ora wide range o sporting bodies, hospitality clients, andothers. Richard presented several quotes that have inspiredhis career and touched on some o his more emotional andpersonal infuences. The eight words that summarised hisinfuences were learning, work, precision, people, love,landscape, word and potential.

Robert Owen is one o Australias most respected paintersand sculptors, and has collaborated on major projects withseveral architecture, landscape and development companies.His presentation o infuences and inspiration rom anextraordinary career held the audience spellbound. He touchedon his early training in Sydney in the 1950s, lie on the GreekIsland o Hydra in the 1960s, other artists and art movements,

his amily, and even the infuence o weather patterns.

Top 8x8 was sponsored by Thonet, Woven Image, and R-Co,and presented by the Design Institute o Australia as part othe Victorian State o Design Festival. SPARK

A new view

This is a very dierent concept, and the more cynicalamong us would suggest that it is perhaps an oxymoron.

This is obviously not the case, according to GeoFitzpatrick, DIA Director National Strategy, who attendedthe excellent presentations made by two leading Chinesedesigners during their recent visits to Melbourne.

Patrick Leung, CEO o PAL Design Hong Kong, and CurtisKung, Principal o Aura Design Taipei, Taiwan, were invitedto Melbourne by the DIA to speak at the InternationalSpeakers Forum o the Melbourne International DesignFestival, produced by the National Design Centre in Julythis year, explained Geo.

Innovative approach

Patrick and Curtis presented their signicant portolioso Interior Design and Architectural projects in many othe major cities in China and Taiwan, and the audience

were impressed with the quality and innovation shownin the works.

There was a strong design personality evident in theprojects, and palpable proo o major opportunities inChina or the design proession, he said.

Designed in ChinaWe are all familiar with the term Made in China - perhaps too familiar - but what does the term

Designed in China mean to us?

In addition to the international speakers, a panel oAustralian designers was present on stage to providediscussion and commentary rom their experiences in China.

Mark Healy, Associate Director at Bates Smart Architects,Fiona Winzer, Principal o Winzer Architects, and GregGong, Director o Denton Corker Marshall, providedinsightul comments on their experiences and gave ahelpul context or the works that had been shown.

Exciting opportunities

The presentation provided value to the continuingopportunities presented to Australian designers who have aninterest in engaging the China market, concluded Geo.

Patrick and Curtis have set the bar at a very high level!

Patrick and Curtiss visit was generously sponsored by dmgworld media and the location o the Forum was at BMWEdge, Federation Square. SPARK

01_Part o the captivated audience at Top 8x8.

02_Milena Starikov and Sharon Louey-Sheldrick rom Bates Smart.

03_Peter Geyer and Robert Owen.04_Hayley Sands and Oliv ia Hrouda rom Smith+Tracey.

05_Hayden Martis, Anna Skermer and Alicia Harrison rom

Shareen Joel Design.

02

01

03

0504


9/12

spark_Spring2008

9

www.design.org.au

NSW DIA holds Top 9x9The NSW branch of the DIA launched its Top 10x10 Designer Talk series in 2007, to provide an

opportunity for established and influential designers to share their knowledge and experience

with an audience of practicing designers and those interested in the design industry.

Following the success o Top 1010, this years Top

99 was held as a key event or Sydney Design 08, and

ollowed the theme o nine leading practitioners sharing

a total o eighty-one invaluable insights on what makes

them tick.

The brie to the presenters was nine slides illustrating nine

insights, experiences, or inspirations in nine minutes - not

an easy task!

Louise Eastwood, DIA NSW Vice President and Graphics

Councillor, did the lions share o organising the Top 9x9

and was instrumental in its success, ably assisted by Clive

Solari and others.

The Top 9x9 presenters were as ollows:

Andrew Parr is considered one o Australias oremost

interior designers. Since ounding SJB Interiors in 1994,

Andrews excellence in design has continued with a range

o prestige projects. The Establishment, St Margarets,

MG Garage and the recently completed New Acton Hotelin Canberra are some recognised examples o his work.

He has been highly awarded and widely published, and

is a gure widely recognised on the international scene.

2007 saw him elevated to Fellow o the Design Institute

o Australia. He has kept SJB at the oreront o interior

design in Australia.

Cyrus Allen is the Director o Customer Experience at

Telstra Corporation. His role includes management o

Telstras user-centered design activities and operational

management o the new Telstra Experience Centre. Prior

to joining Telstra in 2004, Cyrus contributed strongly

to the emerging mobile content industry as Director

Global Content Alliances or Sony Ericsson Mobile

Communications. He also held the 2002 Chair position

or the Sony EuroTop Executives team. Beore joining

the Sony Ericsson Joint Venture, Cyrus held various roles

at the local and global levels within Ericsson MobileCommunications.

