"Our designs are not willing to look for so-called "pain points." I often discuss with students that when a designer feels pain before doing design, what kind of numb state is that? ?
What we hope more is to make some problem-free products so that they can be more extraordinary and convey some of the emotions we want to express. ”
——Zhang Jian.
Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts
Professor of Industrial Design School
Design - the most sincere explanation of life
Hello everyone, I am from Zhang Jian from Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts is also the instructor of Life Design Studio. Here I would like to share some stories about design and education with you.
Our studio has won many awards over the years. Students are basically either receiving awards or on the way to receive awards every year.
It has also trained a number of designers.
I often say this to students: I hope they can regard design as God and themselves as human beings. That is to say, we must have a sense of awe for the profession called design we are engaged in. At the same time, we must express our inner feelings very honestly and sincerely without being interfered by other external factors.
Let me share with you some of our imaginative design works.
I don’t like playing cards very much. Every time I put the bombs aside and stack them together, and then there are too many cards and I can’t catch them.
What to do? My students made such a design, making two circles on the upper and lower sides of the playing cards. This is very convenient, just put your gloves inside.
▲ Easy-to-hold playing cards, designed by: Wang Qiuyu, Huang Yingjun, Lin Qiuyan
This is also a student work. There is a mirror in front of the sink, which is made into a bevel. When we wash our hands, this mirror can just shine on the zipper of our pants, reminding us to zip it up.
▲?Reminder mirror, designed by: Pang Rizhan, Tang Jingbin, Jia Zihao, Liao Junsheng
When weighing, we don’t want to wear clothes, otherwise the weight will be called gross weight. Not called net weight. But it is very cold when weighing, especially in winter.
Okay, we set up a clothes hanger next to the scale. When you go to bed at night, you take off all your clothes and hang them on the clothes hanger, and it will help you calculate the weight of the clothes. The next morning, when you wear that outfit and weigh yourself, you can shave off the weight of the outfit.
▲? A scale that can weigh net weight, designed by: Zhang Jian, Pang Rizhan, Tang Jingbin
Sometimes we stew soup, and when the soup boils, there is a buzz of heat. The ground pops out and is easy to pounce out. So, the students made a small pillar on the edge of the pot lid and cut a corner on the edge of the pot. When simmering soup, move the small pillar to a different position so that the hot steam can come out and the soup will not splash out.
▲?Anti-overflow lid, designed by Weng Xiaobin
Many cans are very laborious to open, especially the oval-shaped dace cans sold on the street. Sometimes we When it reaches the middle position, it stops pulling.
So, we bought some cans and tried some. Finally, I found that if the can was made into a trapezoid, it would be more interesting and it would be very labor-saving when pulling it out.
▲?A can that is easy to open,
Designed by: Zhang Jian, Cheng Biliang, Hong Sizhan, Liu Beifang
We can imagine an alcoholic Wandering on the road with a bottle of wine. We all think this is a terrible thing. How to avoid this drunkard?
We made a bell under the wine bottle. When a drunkard wanders around, the sound of the bell will remind us that the drunkard is coming.
▲ Beware of Drunkards, Designed by: Liang Shuyi, Ruan Minting
These are the public chopsticks of Guangdong. When we hold serving chopsticks and prepare to put food into our mouths, there is a small copper bead inside the serving chopsticks. It will collide with the bottom of the chopsticks and make a "ding" sound to remind you that these are serving chopsticks to avoid embarrassment.
▲ Reminder service chopsticks, designed by: Zhu Huahui, Ruan Zhanhao, Liu Zhihao
The name of this cup is "Please". Normally, when a guest comes, we bring him a cup of hot tea, and the guest can only hold the very hot cup. We made a small ring at the bottom of the cup, with such a height difference from the cup handle, which further reflects the respect for the guests.
▲ Please, design: Liu Weijun, Pang Rizhan, Guo Wanyi
We sometimes drink half of the red wine, and the bottle of red wine must be placed lying down to prevent air from entering and oxidizing the red wine. . So I made a bow tie next to the wine bottle. It can be placed lying down, and it can also add some gentlemanly atmosphere to the red wine.
▲? Bow Tie Wine Bottle 2, designed by: Zhang Jian, Cheng Biliang, Mai Peishan
One seat was held in 2012, and I was invited only now. I am almost 50 years old . I used to wear myopia glasses, but now they are getting old. I often come to meetings to see some materials, but I can’t even see them clearly.
My classmates may have made such a badge specially for me.
There is a magnifying glass in front of me. When I was participating in the graduation thesis review, I just took the badge and looked at it, and many words were magnified.
