Visit the Asian Design scene here at ASIANLINE. We hope to include feeds and blogs from friends throughout this important region. Please send us your news and views to asianline @ sparkawards. com.

We had one heck of a 2009 competition last year, but adding to the fun was the production of the Sparks Over China Exhibition and mini conference for early December. Here’s the story:

Mid-November, we pulled together the Spark assets– hi-res images or real pieces, for air shipment to China. Plus every conceivable media from mug-shots of the winners to videos, documentation, etc.

This went into the able hands of our CitiExpo partner in China, Ready Zhang and our great project manager, Mabel Mai, who got the job done. We flew out on the 29th– first to fulfill our happy duties to the Global Design Network in Hong Kong.

We love this city.

Part of the giant Business of Design Week, one of our favorite design expos and HIGHLY recommended. Here’s Victor Lo, major player in the GDN and BODW and able event director Amy Chow.

Fellow delegates included good friend  Julia Chiu, of Japan’s Good Design Awards (and soon President of ICOGRADA).

We were happy to see our Asia-mentor and pal, Geoff Fitzpatrick, head of the Australian Design Institute.

And Kigge Hvid,  CEO of kindred-spirit aspirational INDEX Awards told us about new INDEX efforts to incubate good design.

Then– a quick train  zip to the even-gianter
Guangzhou Design Fair, for some real Sparkn’ Chinese-style!

I love this slide!

This delegate-stuff is not easy. One is kept busy from 830am to 11pm, in a constant whirl of meeting politicians, dignitaries, banquets, award-shows (we handed out trophies at 4 of them–gadzooks), TV interviews,   (Here’s David Grossman explaining the work of the Israel Design Works), magazine interviews, speeches and jury-duty for the Kapok award.

Press conferences are fun too. I had a nice view–
of the Mayor’s welcoming speech, followed by the delightful custom of loud explosions of confetti (the cleaners LOVE this I’ll bet)

Our Spark mini-conference went very well. After the PK pitch (with excellent translation by Ding Zhong), Professor Tong, President of Design at the Gungzhou Academy of Arts, related his tale of journeying to America, visiting many of the top design schools and judging Spark. Great stuff.

Also Asst. Prof and 2008 Spark winner Haishan Deng (on the left) spoke about the experience of Sparking, and why more Chinese designers should be entering competitions.

Then we handed out Finalist Certificates. These folks were SO happy!

Ah but BEST of all was our exhibition of Sparks. All of ‘em, from the last three years. Quite an accomplishment to get everything together–especially 09– in such a short time. We were so proud to see this great work being honored in China.

The work was in display cases or mounted on silk panels by students from GAFA, working with the Citiexpo team. Just beautiful. Great job.

Here’s a great group we’ve grown accustomed to: Jan von Holstein, and next to me Prof. Tong and Johan Adam Linneballe. Friends for life (count David Grossman in here, too).

It was a fine experience. We’ll be back soon, to march out the Spark exhibition and story to the other great cities of China and Korea.

So it went, so it goes. Blowing in the wind.

Re-zipping  back to Hong Kong, the wind at our back
we found a nice view out our window  and time for some deep thinking about our friendships and progress in this exciting land. Without getting too blogged-down, I think much is done for peace and cooperation–and progress and freedom– in weeks like this. So maybe we should all just get out there more, and meet people and make plans and just DO It. Because you can. And it helps. And you’ll get rich– inside.

The wrap-up. What a finale to this visit. (Actually, ALSO a nice start for the Asian Games) Thanks for the Sparks, China!

The End of the Beginning.

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PROFESSOR TONG HUIMING JOINS SPARK JURY
During a whirlwind tour of American design schools, Prof. Tong, Director of the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, will take part in the Sparkawards Jury. Tong is one of the pioneers of Chinese industrial design and design education and a strong friend of Spark. http://www.sparkawards.com/Call_for_Entries/Jury/Tong.htm

SPARKS OVER CHINA
For many months, Spark has been engaged in a fascinating exploration of China and Hong Kong. In the course of this adventure we have made many discoveries and friends. We are happy and excited to announce a new partnership– a co-operation with CitiExpo, the highly regarded organization that produces the Guangzhou Design Week and the Designweek Award.

CitiExpo will undertake development of SparkChina and be our exclusive representative, acting as a bridge to help Chinese designers to enter Spark at the international level.

