Surya Graf, a founding member of Quench Queensland design collective and Principal of Surya Graf Studio, releases new work from his studio and product development space. After an extensive research and development process, the Graf Studio releases its refined Crease chair. Crease has been developed with more efficient manufacturing techniques and is locally produced from a recycled PET plastic material. The chair is about to be launched in a range of new colour ways and custom print options. You can go see – and try out – the first prototypes off the machine at the Gallery artisan Made Here Now exhibition. Also, as part of Monument magazine ‘Create a Date’ project, Surya Garf Studio was invited to collaborate with Shawn Godwin of Base Architecture to develop a wine rack concept. Using 3D printing processes to test the bracket component of the design, X Rack is now available to view. Quench Queensland design collective, was awarded ‘Best in Show’ at Dwell on Design, one of America’s largest design-focussed trade and exhibition events. For further details on Surya Graf Studio, please contact surya@suryagraf.com Images courtesy of Surya Graf Studio.
Gallery artisan in Brisbane’s Fortitute Valley has transformed its Brunswick Street shopfront window into a functional design studio during its current Made Here Now exhibition. Made Here Now is an exhibition and immersive, behind the scenes design experience. Designers Benjamin Breitenstein, Forrest Gillham and Julian Munro have moved in and are getting down to business, creating a communal workspace and pop-up exhibition, where all of the pieces made – including furniture, product design, lighting, print and textile design – are available for purchase. Breitenstein said, “A major goal of the exhibition is to educate the wider community, not just designers, about the value, diversity and appreciation of design, as well as giving students a view into the world of practicing designers. We invite – in fact we encourage – the general public, students and professionals to come in and engage with design on any level.” Gallery artisan curator Simone Jones said, “At artisan we like to actively seek out and support the next generation of designers. Made Here Now will be firmly positioned at the forefront of the production process, and by breaking down the traditional exhibition format we are also inviting the community to engage with the processes and practitioners behind ...
New resources for you on Design Minds. How students use game design to create and comprehend complex science is revealed by Brian Alspach, General Manager of Gamestar Mechanic. Read the review of ‘Thinking for Education’ toolkit by Ideo (second edition). Download the Gamestar Mechanic Toolkit. Design Minds is an Arts Queensland initiative developed with the State Library and produced by its Asia Pacific Design Library. Design Minds is the online creative learning resources for educators and students across the state. It’s all about inquire, ideate and implement. Prepare to be inspired! Image courtesy of Asia Pacific Design Library.
Queensland designed and manufactured products are taking centre stage and giving Londoners the best seats in town, literally. Solid Stool, designed by Alexander Lotersztain, is amongst the elite products featured in the just–opened, all-designed Monocle Cafe, London. The London cafe is an entrepreneurial offshoot of Monocle, the global culture magazine and website founded by Tyler Brȗlé that explores, trends and builds on all things across international business, culture, design and fashion. Seen as a ‘curated project’ the cafe features unique designs. Solid Stool was designed by Alexander for One/Third. One/Third brings design, craftmanship and quality together in a brand co-created by Alexander with Brett and Rebecca Gray. Alexander is the inaugural Queensland Smart Design Fellow, director of multi–disciplinary studio Derlot, founding member of QUENCH Queensland design collective, award–winning designer, advisor and mentor – a true Queensland design ambassador. Monocle Cafe image by Kate Peters featuring Alexander Lotersztain design. Solid Stool image courtesy of One/Third.
Queensland practice, Cox Rayner Architects, is the unanimous winner of the international competition to design the $290 million National Maritime Museum of China, a significant national Chinese project to be developed in Tianjin, about 100km east of Beijing. Cox Rayner were one of eight selected to compete from an 80-strong group of worldwide architects – including global leaders such as Zaha Hadid (UK), Stephen Holl (USA), Preston Scott Cohen (USA), GMP (Germany) and EMBT (Spain). Over a 6 month long, two-stage competition process, Cox Rayner finally joined 2 other finalists; EMBT (Miralles-Tagliabue) of Spain, and the South China Institute of Technology. Queensland is increasingly being recognised as a leader in design excellence and innovation. The major value and central role of our design-led approach in driving economic, social, cultural and reputational value to the state is keenly brought into focus by this iconic victory; this being the first national public building competition in China ever won by a Queensland architecture practice, and only the second by an Australian practice (the Beijing ‘Water Cube’). The commission will employ at least 20 additional architects in Queensland. It will enable employment of other Queensland consultancies from engineering through to landscape architecture. The design was informed by structural knowledge gained ...