▲? Conference badge with a magnifying glass,
Designed by: Lin Qiuyan, Huang Yingjun, Wang Qiuyu
This pruning shears may also be designed for me. When you plant flowers after you retire, if your eyesight is too old to see, you may cut off the flowers with a snap. The classmate made a magnifying glass on the pliers so that he can observe while cutting.
▲?Pruning knife with magnifying glass, design: Wang Junchao, Pang Rizhan
It seems like these are made for me. I have a problem with my shoulder. Sometimes I put a dog-skin plaster on it, but sometimes it can’t be applied to the most painful part. If you peel it off, the plaster will stick together.
So the students divided the plaster into three halves. After tearing off the round piece in the middle, first aim at the very painful point and press it. After pressing it correctly, tear the left and right pieces apart.
▲? Fixed-point application of ointment, designed by: Pang Rizhan, Wang Junchao, Liao Junsheng, Jia Zihao
This is a thermal underwear with many acupuncture points marked on it. If you feel uncomfortable, you can press it That acupuncture point.
▲?Acupoint clothes for the elderly, design: Li Zongjie
Actually, I have a more unique idea. I have a shoulder problem, and I was wondering if I could first go to a traditional Chinese medicine hospital to sign up and have the doctor mark the acupuncture points with a red ballpoint pen. Then I would quickly ride a bicycle to a tattoo shop and get it tattooed on my body. In this way, I can just press the tattoo point without wearing this clothes.
A classmate made a teapot. Because the elderly like to place teapots, she made some edges and corners on the teapots and massaged her hands while placing the teapots.
▲? Massageable teapot, design: You Fengping
Sometimes I tear envelopes in a hurry and will tear them into pieces. We made many small holes on the edge of the envelope, called ant lines. Before tearing it, you can look at the light to see if the letter is in that position.
▲?An envelope to prevent letters from being torn,
Designed by: Yu Mutian, Lu Jiachun, Mai Peishan, Huang Kaiqi
A set of books, we packed it inside magnet. This way it won't fall apart when placed on the bookshelf, and it will always be a set of books that stick together.
▲?Magnetic book, designed by: Lu Jiachun, Huang Kaiqi, Yu Mutian, Yan Jianwen
When we designers make drawings or calculate drawings, there are some numbers that need to be recorded. When you can't find paper around, you can write on this ruler.
▲? A ruler for recording information,
Designed by: Tang Jingbin, Wang Qiuyu, Pang Rizhan, Liao Junsheng
This is a set of rulers for children.
▲?Children’s round ruler, designed by: Huang Kaiqi, Lu Jiachun
It uses the inside to measure distances.
The outside is very round, which can prevent children from getting hurt. Own.
Once I went to a concert and it was raining heavily. The waiter gave me an umbrella cover and put the umbrella inside. After a while, water accumulated inside. I just thought, it would be great if there was a fish in it. I kept thinking about this throughout the concert, and I didn’t quite understand the music.
After I came back, I printed a small fish on the silk screen inside the umbrella cover.
After dripping water, the small fish will live.
▲? Xiaoyu umbrella cover, design: Zhang Jian, Mai Peishan
When we clean the ceiling, our eyes often get confused. So one student thought: Is it possible to make a trumpet-shaped container on the broom and let the ashes fall into it?
▲ Dust-proof broom, designed by Li Weisi
We also do some public welfare designs. This is for housewives, a small stool connected to a washboard so that the washboard won't rock up and down when washing clothes.
▲? Washing stool, design: Chen Jie
A flowerpot that can grow. On the left is a small seedling. When we grow up, we take off the rubber bands and turn it into a big flowerpot.
▲?Growing flowerpot, design: Yang Xiaocong
Sometimes we carry bicycles on overpasses and cross the road. It is much more convenient to make a cushion under the bicycle that fits the shoulders.
▲? Bicycle seat, designed by: Ruan Zhanhao, Pang Rizhan, Zhu Huahui, Liu Zhihao, Tang Jingbin, Lin Qiuyan
Many marathon runners will have such a habit of running while Drink water and pour this water on your head at the same time. The student thought: Is it possible that the thing that draws water is a shower head?
▲?Marathon water bottle, design: Liu Shudong
The above are some of the previous design works of our studio. Although these works are very imaginative, I always feel that every time I look for creative ideas, it's a bit like trying my luck. Five or six years ago, many colleagues said that our creativity was just a clever trick.
We also feel very confused, and we are also looking for a specific design method and way of thinking so that it can become an endless stream of things that we can use inexhaustibly.
Many classmates said to me: "I'm so passionately in love with life, why can't I find creativity?" Design is sometimes really difficult.
