Sydney designers unplugged: people, process, product


Pedestrian button, 'Audio-tactile pedestrian detector (ATPD)', designed by Nielsen Design Associates, 1984. Gift of Aldridge Traffic Systems, 1987. Photo by Sotha Bourn.

Education materials
Teachers notes


Breville 800 Class Espresso Machine, designed by Breville Design - Housewares International, 2004. Courtesy Breville Design - Housewares International.

6 August to 9 October 2005

Sydney designers unplugged: people, process, product lifted the lid on some of Sydney’s leading product designers revealing the path from concept to reality of some of our most recognisable and often used products.

Sydney designers unplugged showcased the work of seven leading product design studios. Between them, these designers and design groups make up a significant part of Sydney’s industrial design scene and are behind many innovative, award-winning and recognisable products. Chances are you have owned or used one of their products, from the Sunbeam mixmaster, Victa lawnmower and Dolphin torch to the Clark sink plug, supermarket EFTPOS machines and the Millennium train.

In the spotlight were design groups Nielsen Design Associates, BlueSky Creative, Design Resource and Design + Industry, along with the in-house designers for Breville and Alex Liddy (part of Housewares International), Sunbeam and Electrolux. All are local designers with a global outlook, working in partnership with international designers, manufacturers and clients to create products for international markets.


Sunbeam Juicer Series, designed by Sunbeam, 2004. Courtesy Sunbeam

Visitors to the exhibition were able to
find out what it really takes to be a product designer and how many months or even years go into designing the products we use everyday. Sydney designers unplugged explored the design and development processes used by each design group. Through interviews, visitors were able to hear first hand their inspirations and design philosophies as well as the challenges faced before seeing a product finally reach national and international markets. Who would have thought that it could take over 20 different prototypes to determine the right shape for the juicing cone on the Breville citrus juicer?



Sunbeam Mixmaster Professional, designed by Sunbeam Australia, 2003. Courtesy Sunbeam Australia.

Design processes were on display from sketches and renderings to prototype and final product, and a sneak preview of a range of Electrolux concept products not yet available in the marketplace. This innovative design group uses future visioning to imagine new ways we might live and work in the future.