Jewelry in China has historically been perceived as an investment rather than art and, until a few years, ago there were few options to study jewelry design in Beijing. The available training programs used to be focused on the reproduction of old techniques and existing styles and patterns. Recognizing the need to stimulate personal creativity, The Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) was one of …
Last week in Milan we were pleasantly surprised to find Beijing Design Week presenting Design in Common—a selection of pieces from the capital city’s fair. With a focus on communal furniture and tea-drinking pieces in particular, the exhibition was proof of China’s far-ranging aesthetic. While Droog Design was cleverly poking fun at China’s copycat reputation with “The New Original,” Chinese designers presented innovation of their …
Designer Gloria Guo has been fascinated by colorful patterns and handmade crafts since childhood. “As one of my first little hobbies, I used to customize my shoes and pants with small patches,” she says. “When I came to study in Beijing and discovered the marvels of local textile wholesale markets, my passion for handiwork became even stronger. I’ve been experimenting with all sorts of materials: …
