Craft and Design Happenings

Lights for the blind

2009-12-08T18:29:00.000-08:00

Australian designer, Rob Caslick has taken home an award in Milan for his 'Lights for the blind' concept - where LEDs are used in the writing of Braille. Did you know that 90% of people diagnosed as blind can see light? A blind person with light perception has the chance to read the Braille using their sight. The use of LEDs also allows a blind person with no light perception to read the tips of the LEDs as they would regular Braille.

While studying his Masters of Industrial Design in Milan, Rob came about the idea after spending time at the Blind Institute of Milan and realising the importance of light to blind people. The idea was developed with two other students and entered in the International LED Design Competition for the Community of Milan. The concept won and was chosen to exhibit alongside concepts from other designers such as Patricia Urquiola, Fabio Novembre and Paul Cocksedge.

The exhibition consists of 20 Panels of Quotes, Anecdotes and Songs about lights and blindness. The quotes are all written in Braille using LEDs and form a path between the Blind Institute of Milan and the Metro Station. Example Quote: 'Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light' by Helen Keller.

If only I could make it to Italy...The exhibition runs from December 6 until January 10 and is a part of the Milan Light Festival.

2009 Fresh! winners

2009-12-03T14:47:00.000-08:00

Image: Filigree work by 2009 Fresh! winner Michaela Bruton

The 2009 Fresh! Award winners were announced at Craft Victoria last night. The major professional development prize was won by RMIT student Michaela Bruton for her silver filigree work.

2009 Fresh! exhibition

2009-11-25T20:14:00.000-08:00

This one is for our friends in Melbourne. An annual exhibition, Fresh! showcases the most innovative craft and design works by graduating students across Victoria.

Presented by Craft Victoria since 1993, Fresh! has launched the careers of some of Melbourne’s top practitioners and designers.

Each year a team of invited professionals preview graduate exhibitions in over 35 departments within Tertiary and TAFE institutions across Victoria. The freshest works are hand-picked from the fields of ceramics, glass, jewellery, gold & silver-smithing, fashion, textiles, industrial and furniture design.

Past exhibitors include: Irene Grishin-Selzer of Iggy & Lou Lou, Alex Murray-Leslie of Chicks On Speed, Robert Dumaresq and Julia deVille.

4 – 23 December
Opening Thursday 3 December, 6pm

Australian Design Review / Design Wall

2009-11-25T20:06:00.000-08:00

Australian Design Review / Design Wall

COFA's grad show

2009-11-25T18:57:00.000-08:00

On Tuedsay night, I battled the crowds in Paddington and made my way through the gates to COFA's annual grad show. This year was made particulary better than last with the addition of free sushi and sandwiches!

The exhibition includes animation, ceramics, drawing, digital imaging, environments, graphics, installation, interactive media, jewellery, motion graphics, objects, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, sound, textiles and video works by COFA’s more than 350 graduating students.

It runs from November 24-29 and is worth checking out.

The future of design continued

2009-11-17T17:55:00.000-08:00

More grad shows... 'Red Door' is an exhibition of contemporary furniture and design from the Sturt School for Wood opens Saturday, 28 November at 3pm. Find out details here.

The future of design

2009-11-17T17:25:00.000-08:00

It's that time again when we get to check out what is really going on in craft and design at the annual uni and tafe grad shows. Last night the Sydney College of the Arts had their graduate exhibition which I hear was a really good show. Let me know what you thought.

Next week, is the COFA Annual 09 Exhibition and UTS has just sent out their invitations to its Republic of Design - Graduate Exhibition which starts the first week of December.

Check out the future of design here

Welcome to Craft and Design Happenings!

2009-11-17T17:19:00.000-08:00

Hi there,

I'm Joan-Maree Hargreaves, Producer - Digital and Publications at Object: Australian Centre for Craft and Design. Welcome to the new Craft and Design Happenings blog. The purpose of this blog is to talk about what's happening in craft and design in Australia right now. I'll be posting about new exhibitions, upcoming events and anything else I think might be interesting to craft and design followers.

Please feel free to leave your comments and offer up any suggestions for posts.

Look forward to hearing from you!

JM