EMily Carr University of Art + Design Library & Archives

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Roman Izdebski Industrial Design Collection

An Exhibition Curated by Carson Adams

The Roman Izdebski Industrial Design Collection is a series of 90 items that demonstrate excellent industrial design practices across an array of genres. One of the most compelling themes of this collection is the strong brand awareness that is built within the industrial design industry. allowing for impressive innovative leaps with the presence of consumer familiarity. This exhibition features just over half of the collection and aims to highlight brand association across several spheres including personal computers and peripherals, telecommunication systems, audio equipment, culinary containers, photographic equipment, and appliances. All manufactured products are the result of a design process, and can emphasize intuitive creativity or calculated scientific decision-making, and oftentimes a mix of both. Name brands such as Apple, Sony, Blackberry, Coca-Cola, Modus Design, Bang & Olufsen, Konica and Braun are established as pioneers in their respective areas of focus, demonstrated by their product lines within the collection. Each company has contributed to the legacy of industrial design in providing solutions for problems of form, function, physical ergonomics, marketing sustainability, sales and brand development. Influenced by materials, production processes and business strategy, the creative act of determining and defining a products form and features is ever evolving. Industrial design is not only the process of design applied to physical products to be manufactured by mass production, but a reflection of fundamental human activity during a period of time.

Carson documented and transcribed item and inventory information for the artifact collection into a metadata spreadsheet, researched the contributors and historical context for ARCA Database search purposes, conducted photo documentation, and made research materials accessible through exhibition curation, write-ups, and internal publications. For this project he worked under the University Librarian of the Emily Carr University of Art + Design Library & Archives, Vanessa Kam.

Roman Izdebski Industrial Design CollectionRoman Izdebski (1946–2020) was an industrial designer trained in Warsaw (MFA, Academy of Fine Arts, 1975). After teaching industrial design from 1976 onwards in various post-secondaries in Canada, he joined the faculty at ECU. The Roman Izdebski Industrial Design Collection, with a focus on technology (communication, audio devices, computation, etc), household appliances, toys, beverage containers, cutlery, and more, was donated to ECU. It illustrates vividly how the design of objects has evolved over time, serves as a vital educational tool for students, and supports design curricula. An inventory of the entire collection, including individually-researched descriptions and photographs of each object, was completed by ECU students Eden Zinchik (BDes, Industrial Design, 2023) and Carson Adams (BFA, Photography, Class of 2026).,

Sony

Sony has established itself as a leader in several different industries including music and film thanks to a commitment to innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. Their strong brand recognition and reputation continue to be key assets for the company that enables them to significantly impact popular culture. One of Sony’s most iconic products is the Walkman, which revolutionized the way people listened to music on the go. The product played a crucial role in establishing Sony as a consumer electronics powerhouse and helped to create a loyal customer base. Co-founded by Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka in 1946, Sony's success has always stemmed from its product-led strategy, with simplicity of design and clear functionality in mind.

Sony Dream Machine ICF-C203 | 1992 | Audio Equipment | RIC_020
Sony Sports WM-75 Walkman | 1985 | Audio Equipment | RIC_025
Sony MD MZ-4700 Walkman | 1998 | Audio Equipment | RIC_029
Sony FD83 Digital Mavica Still Camera | 1981 | Photographic Equipment | RIC_057
Sony Sports CD D-SJ15 Walkman | 2002 | Audio Equipment | RIC_068 *
Sony Sports FM/AM WM-AF59 Walkman | 1983 | Audio Equipment | RIC_069
Sony Mac Formatted Floppy Disk | 1983 | Data Processing Equipment | RIC_073
Sony MDW-74 MiniDisc | 1992 | Data Processing Equipment | RIC_074