Jason Little is Creative Director at Landor Associates,

and with over a decade o industry experience,

Jason has a wealth o knowledge and expertise in

leading global branding programmes in a number o

market sectors, including proessional services and media

communications. Most recently Jason has led branding

programmes or News Limited, Telstra and The National

Heart Foundation. A requent speaker and writer on

branding, he has been awarded locally and internationally

or his work.

Jodie Fried is the Founder and Designer o Bholu.

Bholus homeware products are designed in Australia and

are brought to lie by the hands o women artisans in India.

The philosophy behind Bholu is about creating beautiul

contemporary products, and through the work the Indian

women gain independence and opportunity. Bholu is a Fair

Trade and Climate Neutral Company, with part proceeds

unding education acilities and other programmes or

underprivileged children.

Michelle Tarlinton is a retail and commercial interior

designer at Geyer with ten years experience. She has

worked in both the Melbourne and Sydney Geyer studios,

is a Geyer Associate, and a member o the senior design

leadership team. Her key projects include Babcock &

Brown, Country Road, and Industrial & Commercial Bank

o China. Michelles design inspiration is drawn through

a wide range o sources including the environment, the

arts and travel. She likes to nurture her creative side by

throwing paint around on a canvas.

Clive Solari graduated rom DeMontort University in

the UK in 1979. Ater working or a number o leading

design consultancies, he started Design Matters in 1985.

Clive was part o the team that designed the new Polaroid

600 camera, which has reached sales o 35 million units

worldwide, and is still on sale today. In 1999 Clive came

to Sydney to become partner and director o D3 Design,

reorming a partnership with David Francis whom he rst

met at Ogle Design in the UK, where they redesigned the

London Bus in the early 1980s. Clive is also a Director and

Fellow o the Design Institute o Australia.

Peter Campbell is a principal o CampbellBarnett Design

Partners. He is an architectural graduate equally at home

in the worlds o branding, inormation architecture, and

arts-related conceptual thinking. A proessional career

spanning orty years has taken him many places artistically

and creatively, as he has ollowed diverse paths as a graphic

designer, photographer, musician and architectural glass

artist. He is also a ventriloquist and magician.

01_(back row) Cyrus Allen, Jason Little, Robert Foster, Clive Solari,

Jodie Fried, (ront row) Richard Hoare, Peter Campbell, Michelle

Tarlinton, Andrew Parr

02_Michelle Tarlinton (Geyer).

03_ Elisa Dallwitz (The Artery), Hayley Retsas (The Artery), AleshaGlennon (The Artery) and Tim Schaasma (Steinho).

04_Pablo Chappell rom Breville (let) and Cyrus Allen rom Telstra

05_9x9 crowd.

Chances are Richard Hoare is responsible or at least

one o the small appliances in your home. With twenty

years experience, Richard has overseen the design o over

two hundred and sixty household appliances sold in over

twenty-ve countries. Richard is Director o Design and

Innovation or Breville (Housewares International) where he

is responsible or Breville Design globally. He was previously

Director o Design at Sunbeam. Under Richards guidance,

his teams have won over ty international design awards.

Robert Foster trained in traditional silversmithing at the

Canberra School o Art. His cratsmanship is deeply rooted

in a highly developed sense o aesthetics and technicalprociency. Robert works predominantly in hollowware,

sculptural lighting and urniture, and his work is held by

major institutions in Australia including the Australian

National Gallery and Parliament House in Canberra. He

also has pieces in the Albert Museum in London and the

Museum ur Kunst and Gewerbe in Germany. Robert

designed the iconic F!NK Water Jug, and his company

F!NK+Co. sells its range o more than twenty-our products

world-wide.

Top 9x9 was sponsored by Arredorama, Designer Rugs,

and The Artery, and presented by the Design Institute o

Australia as part o Sydney Design 08.

Congratulations to all DIA members, sponsors and

attendees. SPARK

02

05

03

04

01


10/12

k

0

www.design.org.au

Queensland DIA makes a splashQueensland designers achieved record entry numbers in this years qdos (Queensland designers

on show), with finalists enjoying a months exposure in the prestigious Gallery of Modern Art.

The exhibition showcased a cross section o work rom thebest Queensland designers recognised as nalists in the2008 awards program, and included multimedia and three

dimensional displays o this years nalists, and Smar t StateDesigner o the Year nalists.

