A true pioneer of industrial design in Quebec, Michel Dallaire not only created the BIXI design as we know it today, but he is also responsible for the design of the Olympic torch for the games in Montreal in 1976, the furniture at the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (Quebec National Library and Archives), the Angelcare baby monitor, the ever popular Resentel attaché case and much more. A collection of his works are being showcased at an exposition in Quebec City that we were fortunate enough to be able to visit.
The Musée de la civilisation à Québec (Museum of Civilization in Quebec City) is showcasing the exhibition “Dallaire. From idea to object,” a tribute to the designer’s exceptional work. There we can find several objects that were conceptualized and designed over the years, as well as the doodles that Mr. Dallaire did, always leaving room for contributions from his collaborators rather than creating a set plan.
Michel Dallaire used the boomerang as inspiration when he designed the shape of the BIXI. When you compare the two, the resemblance of the curve is striking! Robustness and sturdiness were at the core of his idea to create this object that has graced the streets of Montreal for nearly 10 BIXI seasons. The BIXI model can now be seen in no less than 24 cities around the world and has even inspired other bike-sharing systems. A true source of pride for Quebec!
The designer has been truly inspired by ways of getting around. In visiting the exposition, we saw how essential the bike is to his approach. Mr. Dallaire even created the subway cars for Boston’s red subway line, as well as the Snowfox three-ski sled that has been enjoyed for more than a generation of winters.
A great activity to try if you are in Quebec City this summer!
“Dallaire. From idea to object,” until August 26, 2018 at the Musée de la civilisation de Québec.
