Associate Professor Sandy Walker
Academic Level D
College of Science and Engineering
I have a passion for innovation, the creation of value through the successful exploitation of creativity. A good idea is only a good idea, without the support of product research, creative design, development, investment and commercialization strategies. During the course of my career, I have worked in product development, business development and senior management capacities the UK, Australia, USA, South Korea and China. As an industrial designer and business development manager, I have identified and developed numerous product and business model opportunities, spanning the communications, domestic appliance, computer, medical, plastics, sustainability, education and food & beverage industries.
As a graduate from a BSc degree in Industrial Design (Technology) program (the first engineering, marketing and product design hybrid course in Britain featuring a significant industry involvement component), and having worked in the R&D departments of advanced technology companies for much of my professional design career, I believe that a pedagogical environment which encourages the application of scientific knowledge and the provision of learning activities within an applied professional setting, are critical components of an industrial design education.
In a commercial environment where only one in seven products is successful in the market place and where 30% of products fail at launch, simply having a “good idea” is not enough to guarantee success, without all of the pieces of the innovation “jigsaw-puzzle” in place. Product Innovation is the complete business process of introducing a new or improved product to market and it should span the entire product life cycle from the initial identification of a market/technological opportunity, conception, design and development through to production, market launch, support, enhancement and product retirement.
PhD Mechanical Engineering, RMIT, Melbourne, Australia.
MBA, The University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
BSc Industrial Design (Technology), Napier University, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Higher National Certificate in Management, Fife College, Kirkcaldy, Scotland.
Certificate in Industrial Management, Fife College, Kirkcaldy, Scotland.
Selected for the “World’s Best Design Exhibition” 2016.
Selected for the “Good Design Awards Exhibition”, at the annual DESIGN KOREA 2016 Exhibition, Seoul.
Winner Red Dot Award 2016 http://red-dot.de/pd/online-exhibition/work/?lang=en&code=26-05795-2016&y=2016&c=167&a=0.
Winner Good Design Award 2016 https://www.good-design.com/entry/arthritis-nurse-call-device/.
The Premier's Award, 2015 Design Institute of Australia Award.
The President's Award, 2015 Design Institute of Australia Award.
Gold Award, 2015 Design Institute of Australia Award.
SimHealth 2015, "Best Technology and Innovation" Research Award.
Design Institute of Australia Awards 2015, Gold Award, President's Award and Premier's Award.
24 Hour Design Challenge winning team, at the Design4Health 2015 Conference at Sheffield Hallan University.
Associate Editor for The International Journal of Design Management and Professional Practice.
"Arthritis Nurse Call Project" ID Incubator project partnering with Hills https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HUmq7VzGmg.
"Safety Bottle Light" (ITEK), Invented, Designed, Developed and Commercialised. Product. Launched at EuroBike 2014 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDyQUoqm27k, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9XG5mh0cwE, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsHLEXr6fkk.
ISWA Publication Award 2012, 2nd Prize, Awarded by the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), Vienna.
Initiated medical simulation collaborations, White + Weiss Cricothyrotomy Trainer - Design Story (youtube)
2010 Supported Teacher Award Winner, The University of South Australia.
Winner Good Design Award 2003 http://www.gooddesignaustralia.com/awards/past/entry/orbcourt-multi-sport-flooring1/?year=2003.
Design Institute of Australia Design Awards 2002, Orbcourt Multipurpose Sports Flooring- Commendation Award https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXOmbwMogXk.
South Australia Pavilion, ICSID Sydney Design '99 Conference, Coordinated pavilion design, development and implementation.
Finalist, British Design in Japan Competition (Citizen), Tardis Wrist Watch, exhibited at Suibu, Ikebukuro, Tokyo.
Retired in 2020.
Launched the Bachelor of Design, Technology and Innovation in 2016.
Created content for and taught in the following topics:
- Ergonomics and User Centred Design
- Design Methods
- Design Communication
- Design for manufacture
- Design Studio
- International Industrial Design
Retired in 2020.
Launched the Bachelor of Design, Technology and Innovation in 2016.
Created content for, and taught in the following topics:
- Ergonomics and User Centred Design
- Design Methods
- Design Communication
- Design for Manufacture
- Design Studio
- International Industrial Design
Innovative Manufacturing Accelerator Program, Advisory Board Member
Adelaide Biodesign Accelerator Program, Prototyping & Product Design.
“Open State” Festival of Ideas, Represented Flinders University with iBoll.
NVI Envies Awards, Gold and Silver Sponsor.
International Graduate Design Exhibition- University of South Australia, University of Northumbria, Napier University and Tianjin University.
Industrial Design Incubator, The introduction of the Industrial Design Incubator Initiative. Office of Strategic Research Partnerships.
DIA Design-Cycle Exhibition in conjunction with Velo-City- Co-ordinating and curating exhibition at Convention Centre.
Commercialisation Australia Volunteer Business Mentor- VBM Network Member.
DIA Water Exhibition (South Australian Museum)- Co-ordinated and curated design exhibition.
Group Leader, LinkedIn UniSAID Industrial Design Alumni Association- UniSA Industrial Design Graduates from 1988 to 2015, with over 200 active members.
Initiated the creation of the Napier University/University of South Australia Industrial Design Exchange Program.
Sustainable Design Industry Workshops, Innovate SA/DTED- General industry and targeted sustainable design workshops.
World Industrial Design Day- SA Organiser. World Industrial Design Day (WIDD) is observed Internationally each year in recognition of the ID profession.
Monash University Bachelor of Industrial Design External Review Panel- Review panel member.
DIA/Laminex Exhibition- Co-ordinated and curated exhibition.
University of SA Industrial Design Graduate Design Exhibition- D13 Arkidelo Design (youtube)
Design Institute of Australia Education Coordinator- South Australian DIA Chapter Council.
Chaired Judging Panel DIA Awards (Object)
Australian Design Awards- Selection Committee Member.
UniSA/Pukyong University Joint Design Exhibition- School of AAD Organiser.
International Study Tour (China 2010)- Design and Architecture study tour to Hong Kong, Shanghai (Expo2010) and Beijing.
International Study Tour (Hong Kong 1996)- Industrial Design study tour to Hong Kong.
Adjunct, The University of South Australia- Appointed by Emeritus Professor Denise Bradley AC, former Vice Chancellor and President of the University of South Australia.
International Study Tour (Japan 1989)- Study tour to Nagoya and Tokyo for ICSID 1989 Conference.
- Industrial Design
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
South Australia | Northern Territory
Global | Online
Follow Flinders
