Exhibition BLACKBox – Design and Innovation in Melbourne Australia

Thanks to EXPO2015 we get the chance to widen our horizons with a lot of collateral cultural events. One of them, BLACKBox – Design and Innovation in Melbourne Australia is an initiative by Ian Wong, Design Institute of Australia Vic/Tas chapter councillor, Program Director Master of Industrial Design at Monash University Art Design and Architecture Faculty (MADA). The exhibition is delivered by the City of Melbourne in conjunction with Monash University and showcases the wealth of design “Made in Melbourne” which had and has still a strong influence on our daily routine. 



We had the chance to speak with Ian Wong who kindly answered our questions.



1) Looking at the variety of products and ideas proposed at Fabbrica del Vapore, Milan, we realised that we know very little about Australian Design in general and Melbourne Design in particular. When did you come up with the idea and what was the response of the people concerned?
My research into the history of industrial design began in 2009 and I have curated exhibitions and published my blog www.ianwongresrach.blogspot.com since that time. I have long believed that Melbourne’s design history is a well-kept secret and I am very proud to be researching and publishing on design from Melbourne. The request came from the City of Melbourne to propose an exhibition about innovation as well as design and the black box flight recorder is one of our most famous inventions. The tragic MH370 and more recent MH17 made international news of the search for the ‘Blackbox”. I decided the fact that so few people know the blackbox is from Melbourne was an excellent concept for my exhibition about design and innovation unknown until my research. The support from the design community has been fantastic and the support from the City of Melbourne has allowed my research to be shared internationally in Milan.





2) Referred to the exhibition, you cover 164 years of design and a wide range of products and we can see how important past achievements are for the present. Can you tell us more about your research into industrial design in Victoria?
One key aspect of my research is to explore designs that have proven to endure rather than just be a short term success or win an award. One concept often attributed to industrial design is the idea of ‘planned obsolescence’. This research challenges this idea and once more detailed research is completed I hope that a greater insight can be gained into what factors assist a design to endure. The research demonstrates the diversity of design in Melbourne and the strength of Automotive, medical and scientific instrument and safety products like the baby capsule. This research is just a beginning and there are many more designers and practices to include in future projects.





3) Livegreenblog is about sustainability, so could you share your idea of “sustainable design” with us?
Sustainable design practice and awareness is strong in Melbourne design schools and the profession. Australia has a pristine environment and we care greatly about the planet we all share. Reduce consumption is vital and my research on products that endure seeks to ensure designers do not just redesign for commercial gain but only seek to innovate and improve our human condition. The exhibition seeks a low carbon footprint with no shipping of objects and use of pure materials like the 3D printed boxes, alloy coins, and stands that can all be recycled. The exhibition format itself is research into a more sustainable approach to ‘expo’ or exhibition curatorial practice. Tomorrow with just a new app the exhibition could be about Architecture or Sustainable design.

Questions by Christiane Bürklein
Exhibition BLACKBox – Design and Innovation in Melbourne Australia
from 4 to 15 May 2015
Location: Fabbrica del Vapore, Milan
Link: http://www.blackboxmelbourne.com/