MASTER OF FINE ARTS (DESIGN)
The Evolution of Classic Values at a Moment of Flux
Yiying Du
New Retro
In this project a series of investigations and experiments were performed to explore the approaches to connect traditional regional culture in my hometown to modern lifestyle and contemporary design. Design researches in the form of interview and survey were carried out to explore individual interests in culture-related products as well as city culture, and figure out the current problems existing in the market. The result shows that lack of creativity, universality, adaption, function and resonance decreases people’s preference on purchasing cultural products.
This project focuses on designing a collection of products for houseware and home décor that evolves traditional craftsmanship in modern context and reinterprets cultural values in contemporary concepts. Based on the study of the typical cultural heritages, the concept is developed and proposed, discussing the relationship between man-made and natural. In order to apply traditional craftsmanship to contemporary design practice and convert local tie-dye to ceramics, material and technique experiments were conducted, followed by texture and firing experiments.