As the year comes to an end, join us as we revisit what made headlines on Indesignlive in 2011.
December 22nd, 2011
What a year it’s been! Some standout built works and exciting new initiatives kept us inspired about the state of design – as well as the odd quirky development that kept us guessing.
In February the release of the high heel-wearing, hard hat-toting Architect Barbie resonated with a lot of people as they questioned how the industry was being represented. Where was the sleep deprivation, and would she even be allowed on site in those shoes?
Throughout the year we enjoyed visits from some very special international guests. Botanist and artist Patrick Blanc gave us a glimpse of his plans for the green walls of Sydney’s Central Park One development; Yves Béhar jetted in to launch his new SAYL chair.
At the AIA’s national conference we enjoyed the presence of Juhani Pallasmaa, R&Sie(n) and Iwamoto Scott, among many others. Saturday in Design Sydney saw hotshot designers like Benjamin Hubert and Michael Young grace our shores. In November, Bruce Mau inspired Brisbane audiences with his ’24 hours to massive change’ mantra, and Tokujin Yoshioka’s first ever visit to Australia brought us the captivating Waterfall installation.
At imm Cologne, Maison Objet, the Milan Furniture Fair and Cersaie we saw a shift toward more thoughtful and considered design, and design that blurred boundaries, erasing the lines between residential and commercial furniture, for example, or the lines between what’s real and fake with techniques of authentic imitation. The Australian International Design Awards (AIDA) garnered more entries this year than ever before, with a focus on products that encouraged a more sustainable way of life.
The architecture and design community showed a wonderful solidarity in the face of natural disaster. Initiatives contributing to recovery after the Queensland floods and earthquakes in Japan and New Zealand showed how strong and supportive the industry can be.
We mourned the premature deaths of Nick Murcutt, and Lena Yali, Greg McNamara and Kevin Taylor, and stopped to celebrate their work and contributions to our built environment.
Some standout projects captured our imaginations. A beachside fish bar in Perth and a sumptuous new airport lounge in Canberra were among the most clicked-on stories of the year. We also welcomed the opening of MONA, Hobart’s enigmatic ’anti-museum’ with its confronting and controversial private art collection.
Here at Indesign HQ, it was a year of growth and exciting new ventures. We hosted the first of our Indesign in Discussion series, with Ken Maher and James Grose giving us a glimpse into their work on Melbourne’s Docklands. We kicked off the year with a bang by launching Indesignlive.asia, and brought Singapore’s design community together for one very special inaugural Saturday in Design Singapore. DQ was awarded 2 international design awards for its redesign, and Habitus and Habitusliving both received a revamp – fresh new looks for a fresh new year!
We ended the year by bringing out our very first licensed title Indesign Indonesia and joining forces with Singapore-based publishing house Concepts Asia Publishing, which means next year there’ll be 3 glossy new Asian titles under the Indesign umbrella – Cubes, Lookbox and Lookbox Annual. Phew! Here’s to an exciting and busy time ahead in 2012…
These are just some of the moments that have rocked Indesignlive’s world this year. What has been your most memorable design moment of 2011?
INDESIGN is on instagram
Follow @indesignlive
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
In this candid interview, the culinary mastermind behind Singapore’s Nouri and Appetite talks about food as an act of human connection that transcends borders and accolades, the crucial role of technology in preserving its unifying power, and finding a kindred spirit in Gaggenau’s reverence for tradition and relentless pursuit of innovation.
How can design empower the individual in a workplace transforming from a place to an activity? Here, Design Director Joel Sampson reveals how prioritising human needs – including agency, privacy, pause and connection – and leveraging responsive spatial solutions like the Herman Miller Bay Work Pod is key to crafting engaging and radically inclusive hybrid environments.
BLANCOCULINA-S II Sensor promotes water efficiency and reduces waste, representing a leap forward in faucet technology.
It’s widely accepted that nature – the original, most accomplished design blueprint – cannot be improved upon. But the exclusive Crypton Leather range proves that it can undoubtedly be enhanced, augmented and extended, signalling a new era of limitless organic materiality.
Designed to meet the growing demand for height adjustable workstations, Elsafe has introduced a sit to stand umbilical solution called Cable Snake.
Two fluid lines effortlessly exist within an intimate space eventually linking together to create the Beso light.
No, this not a review of James Joyce’s latest novel. Timothy Alouani-Roby spoke with Matthews Architects’ managing director, Gerald Matthews, and recently registered architect, Aiden Moon, about the changing face of architectural education and the transition to practice.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Humanscale’s Chief Sustainability Officer is embarking on a tour of Australia, delivering a talk entitled: “Sustainable by Design: Materials Transparency for a Healthier Planet.” At the same time, the company opens a brand new showroom in Sydney. We met her to find out more.
Hicham Lahlou, international industrial designer and interior architect, joins me on the podcast to discuss the overlaps between African and Australian design.