Sony G-Protection Sports CD WalkmanSony is a designer, developer, manufacturer and marketer of audio, video, imaging, game, communications, and information technology products. It sells products to the industrial, consumer, and professional markets. New S2 Sports design represents the new generation of Sony Sports CD Walkman, created to be durable, stylish, and ready for go-anywhere outdoor fun. It was designed with rubber gaskets, bushings, and water resistant seals that help keep out water, moisture, and dirt. Built in synthesized digital tuner with TV and weather bands provides the most accurate drift-free tuning of AM and FM stereo and radio stations. The G-PROTECTION function has been developed to provide excellent protection against sound skipping during many active uses.,

Apple Macintosh Classic IIThe Macintosh was born out of a shared humanist approach to design by Steve Jobs and Hartmut Esslinger beginning in 1982. In 1981 fewer than 3% of the US population owned a computer, so Apple deliberately turned its attention away from the business market, and towards the personal market instead. The Macintosh, with its all-in-one beige box, minimal detailing and 9inch screen, was therefore conceived as a product that would be easy to use and small enough to suit the home enviroment. Essentially, the design of the Macintosh, with its user-friendly interface, played a key role in breaking down the fear that potential users felt about computers.,

Apple

Apple has been able to significantly change individual consumers' relationship with technology through great design. They have been able to set themselves apart due to their ability and willingness to make decisions on behalf of their users, demonstrated throughout their product lifespans. Apple's breakthrough product, the Macintosh, played a key role in diversifying the brand's consumers towards the personal market instead of the business market. Co-founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, the company's design philosophy emphasizes that design is how it works, not how it looks. One of the company's most notable designers, Jonathan Ive, worked with Apple to design more than 50 of the brand's most iconic products.

Apple Display M2454 | 2000 | Computers | RIC_009
Apple Macintosh Powerbook 170 | 1991 | Computers | RIC_012
Apple Power CD | 1993 | Audiovisual Equipment | RIC_032, 065, 066
Apple Pro Speakers For iMac | 2001 | Audio Equipment | RIC_046
Apple Desktop Bus Mouse II M2706 | 1992 | Peripherals | RIC_079
Apple Desktop Bus Mouse 65431 | 1986 | Peripherals | RIC_080
Apple Mouse A2M4015 | 1984 | Peripherals | RIC_081
Apple Keyboard M0487 | 1990 | Peripherals | RIC_082
Apple Plain Talk Computer Microphone 590-0670 | 1993 | Audio Equipment | RIC_083
Apple Macintosh Classic II | 1984 | Computers | RIC_087 *

Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola is the largest beverage manufacturer and distributor in the world, as well as one of the most successful brands in marketing history. Coca-Cola was founded in 1892 by Asa Griggs Candler, and now offers over 500 brands in more than 200 countries. The designer of the original Coca-Cola bottle, Alexander Samuelson, drew inspiration from an illustration of a cocoa bean pod, and created a classic design that proves its ability to outlast material and technological change. The Coca-Cola bottle illustrates the power of brand identity, and has become a collector's item, a cult object, a subject for fine art and essential subject matter in the study of brand awareness.

Coca-Cola Can-Shaped Glass | 2008 | Culinary Containers | RIC_002
Coca-Cola Aluminum Bottle | 2007 | Culinary Containers | RIC_013
Coca-Cola Holiday Bottle | 2010 | Culinary Containers | RIC_014
Coca-Cola Glass Bottle | 1915 | Culinary Containers | RIC_023 *
Coca-Cola Aluminum Bottle/Can Hybrid | 1999 | Culinary Containers | RIC_024

Glass Coca-Cola BottleThe Coca-Cola Company is an American multinational corporation that manufactures, sells, and markets non-alcoholic beverage concentrates, syrups, and alcoholic beverages. Alexander Samuelson was a Swedish glass blower who created and patented the shape in 1915, and introduced it to the market in 1916. He drew inspiration from an illustration of a cocoa bean pod in the Encyclopedia Britannica for the design. The Coca-Cola bottle illustrates the power of brand identity, and has become a collector's item, a cult object, a subject for fine art, and essential subject matter in the study of brand awareness. This classic design proves its abiltiy to outlast material and technological change.,

