Design With A Soul And Take Pride

There are many definitions available in various publications books and cyber media. I personally would like to define designing as something you do that comes from within your feelings. It is an expression that can only be expressed with a pencil and a paper to describe the feeling. This expression is done repeatedly over and over again with much variation before the final product is germinated. Until and unless that soul is satisfied, then the expression process stops.

Having plunged myself into the designing industry, I make every attempt for the last eight years to visit exhibitions related to the designing industry such as Malaysian International Furniture Fair, Archidex and Home Dec with the hope that I will be able to learn from the more experienced institutions and companies from the industry. Unfortunately I failed in being able to tap these experiences. Let me be clear what I am looking for is the secret of designing and not the marketability simply because marketability is relative to creating what the market wants which we really do not know.

 

I do not believe we are lacking in designers with capabilities but there is a hollow relationship between designers and the industry. We have many institutions that produce budding graduates in the field of designing but where have they gone. There is a need to transform our designing industry from a labour intensive trade to design excellence and high quality if we intend to be labelled as a developed nation. This does not mean we forget about what we have been doing over the years that have contributed to our economy. What we need to do is to run these programs in parallel. This is to ensure that we have more than one arena to play instead of being dependent on one. We have to remember there will always be developing nations with no shortage of labour and low cost producers which will catch up and be at par with us or better. We are already experiencing it.

My personal experience in visiting architectural, interior design or furniture fairs outside Malaysia is something for us to learn. It is amazing how these designers that design with a soul play prominent roles in these exhibitions and are able to sell their single or limited edition products at a premium price. These designers are placed in prominent parts of the exhibition and generally become a focal point for visitors at the exhibition. Within the exhibition, the organizers provide buyers with forwarding and shipping agents so that the process of exporting becomes simple. It is my hope that exhibition organizers, when they visit successful exhibitions outside Malaysia, pick up these salient ideas of how to make the country benefit from these shows and at the same time they benefit from their business perspective. It is no point having too many of these exhibitions that almost overlap each other in terms of what is being exhibited but lack in spirit. We must also move away from selling in a container of the same item but to allow for more than one product in a container.  

My take is that designers, industry player,  government and associations of this industry should play a well-coordinated role to ensure that assistance is being given to the right parties so that we are able to see the value for money of products being generated.  I have heard the cries by the government saying that the Malaysian government gives some of the best incentives to the industry so that we are able to compete in the world market. Unfortunately I am not able to see where have these incentives gone because we are still grouping in the dark trying to migrate from an OEM to an ODM player. Do not get me wrong, it is important that we continue to upgrade our OEM market through technology and reduce our labour intensive processes by developing a new breed of human resource that is both handy and technical savvy.

 

 

TYPICAL EXAMPLE OF DESIGN AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES

 



Initial inspiration - Cattleya Orchid



Initial concept - daybed.

Adaptation to Cattleya as the back rest.

Cut list proposal.

Detailing of back rest.

Final design from daybed to love seat.

Original back rest design in 3D rendering.

Final design of the Cattleya love seat.

It is not going to be an easy journey but unless we are prepared to make a start and remove the “self-centred” attitude and work together, we may not achieve this desire. Once we are able to address these issues, I am convinced that we will be able to produce products that are designed with a soul and establish ourselves at par if not better in the world market. This will come with a pride for the nation and something that we can take and be proud of. 

E-Design Price List

Procrastination is a Bad Word

Making excuses to postpone things that needed to be done is not an acceptable excuse. This attitude will mummify all goals that we have set to do and will remain so. The world is not able to compete with the cyber world in the movement pace which is moving faster than we can follow.

In light of what I have written in my introductory paragraph, I am initiating the FnB Gallleria Blog.

Visiting I’Saloni in Milan in mid-April was the knee jerk that prompted me to start the blog and to share my deep interest and a burning desire in designing as a whole. I would like to use this platform to share and share alike with designers wherever you may be in this borderless world, my childhood dream to evolve in the world of art and design.

As a kid growing up, my beloved parents always reminded me that education in the sciences is absolutely important, like being a doctor, a lawyer, an accountant or the noble profession of being an educator to secure a great future. Talk about art, I would always be discouraged, because my beloved dad would say “there is no money in art and I would have to work all my life my dear to feed you if your work does not sell”. This saying always rings a bell in my ear and of course my educational background ended up with statistics and computer science. However I went on a career path that was full circle in finance, technology, stock broking and an entrepreneur in technology before I finally settled for my childhood dream of being a designer. Do I regret being obedient and subservient to my parent’s desire, of course not? In fact I owe it to them, my educational background and the career path have given me the most fundamental requirements to develop my dream and establish a business in the designing industry.

Many friends ask me if it is worth pursuing this dream when technology is the new toy for this borderless world. My response to this, regardless, our lives revolve around design, like how would you drink if there is no cup. For me technology has provided me with the impetus to manage the company in a systematic and professional manner.

Lastly, I would like to thank my husband Amin, my two boys Riz and Kal and my dolly girl Aiman who were always very encouraging and supportive of my interest. May Allah bless my late parents who raised me to believe in myself and have a positive attitude and spare the negative attitude.  Never give up your dreams, toil and plant the seeds, it will germinate as you nurture it.