Our design is not willing to look for so-called "pain points". I also often discuss with students, when a designer feels pain before doing design, what kind of numb state is that?
What we hope more is to make some problem-free products so that they can be more extraordinary and convey some of the emotions we want to express.
The next few pictures will be a bit boring. (You can skip it.) It is one of our main design ideas in recent years. We explore the possibility of product existence based on human behavior and psychology. Human behavior and psychology are our source of inspiration.
One word is important here - environment.
We may all feel that the environment is just a limitation. But all our daily perceptions and experiences occur in this environment. It is not a limitation but a source.
Just like the current cultural and creative products, it is worthy of our reflection. Have you noticed that cultural and creative products in scenic spots are rarely sold in cities? The cultural and creative products you buy at the canteen next to the scenic spot happened to be what you saw after visiting that environment. After you take it home, it will have nothing to do with your home environment or office environment. Sometimes we feel that this thing is useless, neither throwing it away nor keeping it.
Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa gave an example of a clothes hook. As outsiders, we may feel that this coat hook is crude and crude.
▲?The ecology of design, Naoto Fukasawa
But have you ever thought about how refreshing it is to actually get this board and nails, especially when nailing them? a feeling of.
There is also a Japanese designer who made a paper shredder. The pieces of paper coming out of this shredder fell all over the floor like fallen leaves.
▲? Nagoya International Design Competition, 2002
If we were a normal designer, like me, we might make a small basket underneath to catch the paper scraps. But this designer intentionally let it litter the floor. When you take a broom and dustpan to sweep the fallen leaves on the ground, you can truly experience the feeling of autumn.
The child is not a fish, how can you enjoy the happiness of fish? If you are not in that environment, how can you feel the joy of being in it?
The environment is really important. It generates many experiences, perceptions, and emotions, which can be used by designers.
Starting from these emotions and experiences, we have several creative ways. The first way is to make a sketch or a correction of objective experience and human perception.
This is a small note written by some students when I held a workshop at Sichuan Fine Arts Institute in 2017.
The first student said she was going to make a doormat with one corner turned up. Make a steel piece inside so that it is always tilted. When a guest comes, he or she will rub the doormat with his feet when he sees it is raised. After rubbing it, it is still warped. If I rub it again, it's still sticking out - he suddenly realizes that the owner of the house is asking me to rub the shoe. So he rubbed the other foot too. This is how design uses human perception and psychology.
The second one is yogurt. Sometimes when we open the yogurt, we always feel like licking the thick yogurt on the lid. But licking Gaier on the street may be a bit embarrassing.
How to avoid this embarrassment? Some students said that if you make the yogurt cover look like an Oreo, then you can lick and twist it like a TV commercial, and it will be natural and not embarrassing at all.
This last one is kind of funny. It was suggested by a girl. She said: "Teacher Zhang, you have to answer me honestly, do you have the habit of looking back at yourself after going to the toilet?" I thought about it, and it seemed that I did.
She said, if there is, then why can't there be some design for this behavior? For example, can the color and wetness of poop be marked on the rim of the toilet? You are too wet, you are too angry, etc...
What an interesting idea.
Sometimes when we have a meeting and get tired of remembering things, we will put down the pen in the notebook. There are wavy grooves on this notebook, and you will think, wow, this pen really fits well on it.
▲?Wavy Notebook, Design: Lu Jiachun
This wavy pencil case is the same. It's really fitting to have the pen on top.
▲?Wave pen box, designed by: Zhang Jian, Yu Mutian
A small night light imitates the appearance of an old TV from the 1960s and 1970s.
▲?TV night light, design: Feng Zhe
Shoot hard. Just snap it and it will light up.
It felt like it was late at night, when we had finished watching all the TV programs, and there were snowflakes on the screen.
When we save change, we hope to leave some money outside for taking the subway or bus. This author combines a piggy bank with a small plate, which can both save money and collect change.
▲? Piggy bank, design: Mai Peishan
Another classmate made a bowl into a piggy bank.
Because when she was little, she would often hide some delicious and fun things in the bowl.
▲ Bowl-shaped piggy bank, design: Li Yihong
I suggested: "Do you want to put a plate under your piggy bank?" He said: "Teacher, I don't want it. "Because saving money is not the main thing, it is just a process. The most important thing is the feeling of lifting the bowl after you have saved all the money, and the money is scattered all over the table. That feeling was what she wanted to express.
In hotels, there are often small tubes of disposable shower gel. After calculation, we found that the most shower gel can be squeezed out at one time by squeezing in the middle position. We made a bump right here.
