Markus Begutter

Industrial Design

Hello, I'm Markus, a recent graduate from the Industrial Design program at Swinburne University. My journey in the world of design has been shaped by a blend of creativity, passion, and a profound love for innovation.

From an early age, I found my muse in the diverse forms of art and nature. My background as a visual artist, showcased through the privilege of exhibiting at NGV Australia and winning the VCAA’s award for best artwork for Studio Arts in VIC (2018), has honed my aesthetic sense and attention to detail. It was this passion for visual arts that naturally led me to the realm of industrial design.

During my years at Swinburne, I delved deep into the intricacies of design, exploring the perfect amalgamation of form and function. My proficiencies in 3D product visualisation, CAD, sketching, and 3D printing allowed me to bring my ideas to life, turning concepts into tangible realities.

Beyond the world of design, I am an avid adventurer. I find solace in the midst of nature, whether it's the thrill of mountain biking on rugged trails, the serenity of skiing down snow-covered slopes, or the peace that comes with hiking amidst scenic landscapes. These experiences not only rejuvenate my spirit but also inspire my design ethos, pushing me to create products that resonate with the adventurous soul.

My interests are as diverse as my designs. I draw inspiration from the world of art, finding beauty in every stroke and colour palette. Fashion is another avenue where I express my creativity, appreciating the artistry of textiles and styles. The world of fragrance captivates me, with scents becoming a canvas for my olfactory imagination. Music, with its rhythmic melodies, adds harmony to my creative process, guiding my thoughts into innovative pathways.

As I step into the professional world, I carry with me a wealth of experiences and a heart brimming with passion. I am not just a designer; I am a storyteller who weaves tales of adventure, artistry, and innovation through my creations. Join me on this exciting journey where design transcends boundaries and becomes a way of life. Please do not hesitate to contact me if my work has sparked your interest.

TF Tools RR System

A tool system for mountain bikers that reimagines current tools and processes in a unique way, making trailside repair intuitive and rapid. These tools both lessen the time taken out of recreation and minimize injuries or further damage to the bike through improvisation and excessive brute force. The inflator revolutionizes tubeless tyre repair by streamlining the current steps of plugging, adding sealant and inflating into one simultaneous process, resulting in repairs made in 30 seconds or less, allowing racers to remain racing.

L05 Lamp for About Space

Inspired by Bauhaus design and Kandinsky paintings, the lamp utilizes About Space's proprietary Yosh Thread system and shades, allowing for endless customization for customers. The lamp plays with geometric forms to translate the abstract paintings into a tangible and beautiful lamp.

Zenith Mirror for Country Road Home

The Zenith Mirror is a contemporary reinterpretation of Country Road’s white label product. It combines minimalist design with innovative elements, featuring flawless white marble and elegant brass detailing. The asymmetrical design creates a playful yet sophisticated interaction between shapes. When assembled, it forms an optical illusion, resembling a window rather than a mirror, seamlessly integrating into any modern interior. Its simple assembly and cost-effective methods make it an accessible statement piece.

Acervus Stacked Plywood Coffee Table

The Acervus Coffee Table is crafted from CNC'ed plywood sheets in differing stains. Its innovative design presents a stunning interplay of alternating stacked levels, generating captivating visual contrast and casting alluring architectural shadows. The table's elegance is further accentuated by its diagonal intersecting legs, which not only offer robust support at five strategic points but also create a captivating visual counterpoint to the upper rectangular form. At the heart of the design lies a sleek glass sheet adorning the tabletop, functioning as a captivating window to showcase the owner's prized possessions, transforming the table into a dynamic art piece. This transparent surface not only adds an intriguing material variation but also ingeniously breaks the form, adding depth and sophistication to the overall aesthetic.

Solar Solutions Model One Solar Light

The solar light ingeniously repurposes off-the-shelf circuitry and LEDs into an elegant fixture, featuring dual openings that cast a graceful light pattern when mounted on the wall. Through meticulous design for manufacturing (DFM) and injection molding techniques, this innovative product transforms circuitry into a sustainable and distinctive illumination solution. Serving as both external home decor and practical lighting for wayfinding and house numbers, it seamlessly blends functionality with aesthetics.

Acknowledgement of Country

The School of Design and Architecture respectfully acknowledges the Wurundjeri peoples of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners and knowledge-keepers of the lands, waters and sky that surround us, where we work, learn, create, communicate and make place. We recognise that sovereignty has never been ceded and this always was and will always be Wurundjeri Country. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who continue to make a better world through design.

We extend our acknowledgement to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, students, alumni, real-life clients, and knowledge keepers, who have contributed to our own education diversity and growth. We will continue to ensure that staff and students respectfully honour ancestral connection to Country and Place in everything that they do.

We are dedicated to the notion of design to make a better world and we acknowledge that making tools, shaping place, sharing stories, making meaning, wayfinding and collaborating have long been and continue to be both central and integral to First Peoples' cultures. We recognize that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ cultural contributions have continued relevance to design practice and commit to: reconciling ancestries of design and contemporary practice as well as pursuing culturally and professionally appropriate ways to engage with a diverse population of colleagues, industries and clients. In a time of treaty-making and voice we understand that there are overlaps between caring for Country and the sustainable production of goods, services, experiences, products and buildings.

Guided by the principles of respect, reconciliation, and reciprocity we undertake to indigenising and decolonising design practice by dismantling colonial structures and challenging biases that have marginalised Indigenous voices and design.

As students of SoDA you will be given opportunities to both engage with and educate yourself in Indigenous creative practices and cultural protocols through a lens of inclusivity, diversity, respect, mutual understanding, inter-cultural dialogue in all aspects of design practice. Indigenous people have been telling stories, making tools, and connecting to Country through visual media, placemaking and place marking for more than 60,000 years and these practices are part of an ongoing, evolving and live tradition.