Many more designers will now have an opportunity to take part in Spark, and we expect our friendship with China will be the model for future partnerships throughout the world.

http://www.sparkawards.cn/

CHINA: CREATIVE CAULDRON OF THE 21st CENTURY

July 28, 2009, by Professor Jan Staël von Holstein

Statistics are not easy to produce and verify in China. The scale of everything is gigantic.

On creativity: Sixty million violin players – now making China the biggest producers of the finest instruments in the world. Forty million piano players. Why do you think the Chinese now consistently win all the biggest music competitions around the world…

Last year there were allegedly 500,000 graduates in engineering.

The fine Arts are conquering the international world like an express train. Thousand of art galleries are blossoming around China.

According to the information I have at hand, design education is developing at a very fast pace. As you know “innovation” is a theme frequently used and referred to by the central Government as essential for China’s future.

When I first came to China in 2003, there were about 350 design schools. Now there are some 1200.

At Tongji University in Shanghai, I was part of an international team to structure and create a new multi-disciplinary design college launched in May: The College for Design and Innovation. This is destined to become one of the leading schools in China.

Many other initiatives are under way. As you know there are now two strong, financially driven forces in Shanghai and Guangzhou with their expanding “Creative Weeks.” In Hong Kong the BODW is now in its seventh year.

Shanghai has a policy of setting up what they define as Creative Clusters, reshaping old factories to attract creative talent. There are now eleven such centers and more are being added. There are more than 15 other cities in China with the same ideas and on the same pursuit.

The Icograda world Congress takes place in Beijing in October.

Then we have World Expo and all this pulls along in creative work. At that time there will also be the first Cumulus meeting in China organized by the new Design School in Shanghai.

Many other events and exhibitions are being planned to go along with the heady ride of the biggest Expo the world has ever seen. Over 220 participating countries, mega pavilions crammed with the latest ideas on everything from sustainability, to the latest mind-boggling technologies to advance our world.

Sixty million Chinese visitors are expected just for starters…

Add to this numerous competitions, conferences and events like Pecha Cucha and you have what I would define as: “a truly explosive, unstoppable, ambitious, creative atmosphere.”

Professor Jan Staël von Holstein

Chairman, The Network with a Silver Lining

Shanghai

SUM TIME!

May 21, 2009 by Peter Kuchnicki

Asked to sum up our recent China visit, here’s our wrap notes–

We undertook this trip with four goals in mind:

–Learn about China and its design scene

–Exhibit and promote Spark winners and their work, to this huge marketplace

–Gain more entries and participation from Chinese designers

–Begin a regular cooperation between the Spark network and Chinese designers and institutions

I think we’ve accomplished our goals– and even made a small contribution to further understanding with our Spark Creative Seminar. How do we gauge this? Well, Clark and I hadn’t been to China, so any exposure to this culture and landscape would have to be very educational! (However, we were greatly helped by Manuel, who counts 35+ trips here.)

As noted in earlier blogs, the very scale of new construction in South Eastern China just blows the mind. It’s all new–or being torn down to create something new. It’s mostly highways, tall office structures and high-density living spaces.

We shared many precious moments with the students and faculty of GAFA. I think this was the most impactful part of our visit. Listening was more valuable than speaking. The audience at the Seminar was bursting with questions, and assertions too!

The Q&A went on almost as long as the lectures, so I was glad I had bright colleagues to handle the heavy design questions. We learned some interesting and sobering statistics here, too. Over 10,000 design students will graduate in China this year. That’s a lot of people looking for design jobs. Many students see their future in designing for the growing Chinese middle class. Many will be happy for work in parallel design disciplines. So, Spark’s emphasis on a multi-disciplinary approach has some resonance here.

The Exhibition looked fine and made us very proud of all the designers who have entered, become friends and encouraged us to “grow forward” with Spark. We hope and plan to be exhibiting your work for many years to come. Certainly, the visibility provided by Professor Tong and GAFA will help our quest for greater Chinese participation and entries. It may take some time, but this is a good path for us.

The opening of direct communication and new partnerships in China is also critical to fulfill our international goals. No other design competition or award has an aspirational mission like Spark. So perhaps this unique design viewpoint offers China an opportunity to “grow in a healthy way,” as one friend described it. As we’ve stated before, Spark is not a strictly commercial design competition. We aim for higher ground. I think we found great interest in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Foshan, Shunde and Shanghai.

Thanks, Clark, Huang and Guang for the great pix!