High fashion

The last two weeks o the exhibition also proled the eightashion design pieces showcased in this years winnersunction at the Schonell Theatre.

The night included perormances by Vulcana WomensCircus, the Egoli Fashion Parade, presentation o the Goldand Silver awards, live Jazz and decadent ood served up toa 1930s Shanghai theme!

Three design excellence awards were given at qdos.

The Queensland Art Gallery received two awards, one inVisual Communication Design or an exhibition catalogueon Katharina Grosse: Picture Park, and the other in thecategory o Interior Design or Andy Warhol at the Gallery

o Modern Art.

Innity Design Development received an award in thecategory o Three Dimensional Design or its work onMojo RTK.

Bubble and speak

Queensland DIA also hosted the ever-popular Bubble andSpeak Breakast Series held at the stylish Emporium Hotel.

A unique chance to enjoy a delicious breakast while beinginspired and inormed, Bubble and Speak speakers includedKirsti Simpson, director o HASSELL, who related her recent

journey to visit a variety o works by key exhibitors at the2008 Milan Furniture Fair, in a talk entitled The Good, TheBad and The Ugly.

Debaser Music Industry Creative presented a stimulatingvisual retrospect o projects such as album covers or Paul

Kelly and Powdernger.

Architect and artist Paul Fairweather shared his inspirationsrom his recent involvement with TED, and Kevin Finno Finn Creative, who lives in Kununurra WA , provedthat with the right technology you can work romanywhere! SPARK

01_02_qdos exhibition 2008.

03_Kirsti Tenni, Cara Wrigley and David Shaw FDIA.

04_05_qdos gala.

06_QLD Govt Minister or Arts, Rod Welod, presents Rob

Geddes with the Smart State Designer o the Year Award 2008.

07_Cameron Burgess, Nicole Cox (MDIA) and Jacob Vagg

08_Finalists o the Smart State Designer o the Year, Rob Geddes,Revy Bryce Browning and Ari Athens with Dianne Smith, John

Staord and Natalie Wright.

0807

06

03

02

01

05

04


11/12

spark_Spring2008

11

www.design.org.au

Protecting your IPThe importance of safeguarding intellectual property (IP)

via contracts with individual employees, suppliers and bid

partners is vital.

Peter Gandolo, DIA LegalAdvisor and Managing Partner

at Melbourne law rm, PartnersLegal, said that ailure to putin place simple protectivemeasures could costdesigners dearly.

A continuing problem

As an example, lets consider a relatively common scenario,said Peter.

Stellar Designs is a leading Melbourne architecture andinterior design rm and, has ormed a consortium to bid orthe multi-million dollar t-out o a brand new commercialoce block.

The Stellar-led consortium, which includes IT rm, UniversalIT Solutions, and an Italian abrics company, employs keyarchitect, Rory Wilson, who has a close relationship with

the client.

While working on the pitch, Rory has invented a special cup-holder system, CleverCup, devised to prevent unnecessarycoee spillage.

Retaining your investment

Stellar has invested a signicant amount in building up arelationship with the Italian abrics company, Tessuto Verdi(green abrics), which has launched a new range o carbon-neutral environmental abrics.

Tessuto Verdi has verbally agreed that the new abrics willbe sold through Stellar exclusively in the Australian marketor a period o ve years, provided Stellar lands theDocklands project.

However Stellars MD, Stella McFarland, and Universals MDdont exactly see eye to eye. Ater one particularly heated

discussion two days beore the tender ocially opens,Universal decides to leave the consortium.

Universal decides to lead its own consortium and teams upwith another interior design rm, Blueprint.

Avoiding disaster

Aware that Stellars Rory Wilson has the key relationshipwith the Docklands client, Universals MD persuades him to

jump ship and join Blueprint.

The newly ormed Universal consortium trounces Stellar andlands the major t-out job.

In addition to this, Rory has also taken his CleverCupinvention him, not to mention three quarters o Stellarsclient base.

Stellar has lost what was an unloseable project, not tomention the majority o its clients.

Stellar is unable to sustain its losses, and goes intoliquidation.

Safeguarding your company

Could this catastrophe have been avoided?

Yes. Had Stellar insisted on contracts with all employees,suppliers and bid partners, much o the disaster would havebeen averted.

An individual employee contract with Rory was particularlyimportant in that his role was client ocused, he had accessto highly condential inormation, and he was also involvedin state o the art design work.

Rorys contract should have required him to:

Respect the condential inormation o the business that isthe data, operating processes and general business know-how, client inormation and client lists.

