Defining designers

For many designers the whole idea of being put in a box and categorised is not one we like to spend much time on...Now we don't have to - it's been done for us by the US Department of Labor.

It is a comprehensive breakdown. An excellent resource for students looking into professional practice statistics and industry structures etc...

simplicity [squared]

The latest issue of the B&F enews produced at the Byron Office is up. If you receive the enews in your inbox and use Windows you probably noticed some weird browser stuff in the latest August 2005 issue - Bailey in the Shanghai office of B&F came to the rescue so check back to get the "real" version :). The publication comes out about every two months and features the latest projects by the China based design and production team and the research and strategy lab in Byron Bay, Australia.

For more information about Birds & Fish Communications click here

Let's hope so...

This edit from Design Talkboard seems to align with what I read everywhere.

"Every sign from the business community today signals a growing realization of the importance of design - both communication and product design - to American industry’s global competitive advantage. Design innovation is seen as the driving engine - across all business sectors - for creating value in a world economy where production costs and prices are being driven ever lower."

The trick is making it actually happen... :)

I think the problem with the above statement is however that one cannot assume that communication and product design from America will be the most relevant to many people elsewhere...One needs to be careful about making this assumption.Providing people have other options, they may well explore the potential of Chinese design as the most obvious example.

Chatting at the front...

The following extract editied from a conversation I've just had with a friend from Shanghai is kind of illuminating about several aspects of the China phenomena, including culture, comerce, education and societal attitudes.It is a very long post - however I think it offers some small insights...

red13 says: (12:01:03 AM)
I find that a lot of people just see that pretty surface.

red13 says: (12:01:26 AM)
But when you dig a bit deeper, not much interesting stuff going on here.

Ian says: (12:01:43 AM)
I guess the focus of everyone is related to business

red13 says: (12:02:20 AM)
MONEY

Ian says: (12:02:28 AM)
But [for example] in the UK style press there are often articles and images from Beijing in particular that suggest a development in conteporary culture, fashion, music etc

Ian says: (12:02:35 AM)
MONEY

red13 says: (12:02:49 AM)
But where is it? I don't get it...

red13 says: (12:03:16 AM)
everyone says shanghai is so wonderful and avant-garde, but i don't see any of it in daily life.

Ian says: (12:03:44 AM)
Mybe because you are there and you are dealing with it on a daily basis you kind of get blocked - almost as a coping mechanism....so you miss details?

red13 says: (12:04:05 AM)
sure, there are a few who are passionate about art/design/fashion but in the end, most people just want the $$$

Ian says: (12:04:14 AM)
I think there is more likely an avante garde in Beijing

red13 says: (12:04:19 AM)
Maybe... been here too long?

Ian says: (12:04:29 AM)
yes that [$$$] drives it most definitely

red13 says: (12:04:41 AM)
yes. Charles was there last week, and he says lots more experimental stuff there.

Ian says: (12:05:21 AM)
But everywhere is like that to an extent - more so than ever, kind of desperate in a way too. For me it is only a part of the real "big" picture of life tho'

red13 says: (12:05:39 AM)
performance art and so on

Ian says: (12:05:52 AM)
Yes I think Beijing is more open to it - less pre-occupied with commerce

Ian says: (12:06:23 AM)
Still into the commerce tho', that's China no?

Ian says: (12:06:44 AM)
there is so much coverage on China now here in Australia

Ian says: (12:06:52 AM)
all the time in the media

red13 says: (12:07:15 AM)
Beijing has longer history with arts too.

Ian says: (12:07:25 AM)
yes that's true

red13 says: (12:07:55 AM)
and more foreign influence too. Many foreigners studying there.

Ian says: (12:08:24 AM)
I noticed that the university websites in China seem more foreigner friendly these days

Ian says: (12:08:32 AM)
more in English

red13 says: (12:09:03 AM)
they realised they can charge more money to foreigners!

Ian says: (12:10:03 AM)
it is interesting becaue that has implications for the quality of Chinese education. I know for example that creativity is an area that is really yet to be addressed in a serious way in the Chinese education system

Ian says: (12:10:14 AM)
How will western students react to that?

Ian says: (12:10:41 AM)
Or will they accept it aspart of the "China experience" - even at Uni...

red13 says: (12:11:45 AM)
some are starting to wake up to the creativity issue. So many 'weekend' schools are getting into that. They charge 120 rbm an hour to just get little kids (starting at 1 year old or so) to just play around!

Ian says: (12:12:33 AM)
I teach this area a lot at college and I have lots of material about it

red13 says: (12:12:37 AM)
I know... it is a great idea. Whay don't you come here and do that!

Ian says: (12:12:45 AM)
guess that is why I've started writing about it

red13 says: (12:13:14 AM)
and most of these places are really crappy too... Nothing much happening.

red13 says: (12:13:24 AM)
just some dancing and singing.