So, what does China look like through my eyes?  Vast. Strong. Young. Friendly. Free-thinking. Interested. Capable. Constructive. And eager to share the world stage of design.

RISING TOGETHER

May 16, 2009 by Peter Kuchnicki

In interviews, meetings and conversations this week we heard statistics of growth that would humble the highest. Often they were in praise of this region or that. Always with ample proofs and ardent conviction. And always with primacy among citystates foremost in mind. For that is how high positions are gained.

It’s true, these endless stretches of new-poured concrete and immense hi-rises spread out in grids like some enormous French tree farm, these are astounding. But so to were those in that city we toured yesterday.

And comes often the question: “Perhaps Spark would recognize our efforts, and find a home here?” Or partner, or collaborate or cooperate?

These are all good–even great things, we reply. But shouldn’t we be Spark to all cities?

And shouldn’t China find its place on the world stage of design, as China?

We dined with Professor Jan Staël von Holstein last night in Shanghai. Jan is a global authority in corporate and brand identity creation and teaches at the Central Academy of Fine Arts. Known in China as Yuen Shi Dao, Jan is the founder and co-chairman of The Network with a Silver Lining with 15 offices around Europe and the USA.

He delineated the importance of this concept, and the difficulty. “It is not an easy thing to promote. Each of these regions are like countries unto themselves.” And I’ve seen that each region’s people, food, style, manner–even attitudes differ. They are rightfully proud of their culture and prosper because of its success.

Still, still… I often heard the unease among designers about their place in context of world design. Many worry about departing from (or not) the ancient pattern of emulating the Master. Some blame the whole issue of copycat design on their clients. Others don’t care, have their heads in the Internet and can better see that inspired design is possible and their role is to create it.

The key seems to be context. The wide world of design must be the measure and context.

Spark’s idea is to open a door and invite our friends into the Designing Worlds.

Best!
A TASTE OF CHINA

May 14, 2009 by Clark Kellogg

Greetings from the heart of bustling Guangzhou in the Pearl River Delta. It is Wednesday morning here and Tuesday afternoon in California.

What an adventure this is! Yesterday was the big lecture day at Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts.  Lot’s of enthusiasm for design, for our lectures, for cooperation, etc. Our hosts have been kind and gracious beyond any expectation – scheduling meetings, meals, tours, introductions and more. Food is fantastic – completely fresh as you often go into a separate room full of live fish, snakes, birds, insects and choose what will be cooked. I am happy to leave that particular task to our expert hosts!

The Spark exhibit at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts museum was impressive. So were to other shows in the museum of contemporary art from Chinese artists. The “major” talk in the “900-seat Hall” as it is called, was very fun even as the lead up to it was hectic complete with tech scares, translation hiccups, etc. but it went off flawlessly. I was so impressed by their interest in all facets of design.

Speaking of pictures, I’ve attached just a few:

1) Hong Kong harbor at night from the Star Ferry

2) A portrait of “life on the street” of Guangzhou

3) The Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts; the new campus

4) The Pearl River from University Island where GAFA is located

OK: Let’s talk scale. Think big. Guangzhou is  city of 15 million. 20 years ago is was pretty much a one-story place. The pace of change is staggering. Last year, the Academy moved to University Island on the edge of the city. It now has 11 major universities on it where 180,000 students study. The building in the photo of the Academy was constructed in 10 months.

Every single person we’ve met has been delightful. I don’t want to sound trite, but it really has been an honor to meet everyone. Our main host is Prof. Tong Huiming the Dean of the College of Design. He is a warm, sincere and kind man who has almost single-handedly built the design program at GAFA. They now teach 9 design disciplines. (I didn’t even know there were nine design disciplines).

It is well…warm here. The evenings are pleasant. Last night I took a long walk through what appears to be an endless landscape of density. Think Manhattan but make it more crowded. At ten o’clock in the evening the shops are starting to close. Lots of young people out strolling, shopping from the stores and from a vast number of pleasant street vendors selling just about anything you can imagine and some things you can’t.

I don’t think one can live in Guangzhou if you don’t have a cell phone (and talk/text constantly). The street scene is crowded, friendly, lively. Walking along, one passes millions of tiny, dear scenes; friends strolling arm-in-arm or holding hands, parents with children walking their dogs and chatting, young lovers holding hands and whispering to one-another. Shop keepers stand at their doors welcoming (but not pestering) people to enter. If you need shoes, come to Guangzhou.

