So many elements of Capital Growth: The Piggy Bank Project lie close to our hearts – childhood memories infused with nostalgia, the central importance of money in our lives, the aspiration in saving, the use of latest technology for instant gratification, and consumer feedback.

Neil Davidson, Addi+ion

Curator Alexander Lotersztain was keen to use this exhibition for Artisan, Brisbane as a platform for the launch of possible new products.

He designed a narrow brief and sent it to selected designers, architects, industrial designers.

The task: to design a piggy bank no larger than 175mm cubed.

Surya Graf, Nest

He planned for “the gallery space as a market research tool. It’s a merge between an exhibition and market research. What the public perceives as cool, not cool, interesting, quirky, useful – all this is great for the designers involved.”

This is an exhibition with a difference. Displayed in a dark space on white plinths, ten piggy banks as individual as their creators, are displayed under spotlights.

Jon Goulder, Scrooge the Tugboat

Visitors to the exhibition are given a coin and with each object is a slot to allow them to cast a vote for their favourite work. A People’s Choice award will be given to the designer with most votes to allow them to carry the product further.

Marc Harrison, Purpose = Motivation

Designs include a hollow, conceptual receptacle from Jason Bird that holds its coins on a quirky exoskeleton.

Jason Bird, Money Bone

David Shaw’s piggy bank is unsteady, a little cross-eyed, wearing the classic scrooge expression on its face.

David Shaw, Soft Underbelly

Julian Munro has compartments within his streamlined pig for the whole family and it dissembles like a Russian doll, while Shane Thompson’s is a classic farmyard pig in silhouette within a box.

Julian Munro, Pingvinov Banka

Shane Thompson, Holy Pig!

The high technology model is from Bjorn Rust – a device that collects for charity. It glows red when money is donated, and becomes a sad blue when it is not.

Bjorn Rust, Pledge Identification Giveaway (PIG)

Lotersztain suggested, “This project offers a glimpse into new technologies that will shortly revolutionise the design industry”.

And grants consumers the ultimate power.

Cox Rayner Architects, Piggy For Life

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