FRANZ AWARD 2011 preliminary selection is finished successfully. Are you ready to hear about the suggestions and comments from the judges?

 

The judges all agreed that the entries this year are better both in quality and delicacy than former years. Contestants interpreted the theme “Horizon” really well, combining everyday experiences into their works with multiple materials. The variety and diversity as a whole is worth an applause. For those who are not able to get into the final selection, the judges recommend you to consider more about the product’s functions and purpose of usage while designing, in order to convey each product’s features correctly and let the judges and viewers understand the meaning of the work upon the first glance..

 

 

This year, the preliminary entries were submitted via online system, and the judges used iPads provided solely by Studio A to facilitate the selecting process. All the judges were positive about the usage of iPad. Director Lee noted that it could reduce the waste of paper significantly, which was good for the environment; Chairman Yin and Franz designer Yu-Ying Chang also mentioned that the adoption of iPad enable them to view the entries quickly. Moreover, they could also repeat viewing the works and zoom in to see the details very clearly.

 

The project teams interviewed five judges right after the selection. Let’s hear about their comments:

 

Yin-Li│Chairman of Designers’ Association of Taiwan

 

The entries this year were more diversified in both the way of expression and multi-material application.

 

I think that there are four key points of design: The first one is the text, which enriches the work by the creation and story of the designer. The second one is the realization, in which we can appreciate the special ideas and the adventurous spirits of the designer. The third one is the material and the technique. Contestants need to use the materials appropriately to make special effects through the combination of different materials. The last one is beauty, being the essence of any successful artwork. The most important thing is the power of moving people.

 

Chu Fang-Yi│Well-Known Ceramist, Adjunct Professor of National Taiwan University of Arts

 

I was the judge of preliminary selection last year, and I can see that the quality of entries this year increases significantly than last year. Also, due to the global work collection this year, both the quantity and quality rise.

 

Owing to the fact that it is a porcelain “design” contest, designers should not only focus on topics they want to present, but also think about the purpose of usage of their works. Also, one must understand porcelain’s features as well as limitations, and connect design with production. For example, there was an entry using both metal and porcelain to design a series of kitchen bottles, which makes an appropriate combination of materials.

 

Lee Wei-Lang│Creative Director of Afteraindesign

 

The entries this year have topics with great diversity, which covers different stages during one’s lifetime, including birth, marriage and death. This is very interesting that all of them become the inspiration of the contestants, which shows that they can apply the elements of life onto their works.

 

The time is very short for judges to see each piece of work, so the contestants must show what they want to express instantly when the work is presented. They need to tell the judges what is it? Is it a cup or a vase? This is about the skill of presentation and the way of showing. Designers must let people know what exactly they want to say, and make their works better through presenting. These are important abilities.

 

In fact, the level of controlling porcelain material is crucial to a good work. Porcelain is a kind of material that we are both familiar and unfamiliar with; although we have porcelain all around us in our daily lives, most people know very little about the details of the very material. Well, porcelain is a very interesting material which can express and “imitate” plenty of textures such as metals and the wrinkles of paper. Also, compound materials can enhance the diversity of a work.

 

Chen Xi-Sheng│Design Director of NDD Design

 

Some of the works are not complete in the aspect of beauty of design, and I hope that the selected contestants can improve toward this goal. Some designs only solve the problems without making a closer relationship with viewers and users, and they also lack the heart-touching elements. Therefore, everyone should get to know more about the materials, and the relationships between people and utensils, and try to tell a touching story. You can only touch other people by touching yourself at first.

 

Chang Yu-Ying│Designer in FRANZ Inc.

 

The entries this year are better in both quality and delicacy than former years. I think that with the prosperity of global design trend, the quality of works is enhanced simultaneously.

 

The theme for this year involves some philosophical issues. I am really happy to see many designs about humanity concerns based on “Horizon”. Contestants should put more efforts on the completeness of the works such as packages and the beauty aspect.