Melbourne’s design innovations showcased in Italy


Famous Melbourne designs such as the Keep Cup and the Crumpler Bag will be showcased in Italy next month in an exhibition from the City of Melbourne and Monash University’s Faculty of Art Design & Architecture (MADA).

Councillor Kevin Louey, Chair of Council’s Economic Development committee said BlackBOX: Design and Innovation in Melbourne will be held as part of Expo in Citta, in conjunction with the World Expo in Milan.

"The BlackBOX exhibition celebrates 64 industrial and product design innovations from Melbourne that have changed lives across the globe," Cr Louey said.

"Our municipality is home to 284 design businesses that employ more than 7700 people. This exhibition demonstrates the success of our design sector over 150 years, and features designs that have been successfully commercialised on a global scale."

The exhibition layout includes 64 3D printed black boxes laid out in a design influenced by the Hoddle Grid. The digital archive for each Melbourne design or innovation appears automatically on the mobile device as visitors approach each box.

Councillor Jackie Watts, Chair of Council’s Knowledge City committee said the exhibition will draw international attention to Melbourne’s design sector.

"Although Melbourne has clearly demonstrated its strength in design and innovation, people may not be aware just how comprehensive Melbourne’s contribution has been, and how central good design is to our everyday lives," Cr Watts said.

"Melbourne has produced so many significant systems, designs and products and this exhibition, a remarkable innovative system in itself, will certainly enhance the credibility and reputation of Melbourne’s design sector reputation and internationally."

The exhibition is conceived and curated by MADA lecturer and industrial designer Ian Wong.

"As far as we are aware, this exhibition is the only Australian presence in Milan for the World Expo, which is expected to attract 29 million visitors over six months," Mr Wong said.

"The exhibition technology is being used by museums and galleries across the world, but was originally designed by the Melbourne Company Art Processors for the Museum of Old and New Arts (Mona) in Hobart."

The exhibition takes its name from the famous Black Box flight recorder, which was designed in Melbourne in the 1950s and has become crucial to air plane crash investigations. Other designs showcased in the exhibition include:

  • Knog bicycle light - 2003
  • Concave International Quantum 2 striking boots - 2010
  • Black Magic Design cinema camera - 2012 
  • Portable Ultrasound Device - 2012
  • OrbitKey - 2013.

BlackBOX: Design and Innovation in Melbourne will be held from 2 – 15 May, 2015.
For more information visit: City of Melbourne