考研阅读精选：用双手去创造
Make things with your handsDec 23rd 2011, 15:52 by G.D. | LONDON
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A DESIGNER, restaurateur and retailer, Sir Terence Conran hassignificantly influenced the way we live and eat in Britain over thepast five decades. Beginning in 1964, his Habitat chain of stores helpedto introduce simple, well-designed housewares at affordable prices.Decades later, his restaurants did much to introduce the country to fineand stylish cuisine.
Sir Terence remains busy: having turned80 in October, he recently launched a collection of housewares forMarks & Spencer. A new retrospective of his work is also now on atLondon’s Design Museum. That this museum even exists is in part due toSir Terence’s work in establishing its forerunner, called theBoilerhouse, in the basement of the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1982.The project’s success led to the opening of the Design Museum in 1989 atits current spot in Shad Thames. Over the past 30 years the ConranFoundation has supported the museum to the tune of £50m.
Why did you feel strongly about creating a design museum in London?
I’d always been fascinated by Milan’s Triennale in my early years as adesigner. I saw how stimulating and influential it was for both studentsand manufacturers to see the design of the best contemporary productsin the world. I started to dream about how something similar couldhappen in the UK—so when I made serious money through the flotation ofHabitat I set up the Conran Foundation with the idea of creating apermanent home in the UK for the display of modern design.
Unlike many young designers today you learned how to make many thingswith your hands, from brick-laying and pottery to welding. Do you thinkthat was important for your career as a designer?
Absolutely—I have always related my work to the manufacturing processand never designed anything I wouldn’t know how to make myself. As asmall child I remember my favourite present was a bag of wooden off cutsand a pretty basic tool kit. After much pestering, my mother gave me aspace for a small workshop and allowed me to set up a wood fired potterykiln. There is no doubt it is where I first began to develop thecurious mind of a designer. I think it is vital for any designer to rolltheir sleeves up and get heavily involved in the making process becauseit helps you get a deeper level of understanding about design and howit relates to the consumer.
Do you think all designers should learn to 'make' things without using a computer?
While we must embrace computers, we must not become slaves to them—thebest ideas always start with an HB pencil and a sheet of plain paper.
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