Tim Ross has a new book out celebrating clever and iconic Australian design. ‘What a Ripper!’ will focus on the nostalgia of growing up in Australia in the 1960s to 1990s via 60 special objects. All the pieces were made in Oz and as such the self-confessed nerd highlights that great things happen here.
Awesome Aussie inventions in the book include the Speedo, Aeroguard, the Esky Brick, Stubbies, the Beachcomber, the Cricket Hat and the ATPD pedestrian buzzer.
Ross, who goes by Modernister on the ‘gram, captured the Gen X audience as a comedian, TV and radio host in the early oughts (with The Merrick & Rosso Show) but has since celebrated modernist design and architecture. He’s successfully looped in an intergenerational audience of Millennials, Gen Z and Boomers of the ABC with programs such as Streets of Your Town and Designing a Legacy. He also has episode 1 of a new podcast out now with ‘Grand Designs’ host Kevin McCloud, Tim & Kev’s Big Design Adventure. Ross is also the author of several books.
Ross’ interest in everyday design is part of a zeitgeist, for example the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York is now presenting ‘Pirouette: Turning Points in Design’ which investigates the genesis of items we might overlook but are design achievements. Among them, the Emoji, the Post-It, the Monobloc chair (you know that plastic stackable one in many sheds and backyards), and Crocs. Check out the website listed above for the interesting history of these inventions.
Back to home-turf, Ross’ book promises to lovingly bring you back to ‘things like traipsing to the caravan-park toilet with a Dolphin torch at night, indulging in crème de menthe from a Regis glass, lobbing a banana peel at a Nylex flip-top bin and sporting a new Stackhat while riding your BMX bike.’
This book is sure to provide great stories, trivia answers and amusing conversation starters for mates at the pub or the old folks home.
You can buy the ‘What a Ripper!’ published by Murdoch Books here.