Today – shortly – we are being picked up (punctually) by another delegation of hosts and going to a meeting at one of Guangzhou’s industrial design firm to see their work on consumer electronics – phones, handheld stuff, small appliances.

In Guangzhou cars drive on the right side. In Hong Kong cars drive on the left side. In both places cars go fast. Traffic lanes? no need. Turn signals are useless but horns aren’t (nor are they effective). Bikes are plentiful and operate with the same rules. Somehow it all works and I’m very, very grateful to be driven everywhere in new air-conditioned small SUV type vehicles from Chevy, Toyota and Honda which are all made here in China.

Tomorrow afternoon I will, regrettably, depart for Hong Kong and my last night in China. It is a two-hour train ride between HK and Guangzhou through an industrial landscape. Hong Kong operates at a pace that makes Guangzhou feel like Mendocino, but that’s a whole other story for next time.

THREE TRANSLATORS, ONE INTERPRETATION

May 17, 2009 by Peter Kuchnicki

Keeping up was always in question. Getting ahead was not. Over the last eight days we were blessed with the services and energy of three fabulous young people. Their job was to interpret and to generally keep us out of mischief, which they did admirably.

Huang & PK Emily

Huang and Guang are designers from GAFA, and the third, Emily, works for a regional government department. They were a great help in our meetings with Tan Zhi Liang,  Director of the Science and Technology Bureau of Foshan, Jimin Shao and Jack Cui of the brand new Shunde Industrial Design Park,  John Chen of New Plan Design and Evan Liao, Design Director for Donlim Design.

It was a long day–as you can see, I am progressively melting in the attached pictures. But our crew held fast, documenting the proceedings and communicating the Spark position. Best of all, by day’s end, they didn’t need me at all. They can explain Spark to anyone–and we hope they will continue to do so!

S.O.C. IT TO ME

May 14, 2009 By Peter Kuchnicki

Dateline: Thursday–Foshan/Shunde City, Sparks Over China Tour

Sparks Over China–Wowo–what an experience so far. Immersion in the immense. So good to see this great culture and people up close and very personal. We are just catching our breath after three days of minute-by-minute scheduled activities. More to come of course.

Seems to be part of the hospitality in these parts– we eat, meet, discuss, eat, drink tea, repeat. A fine education into the differences and similarities between cultures, and a window into design.

He’s Happy…

The Exhibition closed yesterday, but it was grand. The Seminar went well, with a nice sales pitch by PK, a thoughtful call to creativity by CK and a hip, contemporary “lifestream” by MS, that visually took our (mostly) student audience (500) on a journey from his earliest inklings of design, through a few rolled cars and misadventures, girlfriends, Argentina, Montreal, Berlin, Alaska– and back to some fine NYC design. They loved it. And him!

This is our great host, Prof. Tong, Director of GAFA’s Design School, and self with a very handsome FLIP camera donated by Smart Design

And these are the Four Horsemen of Spark: Manuel, PK, Clark & our fine friend, Haishan Deng, who first invited Spark to China

HERE AGAIN AND LIKING IT

May 10, 2009 By Peter Kuchnicki

Hi Folks–

Great Flight over the North Pole. Ice. Rocks. No bears tho.

Landed in Hong Kong. Met with Spark entrants and good friends this evening. Here’s the first “Dr. of Design.” PhD Prof Franke Ng of Hong Kong Polytechnic and Clark. We learned a bunch and like this guy a lot!

On Tuesday we’ll visit the Spark Winner’s Exhibition at the Art Museum at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, followed by our lectures. If you are in the area, join us!

And if you have thoughts on “must see” (or must eat!) highlights of the area, please let us know. (We’re also heading to Shenzhen and Shanghai later this week.)

SPARKS OVER CHINA BLAST OFF

May 09, 2009 By Peter Kuchnicki

The DAY has come at last. I’m off to Hong Kong shortly. As promised, we’ll be relaying our experiences right here at Sparkaward. Our general plan is to chat with our design friends and local luminaries, find out what’s up, how they’re coping and what they’re hoping. We’ll interject a few opinions, look for interesting designs along the way and–have fun!

Please bear with us whilst we learn the ropes–and do give us a shout once in a while.

*BTW– these handsome nozzles are actually very very large a/c vents out my hotel window, spewing ever-more hot smog up up and not so far away.