Coming home from China
Coming back
Just returned from Shanghai, jet lagged and starting up a new project at Designskolen Kolding. We are going to make shoes in collaboration with Ecco.
In my last post I told you about my project at Tongji university, and why not complete the story with a happy ending. We finished the project last friday and presented our projects together with a small exhibition. As always the last week was maniac! Making the prototype just a day before presentation is what I call a tight deadline.
The project
My group ended up making an acoustic product, called Leafs for our selected company Matsu. This company has everything and they are doing really well in China. But we found that they lacked a sustainable product, that can increase good acoustic in the office. Furthermore this is a thing that is becoming a bigger and bigger problem in all our open space work environments. Our group saw a need and a product line for the company.
Our project is like a pyramid that you can combine in different ways and through different depths, soft material and sound absorbing foam will create good acoustic. The product should come in different colour combinations so there’s a possibility to make it personal in the office.
You can see the prototype and some of the different colors and sizes in my pictures, and soon read about it on my website www.roehl-design.dk
The rest of the tour
We have also tried to see some of Shanghai, tried to live like the locals and have fun. I think the place people saw most times is a place called tailors market. We have had soooo much clothes made, and it seemed like we kept coming back. But another thing that I loved at this place was all the textiles, as a designer I always feel exited to see materials. I found a textile that was lovely when you went really close, and the colour differences were so beautiful. It’s now on my screen on my iPhone, a lovely reminder of a place we visited a lot!
Translating?
After a few weeks we got familar with some dishes and even how to order them in Chinese. But sometimes we were really amazed how the translation can go so wrong. We went to a place where they had “cowboy steak”, “bad edamame” and so on. The funny thing though was that I have never had so bad edamame beans in my entire life, so maybe the translation is just being really honest. We laughed so much the waiter began to laugh with us.
Missing China
I love being back home. At some point I don’t miss China because of all the differences, that sometimes complicates the stay. But at the same time it feels weird not being there. Working with the Chinese students, going to KTV for karaoke, having Hot Pot, and using chopsticks every day. China is very different and that’s the whole point; I both love and hate it. But looking back I’ve had an amaaaaaazing time! thanks to my fellow students, both the Danes and Chinese. I hope to meet you all again some day.