Design is ideas being understood.
By far in Sweden, I have had a lot of evoke moments. It made me think.
…living in an environment which food wastage recycling is daily practice. Even in ordinary household or just a studyroom in a college. Quiet late afternoon and class at 8:30 reminding rest for a well function body. Spacious and pleasant working places suggesting a priority in comfort to maximized earnings. Strong awareness to bird species, prolific of homewear firms…just a bit of random things I can come up with…
Everything goes back to the very primary question — ‘ What is design?’
In Chelsea, my school, it seemed all of us in the course are of arty people. We worked next door to sculpture students, fine art students. I can do beautiful things. I can think conceptually. I was taught to be innovative in a way against the convention. After all, British design are revolutionary. A textile for fashion mind of thinking — people can instantly be associated are Westwood, Katharine Hamnett, McQueen , Mary Quant… I somehow wonder if rebellious and revolutionary quality in British design has anything to do those restless days they have been through. Perhaps from the industrial revolution time to their days in wars? the rise of middle class working class? the authentic subculture which underlying resistance in youth? Established of YBA? Charles Saatchi? and how could I not have mentioned yet — their culture of labour strike… such as the British Airline strike and Tube strike which has more to do with my student life…
It seemed to me what they are enjoying from established industrial success to individual welfare, from liberty to cultural diversity — these are a result of constant fighting through generations.
In Chelsea London, the learning environment is very much about being daring enough, being experimental. No wonder people can easily associate artists with mental problem.
London as I always find it far too busy than I can cope with, I am not sure if it is this necessary for a city being international influencial enough. Gosh… I have moved on too far I have come up with Imagine by John Lennon.
Sweden (because Gothenburg where I am staying or Boras where I am studying at are not quite an adjective of their own comparing to London) Anyway, Sweden I somehow come up with a word… ‘effortless’. It is a peaceful and comfortable place to be. People generally are not dressing up a statement as harsh as London fashionista. But with kind concern on enhancing lifestyle. I am very impressed by it’s spatial design in public and urban design.
My exchange course in Boras is having a project with a company called CGM. I am very glad I have the chance to visit their office building. CGM is a medium scale firm of 25 employees, specialising across interior, industrial, spatial and textile design. They do a lot of design project on sound absorbents so as to reduce the noise pollution. They demonstrated to us a control room design . They are appointed to refine a control room with a lot of advanced technology sound absorbent design. Ooperators can be kept awaken and feel pleasant to concentrate on work. Then, it is possible to attract a younger generation to this career.
Right on my mind I am very impressed. But I have to say this country is real luxurious — not in direct money sense but on what the time, resources, focus they place.
I can’t help thinking the working and living situation back in my hometown Hong Kong. A lot of time the offices or apartment flats are right by the streets with heavy traffic. I am very sure ten times more intense than in Sweden. The whole Sweden is of similar population to Hong Kong which is just a dot on world map. But I don’t find there has been any great demand on sound absorbent design to improve the living environment.
How can people not be under immense pressure to survive but to enjoy their environment?
I think design is about a comfort feeling.
It is not merely on choosing the classy lambwool or opting for an eco friendly dye.
It is about comfort feeling in the way we live.
It is about preserving… To treat our earth better for a pleasant environment to live.
It is about refining… To re-design. To improve. Rather than making more unnecessary new objects for the sake of consumerism.
It is about communication of ideas. Delivering my belief to those have not awared yet.
It is about enjoying life… To ease urban stress … so when people have ‘fika’, they are not taking caffeine as drug but a delightful break.
If there’s an angel from within… it’d say… (in a rhythmical voice) it is about love and give thanks.
[in a theory- sense… that’s it. thank you.]
My favourite textile designer…Ceca Georgieva.
So I research 