18 November 2011
O-I Australia supports young design talent
The world's largest glass packaging manufacturer, Owens-Illinois Inc, has partnered with RMIT University industrial design students in a design collaboration project.
Dustin Bailey's highly commended design.
O-I Senior product designer Julian Ditchburn with RMIT's Ian Wong.
Related stories
- Celebrating an outstanding alumnus 17/05/2013
- Experts explore sustainable packaging 16/05/2013
- Blended learning for the aviation industry 14/05/2013
- Architecture professors leading industry 09/05/2013
- Exhibition showcases groundbreaking design 06/05/2013
- Pop-up shop to prop up young entrepreneurs 06/05/2013
O-I developed a design brief for a 500ml glass cider bottle, due to the drink's recent growth in popularity among Australian consumers.
The brief presented to first-year Bachelor of Design (Industrial Design) students, included guidelines such as the need to produce a bottle suitable for high speed production and filling lines, an area for applying labels as well as branding and mandatory information.
Students were provided with an overview of the glass manufacturing process and spent one day sketching their concepts followed by 3D modelling and rendering.
"I was blown away by the intricacies of the design concepts and the level of creativity and skill demonstrated by all students," O-I Australia's Senior Product Designer, Julian Ditchburn, said.
"The collaboration with RMIT also provided us with a unique insight into emerging design techniques and technologies as well as an extremely impressive talent pool."
O-I Australia employees from the company's design and sales and marketing departments were invited to review more than 60 student concepts. The designs were assessed on a range of criteria including their level of creativity and adaptability to glass manufacturing processes.
One of the outstanding designs by student Dustin Bailey was commended for its simple yet contemporary design featuring a large surface area for labelling.
"I've always viewed glass as a beautiful material which gives products a premium look and feel," Mr Bailey said.
"I was really inspired by O-I's brief and to have my design recognised by a leading glass manufacturer is truly humbling."
Prizes were also awarded to Ella Sayers and Tommy Hew for the industry category, and Justin Strong for the creative category.
Ian Wong, Industrial Design lecturer in RMIT's School of Architecture and Design, said the project provided students with an understanding of the critical considerations that needed to be made throughout the design and manufacturing processes.
"Industry collaboration is vital to RMIT industrial design," Mr Wong said.
"The students experienced an authentic industry studio environment and used their skills and the latest facilities to produce outstanding work, including some of the most amazing designs I've seen in 20 years of lecturing."
Owens-Illinois is the world's largest glass container manufacturer and preferred partner for many of the world's leading food and beverage brands. The company employs more than 24,000 people at 81 plants in 21 countries.
RMIT students took on the challenge of designing for glass manufacturer O-I.
