The Young Australian Design Awards 2017

Two emerging creative practitioners and UNSW Art & Design graduates Lilian Hambling and Colan Luo have been nominated as finalists in the 2017 Young Australian Design Awards.  Hambling and Luo have created innovative and original design products that address challenges faced by people living in complex urban environments.

The Young Australian Design Awards are suite of national design prizes geared at encouraging and recognising emerging creative practitioners in the areas of design, engineering, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The Awards were created to inspire the next generation of Australian designers and to help foster a culture of creative problem-solving in terms of sustainable urban living Australia.

Hambling and Luo join ten further finalists from around the nation selected by a jury of design professionals who were identified according to the following criteria:

• Innovation – the creation of superior and unique solutions that meet requirements for new and existing market needs;
• Technology – the design of products that incorporate the use of new technologies, processes, and systems to achieve a goal or perform a specific function;
• Sustainability – the design of products, services, and systems that meet principles of social, environmental, and ecological sustainability;
• Design Excellence – Achieving within a product a level of excellence recognized as the best design outcome for quality and commerciality.

Hambling works in the areas of graphics, textiles, and fashion design. Her entry into the Young Australian Design Awards, E-motion, is an investigation into design and the uses of wearable technologies.   Intrigued with the concept of non-verbal communication, particularly that of human males, Hambling has developed a suit of clothing that signals through a gridded lighting display the physiological state of the wearer’s body.  The garments operate on the use of sensors, detecting changes in pulse and body temperature and conveying the changing emotional state of the wearer.  Hambling explains that by enabling “men to be more openly expressive, the stereotypical expectations of masculinity can change; instead of hiding them away, feelings – such as love, anger, fear, and sadness – can be displayed as interactive gestures.” 

Luo works at the crossroads of art and industrial design.  He is interested in contemporary culture, communication, and making efficiencies in the ways we live.  Luo’s product submission to the Young Australian Design Awards, Caradon – Powerlife, is an electric powered appendage for bicycles.  The idea is to encourage more people to ride bicycles more often – to school, to work, and for social engagements – by making the trip that little bit easier.  Luo recognizes growing public interest in electric bicycles, but believes the take-up rate would be far greater if existing bicycles could be easily, affordably, and effectively adapted.   His solution is a stylish third-wheel that attaches directly to the bicycle and which continually measures the g-force exerted by the cyclist.  Caradon is a wireless smart-device that relies on voice recognition to give the rider a boost when he or she needs it.    

Finalists in the Young Australian Design Awards are eligible to win in the following categories: Young Australian Designer of the Year Award, Design Innovation Award, Design Technology Award, and Design Sustainability Award.   

The Young Australian Design Awards are made possible by Good Design Australia and RØDE Microphones. 

Good Design Australia is an international design promotion organisation responsible for managing Australia’s annual Good Design Awards program.  Dating back to the Industrial Design Council of Australia (IDCA) established in 1958, the Good Design Awards is Australia’s longest standing national design award and promotion program and one of the few forums for professional designers to showcase their design expertise to national and international audiences.

RØDE is a uniquely Australian owned and operated audio company, based in Sydney.  RØDE employs the latest technology and precision machinery to continue to keep its products at world-class standards and at a great price. Over the years RØDE has been recognized as industry leaders in design and business having received numerous Good Design Awards and being recognized as the Australian Manufacturing Exporter of the year for 2013.