Studio Periscope for Lockwood and ASSA ABLOY Australia
Studio Periscope
(est. 2006, Melbourne)
Lockwood and ASSA ABLOY Australia
(est. 1934, Upper Beaconsfield, Victoria)
Studio Periscope is an industrial design agency based in Melbourne and founded in 2006 by Lisa Oaten and Robert Sim. On display at Melbourne Now are the studio’s door handle designs for Lockwood, an iconic Australian brand in the locking industry dating back to 1934.
Designed in 2019, the Lockwood Brass Core range is a collection of twenty-four door handles. For Studio Periscope, the primary design challenge was to create a wide selection of elegant door handles that also met accessibility and mobility compliance requirements for public institutions. Compliance regulations are designed to ensure users with diverse mobility can easily operate door handles; however, compliant door furniture is often perceived by architects and interior designers to lack aesthetic appeal. Working within compliance constraints, the studio collaborated closely on the Brass Core range with the team at Lockwood’s parent company, ASSA ABLOY Australia, part of an international group based in Sweden. They explored three-dimensional forms, using various design languages to suit a range of buildings and styles to address aesthetics, ergonomic comfort, ease of manufacture and longevity. Made entirely from recyclable brass, the range is one of the largest collections of AS1428.1 compliant door handles on the market and is manufactured in Australia.
Studio Periscope’s portfolio spans product designs for a diverse range of industries and categories, ranging from conceptual design through to detailed engineered solutions. The studio has received numerous accolades, including winning the NGV Victorian Design Challenge in 2019 and best hardware and building product at the 2020 Good Design Awards Australia.