Ian says: (12:13:42 AM)
well I have many ideas - it's the logistics....$....I am sure it will come together at some point tho'

Ian says: (12:13:52 AM)
dancing singing

Ian says: (12:13:53 AM)
hahah

red13 says: (12:13:59 AM)
better do it quick! competition is fierce!

Ian says: (12:14:00 AM)
karaoke

Ian says: (12:14:05 AM)
yeah I know

red13 says: (12:14:43 AM)
yes! exactly! they just preparing their kids to be karaoke champs!

Ian says: (12:14:57 AM)
REAL creative !

red13 says: (12:15:45 AM)
I was just talking to my kick-box teacher today, and he was mentioning that the older generation sees it as being 'wrong' if you are content/happy with your life Isn't that odd?

Ian says: (12:16:10 AM)
Why do they think that?

red13 says: (12:16:44 AM)
well, seems that life should be about hardships to some extent. And if you're happy every day, you're not taking life seriously.

Ian says: (12:17:34 AM)
well I see the logic but I don't aspire to that - I think contentment is bliss - when i feel that I know I am doing well

red13 says: (12:17:49 AM)
For example, his mother disapproves of his girlfriend cause she's mostly a happy person. She's seen as being childish.

Ian says: (12:18:22 AM)
So perhaps then the impetus to "succeed" make money etc is less?

Ian says: (12:18:35 AM)
And this is seen as not psoitive

red13 says: (12:18:46 AM)
Of course, I think their thinking is totally off in this case! No wonder they grow up into such anal adults!

Ian says: (12:19:12 AM)
yes I know! Some really restricting concepts

Ian says: (12:19:27 AM)
not healthy

red13 says: (12:19:49 AM)
You should work hard, make money and live a serious life. how awfully boring! No wonder our students liked us so much!

Ian says: (12:20:05 AM)
hahaha

Ian says: (12:20:34 AM)
yes the teachers represented some escape/adventurefrom that way of life...

red13 says: (12:20:51 AM)
but you know what...i see that trait in Charles. It's only recent that he's become chill.

Ian says: (12:21:15 AM)
your influence no doubt

red13 says: (12:21:41 AM)
yes! exactly! we are their parent's nightmares! outspoken, confident, able to think.

Ian says: (12:21:46 AM)
It is good to see him heading in that direction

Ian says: (12:22:09 AM)
Probably many younger people are actually beginning to be like that

Ian says: (12:22:29 AM)
Some of the more switched on students were like that

red13 says: (12:23:05 AM)
Well, mine and the people around him. But still very new to him. But he's enjoying it! he brought me this cheesy toy dog from beijing. It barks and follows you around. I was in shock! It's awesome!

Ian says: (12:23:26 AM)
heheh fantastic

red13 says: (12:23:37 AM)
Yes, that's true. the younger ones are more open to that sort of attitude towards life.

Ian says: (12:23:57 AM)
I always liked Charles sense of humour - very subtle and cheeky in a way

red13 says: (12:24:36 AM)
ya... if i could only get him to stop watching 'friends' every night!

Making sense of organisations

The words of Karl Weick are quite interesting...

"Your beliefs are cause maps that you impose on the world, after which you 'see' what you have already imposed"

"Specifically, I would suggest that the effective organization is garrulous, clumsy, superstitious, hypocritical, monstrous, octopoid, wandering, and grouchy"

" If an organization is narrow in the images that it directs toward its own actions, then when it examines what it has said, it will see only bland displays. This means in turn that the organization won't be able to make much interesting sense of what's going on or of its place in it. That's not a trivial outcome, because the kind of sense that an organization makes of its thoughts and of itself has an effect on its ability to deal with change. An organization that continually sees itself in novel images, images that are permeated with diverse skills and sensitivities, thereby is equipped to deal with altered surroundings when they appear."

Get in the swing again :-)

Ok well I know it's been a few weeks since I have seriously offered any words up. Things are chaotic with family, job and project needs clashing to make life hectic to say the least.

Tonight however I stumbled across this blog and felt it was an appropriate link to post. Danwei is a site I have not seen before but at least at first glance it seems relevant.

The concept of Open Space that was raised on CPH127 is pretty inpiring. Reading some of the comments, most notably these words by Chris Corrigan...

The principles of Open Space are also worth noting:

* Whoever comes are the right people
* Whatever happens is the only thing that could have
* When it starts is the right time
* When it's over, it's over

and the law of two feet: if you find yourself in a situation where you are neither learning or contributing, go somewhere where you can.

It was refreshing and reminded me that I have in fact experienced such "spaces" and found them very conducive to creativity. I feel that at one point while managing the Design Centre I achieved that kind of balanced dynamic environment.