In the event o his leaving the organisation, the contractshould have clearly stipulated that he could not:

> take client lists with him

> have dealings with Stellar clients or a designatedperiod o time

> divulge other condential inormation about Stellarwithout written consent

> use inormation to injure Stellar

Assign ownership o IP developed while working or Stellarto his employer. This would apply to inventions, trade marks,registered designs, copyright, processes, building manualsand so on.

Behave non-competitively during and ater employment -neither approach nor accept an approach rom any Stellarclient, customer, supplier, contractor or investor or anagreed time.

Restraint on recruiting sta. On his departure his contractshould have stipulated that or a specic period o time aterhis departure he was prohibited rom headhunting Stellar sta.

Enforceable contractsHad Rory been required to sign a contract o this nature, it ishighly unlikely he would have let Stellar in the rst place.

He would be unable to join orces with Universal, he wouldnot been able to have dealings with the Docklands client, hewouldnt have been able to take his highly prized CleverCupinvention with him, and he would not have been able to luresta to work with him at Blueprint.

Had Stellar had individual employee agreements in place, itis highly unlikely Universal would have risked walking awayrom the consortium.

Preventing catastrophe

While individual agreements were particularly importantto saeguarding Stellars business, striking up a teamingagreement with Universal when the companies rst entered

the consortium arrangement would also have helpedprevent Stellars demise.

Under this agreement, Universal would not have able tocircumvent Stellar or disclose any condential inormation toits new consortium partners.

Stellar should also have entered into a licensing arrangementwith Tessuto Verdi - one which clearly stipulated that itsabrics would be exclusive to Stellar.

Had this been the case, S tella McFarland would not havechoked on her cornfakes when she read in Artichoke theday ater her company olded, that the Italian companysabrics were now available in Australia through Blueprint..

Names o companies and individuals in this article are ctitious.

PARTNERS Legal oers legal advice and services in estate planningand management, business succession planning, corporate,

commercial and employment law, and property tr ansactions. SPARK

Georgina Wharton, DIA VIC Student Aairs Councillor,said that the orum was held in conjunction with theMelbourne State o Design Festival and located atBMW Edge.

Professional opinions

The orum provided Victorian design students with therare opportunity to meet ace to ace with renowneddesign proessionals, Georgina explained.

Designers rom Interior Design, Industrial Design,Graphic Design, Furniture Design and Fashion/TextileDesign attended, providing students with practical

eedback on a range o subjects applicable to theirportolios and projects.

Students obtained a unique insight into theirpreerred proession.

Valuable insights

They learned to oster proessional development skills andgained valuable tips on marketing themselves within thedesign industry.

Networking opportunities with students rom otherinstitutions were also available.

According to Georgina, the student orum provedextremely successul.

Popular event

5 Minute Feedback was well received by industry

proessionals and the large audience alike, she said.

Many stayed on ater the ocial nish or moreinormation, and to chat with designers.

Based on the response, we hope to make the orum anannual event, Georgina concluded. SPARK

5 MinuteFeedbackIn similar vein to NSW,

DIA Victoria held a

recent student design

forum called 5 MinuteFeedback.

www.design.org.au


12/12

k

2

The

Voice

ofProfessionalDesign

Industrial Design

Furniture Design

Interior Design

Interior Decoration

Interior Architecture

Exhibition and Display

TV, Film & Theatre Set

Graphic Design

Visual CommunicationWeb Design

Multimedia Design

Digital Environment Design

Digital Animation Design

Digital Game Design

E-commerce Design

Textile Design

Jewellery Design

Fashion Design

Design Management

Design Education

Need more information?

Design Instituteo AustraliaABN 12 004 412 613

National OfceLevel 1, 175 Collins StreetMelbourne VIC 3000Australia

GPO Box 355Melbourne VIC 3001

Phone 1300 888 056Fax 03 9662 4140Web www.design.org.auEmail admin@design org au

ICARUSDESIGN

4449

Spring_2008

SPARK is the NationalNewsletter of the DIA.

2008 DIA

While every eort ismade to ensure thatthe contents and qualityo material containedin SPARK conormsto DIA principles,the DIA accepts noresponsibility whateveror any omissions, errorsor opinions, howeveroccasioned.

Advertise in Spark!_For currentdetails on advertising in Spark please visit theDIA website at www.design.org.au and goto Resources, then Spark, or pd downloadson advertising rates and requirements.

Disclaimer_The DIA reserves the right to edit or reject articles submitted to Spark according toappropriate legal, community and DIA standards, and no correspondence will be entered into.The views expressed in Spark are the views o the author concerned, and do not necessarilyrefect the views o the DIA and its members.