Creative Australia, the federal government’s National Cultural Policy, has now been published. Unveiled by Arts Minister Simon Crean, Creative Australia supports $235 million investment to connect Australia’s creativity to national growth, prosperity and identity. “I’m very proud to release Creative Australia—a national cultural policy for the decade. Creative Australia is about creating excellence, creating jobs, creating prosperity, creating opportunity and creating unique Australian stories—all vital to an outward looking, competitive and confident nation.” From Minister Crean’s introduction to Creative Australia Dr Julianne Schultz, Chair of the Queensland Design Council, chaired Minister Crean’s 22-member National Cultural Policy reference group. The Policy recognises the transformative role of creative, or design, thinking in driving creativity and innovation and supports universal arts education to be introduced in schools across Australia to ‘develop creative thinking in every young Australian regardless of the career pathway they pursue’ and support ‘a new generation of creators and audiences’ . The Policy features Australian Design, heralded by the words of His Excellency Michael Bryce AM AE as the patron of the Australian Design Alliance: “Good design in all of its fields creates economic and competitive outcomes. If Australia is to be counted on in the progressive nations of the world, competing on the world stage, it ...
People are getting addictive about additive manufacturing and a Brisbane-based event is sure to explain why. Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) for direct manufacture is the process where additive or successive processes build complex, finished products, not possible using conventional manufacturing methods. Additive Manufacturing is changing the way Australia does business and introduces completely new ways to design including 3D printing collaborations the like as previewed recently on the catwalks of Paris Fashion Week as part of Iris van Herpen’s Haute Couture show, ‘VOLTAGE’; the work resulting in 3D sculpted fabric and forms. Additive Manufacturing not only reduces waste and lead times but the revolutionary process also removes conventional penalties for feature complexity or low volume production. If you want to know more about the creative application of additive manufacturing then register for the 3D Printing Seminar and Demo at The Edge, State Library Queensland on Wednesday 13 February 2013. The event promises to be “an exciting day of challenging seminars and innovative design of 3D printing from overseas and locally“. It involves a 10am-2pm seminar with an afternoon exhibition program to “find out the realities on how you could start to use it in your business or design practice“. The event also offers the chance to meet local FabLab makers and catch-up on exclusive 3D printing exhibits from Europe and build ...
Some more exciting new content for Design Minds! Adam Jefford, a Queensland/Smithsonian Design Fellow, makes some great points about collaboration, partnering with the community, empowering students to direct their own learning and also encouraging other teachers to join a dialogue in developing Design Minds. Design Minds is the online design education and creative learning resources for Queensland educators and students developed with content from the Queensland Government/Smithsonian Institution, New York, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum Fellowship. Design Minds is an initiative of Arts Queensland in partnership with the State Library of Queensland, endorsed by QUEENSLANDERSIGN™. Image courtesy of State Library Queensland
Great news to report that Queensland Design Council member Yassmin Abdel-Magied has been announced as a 2013 Australia Day Ambassador. The Australia Day Ambassador Program is an initiative that selects high achieving Australians – our sporting heroes, entrepreneurs, scientists, business leaders and experts – to join local Australia Day celebrations in local towns and cities and regional areas across the nation. Established in 1990, and in its ninth year in Queensland, Australia Day Ambassadors dedicate their time and commitment to inspire pride and celebration in hundreds of local Australia Day events. This recognition follows Yassmin’s award as Australia’s 2012 Young Leader in the inaugural Women of Influence Awards. The 2013 Queensland Australia Day Ambassadors are: Ms Yassmin Abdel-Magied Ms Alison Alexander Mr Clive Berghofer AM Dr Don Bowley OAM Mr Bill Bristow AM Dr Sally Butler Major Jim Campbell DFC Professor Julie Campbell AO Mr Preston Campbell Ms Sara Carrigan OAM Mr Jerry Coleby-Williams Mr David Conry Mr John Coutis Ms Lisa Curry AO MBE Emeritus Professor Ken Donald AO Dr Dimity Dornan AM Mr Charlie Earp OAM Mr Gerrard Gosens OAM Dr Tony Gould AM Uncle Albert Holt Mr Peter Howard Mrs Hetty Johnston Mr John Lazarou Mr Darren Lockyer Mrs Jean Madden ...
Indigenous Emerging Designer Scholarship Great news about a fantastic Queensland design scholarship. QUT Creative Enterprise Australia (CEA) is offering a one year CEA Fashion Incubator scholarship for an emerging Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Designer commencing in 2013. This unique opportunity follows on from the the successful launch of the AKIN collection; a collaborative contemporary Indigenous fashion design partnership initiated by Arts Queensland and the Queensland Design Council. AKIN, produced by CEA, previewed at QUT’s elite fashion graduate show late last year. Recipients of the scholarship will join the CEA Fashion Incubator’s Emerging Designer Program. This program will provide the training, workspace, technical services, mentoring and networks needed to grow a sustainable fashion business. The scholarship will support an Indigenous designer to acquire the skills and experience needed to launch a career in the fashion industry. This unique opportunity is valued at over $10,000. The program includes: – Professional business and technical support delivered by CEA in partnership with QUT – Fashion and our industry advisory panel – Dedicated mentor with one-on-one sessions – A fully equipped studio, shared with like-minded fashion businesses – Access to sampling and production facilities – Office space with lockable cupboard – Access to WGSN, a trend forecasting site used by international fashion companies ...
