Designernapped’ right after lunch, the afternoon ‘wish I could have a kip’ was filled with a roundtable for heads of business from all sectors of Chinese industrial design to discuss with us – the nominated four UK representatives – what we thought about and how we could see the future of design in a more eco-directed post Olympic China.
Not aware of this and slightly blindsided I made a quick speech about the origins of a green revolution which is from the people for the planet and not the other way around. Hoping that designers wouldn’t preach our message to an unwilling audience but would engage with media and use a process of creation that looked into the past – embracing a long history and rich culture – as much as it looked forward. The goal, to create products, marketing and design solutions to help people – all the people.
The session was congenial and ended nicely with meeting the participants, interestingly – the head designer of the Beijing Olympics who chaired the session and then a designer/lecturer who did the gold meddle this time round – if anyone’s interested Mr Xiao Yong is going to guest lecture at Central Saint Martin’s next term, a great chap to meet.
Following the forum, hoping for a rest we were given a 5 minute warning to be in the lobby for dinner – at 16.45 this could be worrying, but presuming a long journey we all made the deadline.
Dinner was an amazing banquet hosted by local dignitaries with a few welcoming speeches and much toasting. The eating is sociable, congenial and above all varied, the sea cucumber (I am sure we called it sea slug but hey) tasted much much better than it looked. And the Abalone rightfully has its place as the most splendid of sea delicacies.
The post dinner reception was in another hotel location, a mere short walk guided by a delightful group of umberella-ella, wielding girls and guys, to a red carpet entry and a huge hall for a gala celebration. They certainly know how to impress a few designers, that’s for sure.
Speculation of course moved on to how we would handle the games come 2012, I wonder will we pay host to out guest as graciously?
More tomorrow….
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