object eye
2011 — Object’s Digital Year
Monday February 13 2012
2011 was a big year for Object. In addition to continuing a strong exhibition and touring program (as I write this there are six Object exhibitions open around the country) and developing and piloting our landmark primary education program Design Emergency, we have had some terrific achievements in the digital realm.
The first, of course, was back in February with the launch of Object magazine issue 60. After an eighteen month hiatus, the magazine returned in a digital form, published as a free iPad app. We were delighted when it appeared as a Staff Pick in Apple’s App Store, and even more delighted as the numbers of downloads soared past the printed figures — this shift to digital has seen many more people able to easily engage with contemporary design from Australia and around the world. Exciting also was the realisation that it is not just people in Australia who are reading the magazine — people from every corner of the globe are finding it and enjoying it. Last count was 65 countries and climbing.
Addison Marshall — HYPERCLAY
Wednesday November 16 2011
Welcome to installment six in the HYPERCLAY: Contemporary Ceramics artist profile series. Every week we have been profiling one of the eight artists involved in HYPERCLAY — you can catch up on the series here.
This week: Addison Marshall.
You may remember Marshall from his profile in Object magazine Issue 60, with a focus on International Ceramics. If you don’t have an iPad and can’t download the issue, you can watch the video, narrated by Marshall, here or download it through iTunes U.
Marshall spent twelve years working in the fashion industry before a short course ten years ago reignited a latent passion stewing since a night course he enrolled in when he was eight or nine — joining a class where he was the only kid in a room full of adults. Now, he has been practicing ceramics for five years, drawing inspiration from the universe and the unknown — reflected generally in his work, and quite literally here.
BikeTank
Tuesday November 15 2011
BikeTank has been running for a few months now, put on by the u.lab at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS.) It’s a ‘bike-powered think tank’, held in a warehouse space in Chippendale on the CBD fringe. The idea is that, by riding up on your bicycle you’re pumping your blood full of oxygen, and when combined with the coffee (caffeine) and pastries (sugar) that are provided, you’re set to solve all of the world’s problems in an hour.
Well, almost. Each Tuesday morning a new topic is defined and ideated by smaller breakout groups from the larger massive in attendance. Today, which was sadly the last BikeTank of the year, the groups were tasked with coming up with prototypes for various other ‘tanks’, around four themes provided to us.
To get you in the spirit, the BikeTanks have guest speakers leading off the morning, with Alex Cheek from Second Road starting today. He spoke about efficient, influential and meaningful design, with corporate examples of each. It was all about engaging the end user or consumer and what they want from your product. If you apply these three principles, you’re on your way to the best solution.
New Issue of DQ Available Now.
Tuesday November 08 2011
Our good friends at DQ magazine (or Design Quarterly for the uninitiated) have just launched their latest issue, including a big wrap-up on Saturday in Design, which happened in Sydney in August. As I noted back in August, SiD is a massive event, and DQ cover it far better and in much more detail than I could ever have hoped - pick up a copy and see for yourself.
There are plenty of other fascinating stories, profiles and wrap-ups included, taking you all around the country. A highlight is their feature on sketching as a design tool, asking if it is a dying art. Having just emerged from a meeting that saw me marker in hand tattooing a whiteboard, I certainly hope that it isn’t. DQ, however, goes a little more in depth, talking to lecturers and designers to find out the power of the process and its inherent value.
Object magazine Issue 61 Available Now.
Tuesday October 11 2011
We’re very excited to announce that issue 61 of Object magazine is now available. After launching into the digital realm with issue 60, available exclusively on iPad, in February 2011, we have gone not one but two steps further with this issue — not only is it available as an iPad app, but also as an Android tablet app and on our website to read on your personal computer. And all for free!
Issue 61 explores the somewhat intangible world of design thinking. Roy Green, the Dean of the UTS Business School, takes us through the power of design for business, introducing a series of videos from design leaders in Australia. Lauren Tan explores how design can work in education and for social innovation, while we recap the Massive Change Network Global Design Seminar and the UTS Design Camp for first year design students on Cockatoo Island.
Visiting Object
St. Margarets, 417 Bourke St
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Gallery:
11am to 5pm
Wednesday to Saturday
Object Ground Floor:
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Wednesday to Saturday
+61 2 9361 4511
object@object.com.au