Products, events or services advertised in Spark are not necessarily endorsed by the DIA or its members.

Ideas and contributions to Spark and the Platorm column are welcome rom all DIA membersand DIA students. Submissions or Platorm must be in email ormat, o around 1000 wordsmaximum, and state clearly your ull name and a daytime telephone number or authorshipverication. Platorm contributors names will be published, and anonymous or ctitioussubmissions will not be accepted.

Spark correspondence_Email the DIA Communications Ocer [email protected]

Thanks to the

following people

and/or organisations

for contributions to

the Spark newsletter:

Tess Power

Lorraine Page

Fiona Murphy

Linda Gehard

Leigh Ryan

Joanne Cys

Phillippa Rowland

James Harper

Louise Eastwood

Clive Solari

Georgina Wharton

Geo Fitzpatrick

Alice Blackwood

Anna Magnus

Kate St James

David Robertson

Paul Gosney

Doug Buckle

Peter Gandolo

Merell Browne

Name:Merell Browne, MDIA

Occupation:Interior Designer,Merell Browne Design

Born:NSW

Lives:Melbourne

Likes:Early music, art histor y.

Dislikes:Confrontation, dishonesty.

LastbookthatIread:

The Radetzsky March by Joseph Roth.

CurrentfavouritemusicCD:

Renee Fleming, Sacred Songs.

Mylastsupperwouldbe:

Crayfish with rye bread and butter.

4WDowner?:No

BestdesignIveseenlately:

Phillipe Starcks Ghost Chair

WorstdesignIveseenlately:

The new Arts/Music Centre in Dodds

Street, Melbourne.

Inmysparetime:I spend it with my

husband Marshall.

Ilovedesignbecause:I am passionate

about art. Art is life and life is art.

IfIwasntadesigner:

I would be an archeologist.

Fashion graduate sewsupLondonprizeTalented fashion design student, Solomon Harris-Light, recent

graduate from Raffles College of Design and Commerce in

North Sydney, (which has a DIA education membership), has

collected third place in the prestigious international Hand &

Lock embroidery competition in London.

DIA member makesWomensWhosWholisting

Sydney-based Interior Designer,Kate St James MDIA, has beenlisted in the recently released 2008edition o Crown Contents WhosWho o Australian Women.

Significant contribution

The book is a sister (?!) publicationo the well known 100-year-old

biographical reerence title Whos Who in Australia, andmarks the lives o women who have made a signicant

contribution to Australian lie at a community, state, national,or international level.

Entry into the book cannot be booked or paid or, and eachwomans inclusion is independently considered on its merits.

Busy career

Born in England, Kate St James has led a busy lie ull odesign and journalism, and has built a successul careerwithin Australia as a writer and interior designer.

Currently Managing Editor o Universal Magazines HomeDesign + Living Series, Kate has been a DIA Member ormore than twenty years.

Inspired by example

Kate says her inspiration in lie comes rom other infuential

emale leaders, including the late architect and urnituredesigner, Eileen Gray, and wallpaper designer andbusinesswoman, Florence Broadhurst.

Kates nomination places her in the company o luminariessuch as actress Cate Blanchett, Deputy Prime Minister JuliaGillard, HRH Princess Mary o Denmark, ormer Australiannetball captain Vicki Wilson, and many other extraordinaryAustralian women. SPARK

Over the moon

Solomons award-winning entry was a striking charcoal grey,wool evening dress, eaturing silver metallic thread sewnthrough the sequins nine times over to create a starbursteect fowing down over a highly sculptured peplum.

Solomon, who is currently completing an internship withAkira Isogawa in Surry Hills, said that his winning entry wasinfuenced by medieval armoury and emblems.

The starburst creates a magical eect, like stars glistening.Embroidery is my passion, so I am very excited to have wonthis award, Solomon said.

Fierce competitionSolomon won US$1000, a ree trip to London or theprize giving in early November, entry to the 2008 Hand &Lock embroidery conerence, a commemorative ramedembroidered plaque produced by Hand & Locks cratsmenin central London, plus mentoring and work experience.

Program Director o Fashion at Rafes College, Robert deGiovanni, who mentored Solomon through the completiono the project, said that the talent pool in the internationalcompetition was ercely competitive.

Many o the traditional entrants in Hand & Lock hail romcountries with long and established textile traditions, or romcolleges which ocus more exclusively on embroidery and theapplied arts, explained Robert. This makes Solomons win allthe more resonant and benchmarks our innovative programavourably against the rest o the world. SPARK

Documents

SPARK 12 Spring08 Web