▲?Button shower gel, design: Zheng Huiyuan
When we buy soap in the mall, we all have the habit of wanting to smell it. If you want to smell it, I will make a hole in the soap box so that you can smell it.
▲? Smell-smelling soap box, design: Shi Xiaotong
Some students said that when they eat French fries at McDonald’s or KFC, they wish they could dip them in more ketchup. Okay, let’s make the fries heads bigger.
▲?Spoon French Fries, Design: Yu Mutian
When we were eating biscuits, we were thinking, could biscuits have multiple flavors? We made a modular biscuit with many flavors prepared on the side, which can be stuffed into the biscuits and you can choose as you like.
▲? Inlaid biscuits,
Design: Zhang Jian, Yu Mutian, Feng Zhe, Ouyang Ling, Wu Weili
A classmate said that we have some in winter The habit of covering one's hands with a cup. He made a hand warmer in the shape of a cup.
▲?Cup-shaped hand warmer, design: Li Weisi
He asked me, what if someone really uses it as a water cup? I suggested that he remove the bottom of the cup, which not only retained the shape of the cup, but also avoided this misunderstanding.
I often grow flowers. The flowers slowly grow up, and when we water them, we find that there is no way to water them. So, I made a groove on the edge of the flowerpot so that I can water the flowers from the side.
▲? Side-watering flowerpot, design: Zhang Jian
I have been growing flowers for many years, but they keep dying. This process continues in a cycle, and I have been thinking that we pay great attention to flowers, but what do their roots look like?
I made a flower pot where the roots can be seen. Through the small acrylic glass window, we can see the roots slowly extending on the edge of the flower pot, and we can also see whether the watering has been thorough.
▲?Flower pot with ornamental roots, design: Zhang Jian
We use tea bags to make tea, and sometimes accidentally, the label on the side will fall into the cup. My students attached the small button-like thing on the edge of the portfolio to the wall of the cup so that the label would not fall into the tea.
▲? Familiar buttons, design: Yan Jianwen
This work is very interesting. I stipulated that the students should hand in their homework at 12 noon. This classmate went to the edge of the village and bought a straw at about 11 o'clock. He used various pens to paint a lot of colors on the straw. Then it was handed over to me.
I said, "What does this mean?" He poured a drink, bent the straw, and a rainbow appeared.
▲?Rainbow, Design: Chen Guanhua
Speaking of this, I really have to say that many of our works have been praised by students from many colleges and universities in China and some young teachers. They like it very much, but they don't dare to do it. Because many colleges and universities have different standards for judging design works than we do, they will feel that they cannot meet the workload.
How much work does a straw like this have? five minutes. How many points should I give him? But the score I gave him was actually very high.
I just talked about the first way of creation. The second way is to discuss the expression of perception between things by looking for the correlation between things.
At this time I will ask students to write poems. Because writing poetry can train the expression of perception. Sometimes, there may be no connection between things, but our understanding of things can make these two unrelated things related.
These two poems were written by students when they were considering design plans. Very miserable writing.
There is a poem that I like very much and I read it out every time in class.
The most enjoyable thing about this poem is that we think the sun is warm, but the poet thinks the sun is sweet.
I also often write poetry. I once entered this poem into a national poetry competition and won the second prize. But my name is pseudonymous and no one knows.
The following poem has a strong smell and was scolded by my parents. They said, "You are a university professor, how can you write this kind of poem?"
I hope every designer has a sense of poetry. Not only poetry is poetic, if designers focus their energy on the perception of the product, the works produced in this way are also poetic.
I saw this work in a small furniture store when I was traveling in Europe. He covered many of the cabinets with reindeer skins.
▲? Reindeer leather cabinet, the work of a Nordic furniture store
When we knock on these cabinet doors of different sizes, there will be a mengmeng sound. The shop owner said, then Like the call of a reindeer, he hopes to bring back the spirit of the departed reindeer. very interesting.
This is an urn made by a student. We often say that after death, people go to heaven. He built a small house in the clouds - he said that after death, people may really go to the clouds and live in that small house.
▲? Urn in the sky, design: Yang Wanli
When I was a child, it was a very happy thing to eat wine-filled chocolate. The student made a candle that looked like a chocolate bonbon.
▲?Wine-filled chocolate candle? Design: Fang Liangfang
When this candle burns slowly, the melted wax in the middle and the soup juice make us feel that we can smell it The aroma of wine-filled chocolate.
For this birthday candle, the student made it into the shape of a small dead branch. When we light it, the flames on it are like small leaves. When we blow it out, it feels like the wish has been blown away.