Critical Debates in Design ( task five )

Ai Weiwei:

Ai Weiwei (born 1957) is a Chinese artist, who is also active in architecture, curating, photography, film, and social and cultural criticism. Ai collaborated with Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron as the artistic consultant on the Beijing National Stadium for the 2008 Olympics.

Besides showing his art he has been investigating in the corruption and cover-ups under the power of the government. He was particularly focused at exposing an alleged corruption scandal in the construction of Sichuan schools that collapsed during the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. He intensively uses the Internet to communicate with people all over China, especially the young generation.

Sichuan earthquake student casualties investigation
On 15 December 2008, Ai Weiwei supported an investigation into student casualties in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake started by another Chinese artist. The investigation aimed to compile a list of students killed in the earthquake by 12 May 2009, the earthquake's first anniversary. As of 14 April 2009, the list had accumulated 5,385 names. Ai published the collected names as well as numerous articles documenting the investigation on his blog, which has been shut down in May 2009.

Last year, he releases his music project about Sichuan earthquake. He unmasks the local authorities corruption scandal in the construction of Sichuan schools from this music. But Unfortunately, Chinese government controls the media, so I can't find this music on the Internet.

Ps: He holds his exhibition at Tate Modern. (12 October 2010  – 2 May 2011)

Ma ke:

She is one of China’s most successful designers: Ma Ke. Following her intuition of creating simple organic designs using sustainable fabrics and hand made artisan production, Ma Ke has fashioned two unique collections. Launched in 1996, Exception de Mixmind is a line of sophisticated minimalist daywear distributed in 58 namesake stores and corners throughout China.

In 2008 she was invited to show her work at London’s prestigious Victoria&Albert Museum and at Paris Haute Couture Week.

Clothing Brand:
Ma Ke’s latest endeavour Wu Yong (Useless) was invited to launch at Paris Fashion Week in 2007 and has since been accumulating accolades from the design and art communities. Ma Ke was awarded the title of ‘Best Asian Fashion Designer’ at the 2007 Elle Style Awards.

Socially responsible of the 'Useless':
Ecological responsibility, the designer has the responsibility to consider the negative effect of environment. Designers should take more focus on the process of productions making,rather than just to pursuit of maximal commercial interests. What is more, Designers should to consider the product's long-term use and recycling, rather than do short-lived and disposable products.

5/20 photos from my life

lantern party


Place: China Town ( London )
Time: Chinese New year

Other 20 Photos

Critical Debates in Design ( task four )

Which organization/companies do you think have a good CSR policy and why?

Honeybees are disappearing at a rapid speed, which was bad news for the global food chain. Haagen-Dazs create a website to raise awareness of the issue: “Honey bees are responsible for pollinating one-third of people’ foods, example ice creams, sorbets, frozen yogurt and bars.”

Haagen-Dazs invest a part of income in the research of honeybee. What is more, it holds a society activity about the Help Honey Bees, and raising $7,000 in two days.

What do you consider to be your personal social responsibilities as a designer?

Designers have a duty to make people’ life better instead of just take force on profit. And, nowadays, not only design needs to resolve ‘ user friendly ‘ problem, it also should to address ‘ social problem’.

Change people’ behavior

Piano StairCase:

You often hear people said: Using the stairs more healthy than the elevator when you are upstairs. However, few people did it. And these designers use a simple and funny way to resolve it.

Please check this video: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTI0NTQ2MDQ4.html

The World’s Deepest Bin:

They use an easy way to make the bed behavior of throwing garbage out of recycle bin disappear.

Please check this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbEKAwCoCKw

Eco-friendly

A large number of paper water was a threat to environment. And designers should to design something to tackle it.

Kenyahara – a very outstanding Japanese designer and this is his design project. He makes the shape of toilet paper core to square, which just spend a bit piece of paper when people use it. He used a simple way to save more toilet paper.

                                                                                                                      

Critical Debates in Design ( task three )

Before: Star Wars

'Star Wars (1977), (aka Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope) is one of the most popular, profitable, entertaining, and successful science fiction/action - adventure/fantasy films of all time. The film, shot mostly on location in Tunisia, Guatemala and Death Valley (California), advanced special-effects technology to a degree unseen before, with computerized and digitally-timed special effects. It ultimately helped to resurrect the financial viability of the science-fiction genre, a category of films that was considered frivolous and unprofitable, and brought the phrase "May the Force be with you" into common usage.' (Wikipedia)

Definitely, Star Wars is a legend in the 20^th, not only it is a landmark in the film industry, it also change host of young people life in the 20^th. And up to now, it still have host of star wars fans in China.  

Now : Avatar

'Development on Avatar began in 1994, when Cameron wrote an 80-page scriptment for the film. Filming was supposed to take place after the completion of Cameron's 1997 film Titanic, for a planned release in 1999, but according to Cameron, the necessary technology was not yet available to achieve his vision of the film. Work on the language for the film's extraterrestrial beings began in summer 2005, and Cameron began developing the screenplay and fictional universe in early 2006. Avatar was officially budgeted at $237 million. Other estimates put the cost between $280 million and $310 million for production and at $150 million for promotion. The film was released for traditional 2-D viewing, 3-D viewing (using the RealD 3D, Dolby 3D, XpanD 3D, and IMAX 3D formats), and "4-D" viewing. The stereoscopic filmmaking was touted as a breakthrough in cinematic technology. '(Wikipedia)

In China, people who want to get an IMAX ticket of Avatar is tough thing, even though you spend lots of money.Fortunately, I worked in the design team of Avatar poster Chinese edition.  And sponsor gives two tickets to me. This is my first time watching IMAX 3D movie. Expect storyline, the visual and sound effect are extremely perfect. And this movie is a legend.
 

Stash

People who want get inspiration can benefit from watching Stash DVD series. Up to now, it has release 77 DVD, and you can buy it in China, even if the producer releases it in USA. And this is last edition- Stash 77.

Stash 77 arrives just in time to time to kick February's butt with 32 stimulating motion projects and the latest in our series of advanced training courses from Digital Tutors. Plus you get all the fabulous Stash extras including the Bonus Films: two tripped-out fractal experiments by Alexandre Lehman: the Bonus Music: six passionate tracks from Toronto’s Rosfur, and a long list of insightful behind-the-scenes features.

Future?

In my opinion, in the future, maybe people will tired of 3D technology, and take more focus on 2D media. And maybe people will pay more attention on story line instead of visual effect. 

Critical Debates in Design ( task two )

National Stadium Beijing China  ( sign system )

In 2008, I went to Beijing to watch the Olympic games. And I get a great impression from the national stadium. Not only the structure of building is magnificent, it also has a functional and efficient wayfinding sign system. 

Whether quickly dispersing large crowds of people, or getting 92,000 spectators into a stadium before kick-off-and afterwards quickly and safely out again. Every gate and every exit that can’t be found can become a big problem. But, during this period, I find everything is in perfect order, and I spent a perfect time in this travel.

Strengths and Weakness:

All signs are easy to read, and I can find my way in a short time. But in my opinion, if I design this project, I will design some element of kinaesthesia and movement to show Olympic Game.  


Some good book of way-finding system: ( Your can find it in the library )