I'Solani Product Design

My last story was about my trip to Milan and I promised to tell you things that we missed. One important lesson learned is to use the net and do a proper research to obtain as much information as you possibly can as it is absolutely essential that you get the best of your trip. This conversation will be centred on design specifics which were showcased at the show. Milan Design Week is not just about I'Saloni which is the main trade show. The entire show city of Milan embraces design and celebrate it with an extension of the main fair called "fouri salone" literally meaning outside the show, a must visit the next time to Zona Tortona and Ventura.

I must say one crucial observation that fascinates me about the tradeshow is that the majority of the vendors who exhibited their designs are at least third generation in their respective companies. What does it tell you then about their products? A great amount of research and development have taken place to produce their respective products and as a result the quality is exceptional. In my conversations with them, I could feel that they are extremely proud to tell me that “it is made in Italy, and they usually extended invitations to visit their factories.”

Another important observation is the relationship between the use of technology and the processes of producing a product is a necessary marriage that generated the designs. There was a strong display by the exhibitors on the need to exhibit their processes. Kartel’s booth is a very good example as they not only showcased their products but also showcased their processes from sketches, computer generated drawings, models and prototypes. Videos were constantly narrating and explaining how the products were initiated and came to market. It is an indication that they want the consumer to know that it takes a lot of efforts and thought processes to produce their products. It also shows that they are not afraid to share their processes and methodology to ensure consumers of the genuine aspects of their product as “made in Italy”. What is important is the quality of the final product.

Many of the exhibitors have their own brand. However the exhibitors work in collaboration with several distinguished designers to produce their products. There is a very strong relationship between designers, products and individual exhibitors. Again this is such an important marriage that synergises the intense standard of designing that Italy has commanded and we are all congregating to Italy annually to have a taste of it. This speaks volume of the survival of I’Saloni,  year after year and it stretches far beyond the boundaries of the main exhibition itself.

Malaysia as a nation needs to address the direction of our designing industry and for a start a well-designed curriculums in vocational and higher learning education is essential. This being a pretty hands on industry that a good quantum of the curriculum should cover practical requirements. As for the industry, they have to take a lead role in compensating good designers to produce products for their brand. Our industries need to take the lead in generating new products, offer and test the markets to finally perfect it, failing which we will talk and discuss till the cows come home and remain an obedient and a slow follower producing products with designs that are two to three years behind.

If Apple waited to see what others were producing, it would not be a leading player in technology. What Apple did was to produce and offer it to the consumers because their theory is you really do not know what the consumers really want.  Create and make them crave for it.

Author with one of Kartell designer product by Patricia Urquiola.

Study model of a chair.

Miniature study models.

Kartell designer - Phillipe Starck.

One of Kartell chair.

Sketches showing the study of chair design.

I'Saloni - What an Experience

Planning for the Milan trip was quite hectic, simply because the planning took place at the last minute. Plane tickets were hard to get as there were limited airlines flying to Malpensa or Linate airport. Well this is my first trip to Milan and to I’Saloni per say. The excitement of physically being present at the fair was dramatic simply because it is the design capital of the world.

I was not alone, as my friend who is fondly known as Hani, an Architect joined me for this wonderful journey of experience. I was telling to myself, I need plenty of grey matter to absorb, discuss and retain what I will be exposed to at this wonderful fair on architecture, interior design and product design. Of course a camera, a roller bag and a pair of great walking shoes were our companion throughout the journey. Click here and there and the adrenalin of excitement were gushing thru us.

Our first day started with a train ride to Renate which is the final station in to the show grounds which is huge and very well organized to cater for the growing number of visitors ever year. The crowd looked like little ants marching in several files. Imagine the feeling at Milan, hungry to know what are being displayed to wet our appetites from all types of Italian and European furniture, bath and kitchen products.

My understanding and observation on the success of this show and have survived for 51 years is the congregation of designers, architects, buyers, distributors, manufacturers, space planners and of course journalists who are presented not only with newly designed products but a life style. Visiting the different booths and having little chats, collecting brochures, feeling the product and of course clicking for pictures gives you a connected feeling with a life style being presented.

Author at the main entrance to iSaloni 2012 Exhibition - Fiero Milano, Milan, Italy.

The fair houses 22 buildings and offers an extensive space to more than 1600 vendors to display their products. We had to be selective and go to the booths that was of interest and important to us because it was impossible to see the entire fair. Honestly we would have loved to go to every booth being our first experience at the fair but we have to be realistic to pick and choose and get the best out of the trip. What is important is it gives a good perspective of the direction of the world of design. 

I will conclude my journey’s story to other Malaysians who are in this industry to make an effort to visit this fair and feel the adrenalin of what design is all about. I will also leave you with pictures of our trail at the fair and hope to write again on more specifics on the designs and what we discovered at the end of our trip.

My journey was so memorable that I had to get to the nearest shoe shop as soon as I got off the plane. My shoes gave way and told me that it is so exhausted that it split between the sole and the upper part of the shoe which goes to tell you the amount of walking that we had done.

Meanwhile sit back and please visit our website at fnbwimp.wix.com/fnbgalleria and we welcome your constructive and general feedback. 

With Paolo Zani, Art Director of Warli.

With Shin Azumi, designer or 'Kite' chair for Fornasarig.