Name favourite Kiwi product design, win Kiwi product design book
By Design Daily Team,
If you want a comprehensive read on New Zealand’s very ample product and industrial design history, Michael Smythe’s New Zealand by Design: A History of New Zealand Product Design, reviewed here by Aimee Carruthers, is a great place to start.
But you don’t have to settle for just a review because we’re giving you the chance to win a copy of Smythe’s book for yourself. We’ve got one copy to give away each week until the end of October.
How to win
Simple. Just tell us what your favourite piece of Kiwi product design is (extra points if you provide a link to a picture in the comment box).
And just for nostalgia’s sake, here’s a product featured in Smythe’s book. Remember these? The ‘Tullen Snip’s became an export success story for Tullen in the 1970s. They were great for toning your hands too.
Comments
Nicola Tims
Innovative and environmentally friendly New Zealand product design, very well known and used by many - the kiwi fruit spoon!
Kylie Williams
Take a look and see if you do not agree that these are truly brilliant. Such fun and sense fused in a machine so practical.
ali
i love these nz 'guy wires'
ali
i love these nz 'guy wires' http://www.f3design.co.nz/cms/index.php?page=browse&key=/GUYWIRES/bracelets
Julian Andrews
Gotta be Tip Top's incredible Jelly Tip icecream in a tub!
It takes a particular genius to improve on the original version on the stick, but the problem was always how disappointing it was once you'd eaten all the jelly off the top.
Props to the marketing guy (or girl) who thought to mix the whole lot up together and put into into a litre pottle.
Munter
Jelly Tip. OM NOM NOM.
Stacetheace
Not at all influenced by the cover of this book, but have admired Grant Ryans Yike Bike for a long time.. The super light-folding-down-electric-bike gets my vote for the most innovative, savvy and just plain cool product of New Zealand design.
NZScout
The Skorpion skates designed for kids and adults to travel over multi terrain. Grandfather, Reg Reid, invented them true kiwi style in his Matamata workshop by sacrificing a few parts from his lawnmower.
Saskia
A recent invention and still improving: Rex Bionics' robot legs which gets wheelchair users up & walking. Great story behind the product and just one of those companies you'd love to see soar to great heights.
katrina65
the thermette is a kiwi camping essential!
Darren Rae
My fav has to the bungy ! YEE HA!
http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?q=Bungy&hl=en&sa=X&rls=com.microsoft:en-nz:IE-Address&biw=1768&bih…
Dave W
Love all classic kiwi designs, and modern styles too like David Trubridge lighting
Peter Bakos
I think that the Poly Computer was a pretty cool piece of design for its time. It was ahead of Apples capability at the time but was squashed by the government. It was portable and was designed by Wellington Polytech.
http://www.cs.otago.ac.nz/homepages/andrew/poly/poly1/aus_army.jpg
Kevin Clarke
Claytons - the drink you have when you're not having a drink
http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?q=%22Claytons%22&hl=en&lr=&sa=X&biw=1135&bih=823&tbm=isch&prmd=ivn…
Christine Philp
What about the good old tomato for tomato sauce?
J Robinson
“Namco” formica table and chairs where iconic in the 70's and are now becoming collectable today…always very popular on trademe!
J Robinson
…and who could forget the 80's bicycle, the BMX Pantha…the guy who originally invented them is currently in the process of relaunching a new line..he can be found on face book..BMX PANTHA…
Alan Gregson
Got to be The Buzzy Bee
Sarah I
John Brittens bike - the Britten V1000
http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/Education/OnlineResources/SGR/Pages/BrittenBike.aspx
Nick
Gallaghers design of the electric fence unit in the 30s has revolutionised stock management the world over…this would be up there for me http://www.gallaghergroup.co.nz/history.aspx
Jonah Merchant
and what about the Coffee Catcha? Simple design, and an elegant solution to an age old problem!
http://idealog.co.nz/magazine/32/hacksaw-mechanic
Stewart Farr
KEEWEEE mountainbikes.
http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/501/medium/271603cromozone.JPG
http://www.keewee.co.nz/nz/gallery.html
Newton King
I'll go for the Idealcup - Coffee Cup. Thousands of kiwis use them everyday, probably without even realising.
http://www.designbrand.co.nz/Projects.php?Project=Idealcup#
Think about it. A non-disposible take-away coffee cup and a legitimate sustainable alternative to cardboard coffee cups that's eco friendly! That's a 'win win' in any economy or enviroment.
Lisa L
My kids love this game, it's endless fun for them and such a simple concept !
Kate
The doofer - so simple, so effective
http://idealog.co.nz/blog/2011/07/innovation-week-doofer
Doris
The humble sunshine peg. Unbeatable. Always the number one recommended item by the whanau overseas
Cathy Knight
How about this wee slice of techno - a very groovy little USB stick made from clear acrylic sandwiched between plywood. And made in NZ which makes it even better.
Jaime
The Life chair - great success story that has been relatively under rated in NZ
Hermione Prentice
For me it would have to be the Skellerup Red Band Gumboots. My Grandad was the Head Designer at Skellerup Marathon when they designed the Red Bands in 1958. Over 50 years later it is still pretty much the same design and a real Kiwi icon. Think of Fred Dagg and “If it weren't for your gumboots where would you be?”
http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?q=red+band+gumboots&hl=en&tbnid=YK0ljX9PYl9ZMM:&imgrefurl=http://w…
Gareth Poley
I'm voting for the Martin's jet pack - new but real impressive. Seeing the concept in movies growing up and now seeing it as a reality, isn't it great that it came out of New Zealand: http://martinjetpack.com/
Steve Davies
You can support many upcoming New Zealand designers here (http://www.discoverme.co.nz)
Amanda Easterbrook
I would have to cast my vote for David Trubridge's iconic NZ furniture & light design. Super-talented homegrown design at it's best!
www.davidtrubridge.com
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