Design and Art Australia Online

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Ruth McDermott was trained as an industrial designer. Her professional experience includes working in-house for large and small manufacturers and the international consultancy Pentagram Design in London.

Upon returning to Sydney she ran an industrial design practice with a partner for six years. One product resulting from this design practice was the Fitpack syringe container for the NSW Department of Health.

In 1997, McDermott changed direction and established Ovo Design with Rina Bernabei. This collaborative venture’s first project, Bernini Lights Up, won an international design award and was widely exhibited and published. In 2000 Ovo Design had a major exhibition called 'Lucid’ and some of this work was exhibited at the 2000 'Salone Satellite’ at the Milan Salone Del Mobile as part of the Sydney 612 group.

Since 2000, she has been working solo and has exhibited at the Salone Satellite, Milan Salone Del Mobile in 2001 and in 2003 exhibited with David Trubridge under the name McDermott Trubridge.

In 2005, McDermott had a major solo exhibition at Object Gallery, Sydney, titled 'Coralscapes’, which was funded by an Australia Council for the Arts grant. She now works collaboratively with various architects on a number of site-specific lighting installations.

Ruth McDermott is an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, and broadcasts regularly on the ABC on issues connected with design and culture.

Writers:

Powerhouse Museum

Date written:

2012

Last updated:

2012