2009 Recipient

Robert Johnston

Vancouver, BC
Industrial Design
www.tangramdesign.com

Striving to develop designs that bridge the gap between users and technology, Robert creates compelling and engaging products and experiences through a strategic balance of business, science and art. A 1998 graduate of the industrial design program at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design (ECU), Robert has worked on a diverse range of innovative and award-winning projects in a variety of mediums, including consumer products, equipment, packaging, and environments. Robert is a strong advocate for the promotion of industrial design in British Columbia and is an active member of the BC Industrial Design Association. In 2006 he founded Tangram Design with the goal of creating products and experiences that are compelling for people to engage with but are also profitable for BC companies to produce.

Earthcycle Packaging

Virgo MRI System

Ohm Cycle Battery Enclosure

Presentation Citation

Robert Johnston designs products that meld innovative technologies with compelling and memorable user experiences. A 1998 graduate of the industrial design program at Emily Carr, one of Robert's early works‰the Virgo MRI machine for a local medical device manufacturer is still recognized as an innovative design solution.

Later he joined Vancouver-based Karo design where he contributed to award winning industrial designs for medical devices, consumer products and sporting goods. Now operating his own design consultancy, Tangram Design, Robert continues to create compelling and engaging products and experiences through a strategic balance of business, science and art. Robert's battery enclosure for the Abbotsford-based electric bicycle company Ohm Cycles, shown here tonight, is an excellent example of his creative design. A leading industrial designer in BC, Robert commits his time to the BC Industrial Design Association and teaches at Emily Carr University focusing on emerging design methodologies.