Blackberry 7130eResearch in Motion is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Research in Motion Ltd is primarily known as the maker and provider of BlackBerry wireless devices and e-mail services. The BlackBerry 7130e has EvDO WWAN capabilities, as well as a speakerphone, a great phone book and 64MB of flash memory. The device also can be used as a modem when connected to a computer.,

Blackberry

Blackberry designed and manufactured the world's first line of mainstream premium smartphones that dominated the telecommunication device industry for years, and with several models. Aside from Blackberry’s physical devices and software, some of the brand's longest-lasting inventions were integratable conceptual devices. Instant messaging, push notifications, and copy and paste for mobile devices were features that proved to be revolutionary. Co-founded in 1984 by Mike Lazardis and Douglas Fregin, the company's design philosophy focused on workplace functionality and high-level security. Originally known as Research In Motion until 2013, rebranding the company to cater to their breakthrough technology set a new standard of product design.

Blackberry Bold 9700 | 2009 | Telecommunication System | RIC_001
Blackberry 8703e | 2006 | Telecommunication System | RIC_011
Blackberry 7130e | 2005 | Telecommunication System | RIC_018 *
Blackberry Serial Docking Cradle | 1998 | Battery Chargers | RIC_063
Blackberry Docking Cradle | 2002 | Battery Chargers | RIC_064

Braun

Braun develops and manufactures a wide variety of small domestic appliances that marry technical innovation, reliable quality and distinctive industrial product design. The brand's most notable designers are Dietrich Lubs and Dieter Rams who have been responsible for dozens of the company's most iconic designs over the course of 30 years. Braun is most known for their line of electric shavers including the Micron Plus Universal that features luxury and durability integrated into an industrial aesthetic. Founded by Max Braun in 1921, over the years Braun has cemented itself as a company filled with quietly detailed, functional, ergonomically precise and minimalist design classics.

Braun H19 Electric Fan Heater | 1970s | Heating Equipment | RIC_006
Braun ET 55 Calculator | 1981 | Calculators | RIC_021
Braun PA1 Automatic Slide Projector | 1956 | Audiovisual Equipment | RIC_022
Braun AW 20 Watch | 1989 | Timepieces | RIC_026
Braun Micron Plus Electric Shaver | 1982 | Hygiene Products | RIC_027

Braun PA1 Automatic Slide ProjectorThe Automatic Slide Projector was the first Braun product to be designed in its entirety by Dieter Rams. One of the design features that make this projector unique was its die-cast textured finish, which combined with the black details and bright red buttons gave it a very industrial aesthetic.,

FS-1 Konica CameraKonica Minolta is a provider or business solutions, offering technologies and performance materials. When the company was first founded they were primarily engaged in manufacturing cameras. The Autoreflex T is the camera that planted Konica firmly on the SLR map, with a solid, dependable, refined build with full manual or EE auto exposure. Konica had its own distinct bayonet mount system used most often with their Hexanon lenses.,

Konica

Konica Minolta was a leading manufacturer in advanced digital imaging systems, with a long legacy of innovation and technological breakthroughs. Especially in terms of photographic equipment that measures precision dimensional measurement, color, light and appearance. The Autoreflex T was the camera that planted Konica firmly on the SLR map, along with the company's own distinct bayonet mount system used most often with their Hexanon lenses. Founded by Rokusaburo Sugiura in 1873, Konica focused on removing limitations in technology and empowering users to work more productively, efficiently and collaboratively until the company sold its photo imaging assets to Sony in 2006.

Konica FS-1 SLR Camera | 1968 | Photographic Equipment | RIC_031 *
Konica Hexanon 80-200mm F3.5 Zoom Lens | 1966 | Photographic Equipment | RIC_049
Konica Hexanon AR 57mm F1.4 Lens | 1965 | Photographic Equipment | RIC_050
Konica Hexanon AR 40mm F1.8 Lens | 1978 | Photographic Equipment | RIC_051
Konica Hexanon AR 28mm F3.5 Lens | 1975 | Photographic Equipment | RIC_052
Konica UV 55mm Filter | 1976 | Photographic Equipment | RIC_053
Konica 35mm Lens Hood | 1972 | Photographic Equipment | RIC_054
Konica 24-28mm Lens Hood | 1975 | Photographic Equipment | RIC_055

Bang & Olufsen

Bang & Olufsen is a high-end consumer electronics company that designs and manufactures primarily audio and audiovisual equipment. Focusing on delivering new and innovative products enables Bang & Olufsen to adapt to the changing technology trends and customer demands across business units. The brand's line of Beogram music players was created by designer Jacob Jensen, who also designed and helped develop more than 230 products for the company over 27 years. Co-founded in 1925 by Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen, the company focuses on the core capabilities of sound, design and craftsmanship and offers customized products based on three categories; on-the-go, flexible living, and staged.

Bang & Olufsen Form 1 Headphones | 1985 | Audio Equipment | RIC_067 *
Bang & Olufsen Beogram CD Player | 1986 | Audio Equipment | RIC_077

Bang&Olufsen Form 1 HeadphonesBang & Olufsen designs and develops audio and video products. The company's product portfolio comprises bluetooth speakers, televisions, music systems, loudspeakers and in-ceiling and in-wall speakers. It also offers wireless speaker systems, earphones, sound systems, and accessories. Based on the fact that no two heads are created alike, Bang & Olufsen designed a stereo headphone that could comfortably fit any head automatically and regardless of size, shape and profile. This was made possible by the design that allowed for the weight to be carried by the top of the head and not the ears.,

Modus Design 400 ml RANDOM CupModus studio has been developing alternative solutions in the field of functional, decorative and artistic porcelain for US and European market. Random series is a concept product providing additional meanings for an ordinary utilitarian object. Each of this mass-produced utilitarian cups carry randomly selected 3-digit number, making each of those cups unique and original. You never know what number will be on your cup.,

Modus Design

Modus Design develops alternative solutions in the field of decorative, functional and artistic porcelain design. Founded in 1976 by Marek Cecula, the company aims to express and infuse contemporary spirit into noble material, focusing on the development of new forms and possibilities within the landscape of the table arrangement. Their unique studio setup encourages cooperation between designers and industry, while adapting to the new technologies and innovative applications of porcelain as a medium. Ceramic artifacts created by Modus Design communicate the personal relationship between a human and an object, allowing for a possibility of creation and ritual in their everyday use. The Tattoo Tribal series pieces best reflect a unique artisanry in industrial design.

Modus Design Tattoo Series Tribal Ceramic Cup | 2002 | Culinary Containers | RIC_005
Modus Design RANDOM Cup | 2004 | Culinary Containers | RIC_039

DESCRIPTION ASSISTANT

In transcribing the ECU Archives Film Slide Collection, I was required to follow archival procedures to preserve, repair, transcribe and update slide information into metadata a spreadsheet.

ECU ArchivesThe Emily Carr University Archives acquires, preserves and makes available records documenting the history of Emily Carr University of Art and Design, it's various faculties, departments and governing bodies. Additionally, to supplement the information in the University's corporate records, the ECU Archives acquires the private papers of faculty members, administrators and alumni; as well as the records of independent student, alumni and employee organizations. The holdings consist of a broad range of materials including publications, textual records, course calendars, video recordings, audio recordings and photographs dating from 1925 to present. For the most part, these records are not digitized - here you can find descriptions of those records, known as finding aids. Please note that square brackets "[ - ]" indicate that the information contained within the brackets has been supplied or inferred by the archivist. Contact the Archives to schedule an orientation, research appointment or a meeting: archives@ecuad.ca,

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