If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, China has become master of sweet-talk, studying its neighbours' design innovations and tweaking them for its own discerning population. Now the innovative Dutch design outfit Droog has turned the tables with a new collection that pirates the pirates.
The practice recently launched 26 new pieces for the home, each of them indebted to classic Chinese design yet spun in a new and creative way. From a squat clay teapot that plays on traditional contours to a witty take on the fish tank, each 'New Original' improves upon the archetype, either in form, usability or simply the message it sends to the world. Replication, they seem to say, can actually be a driver for innovation.
The role-reversal was first proposed by Droog Lab, Droog's in-house think tank. Enlisting Chinese architects Urbanus, Hong Kong graphic designer Stanley Wong and Dutch designers Richard Hutten and the late Ed Annink, the Lab led a field trip to Shenzhen, hub of China's so-called copycat culture. In that environment the team studied the local design heritage while also surveying the modern approach to development.
The results go far towards alleviating the stigma of the copycat label while enabling a fresh appreciation to time-honoured products. Taking the theme one step further, the designers chose to exhibit the collection at the Zhen Jia shopping mall in Guangzhou, a neighbour of Shenzhen, where the original copycats can learn about us learning about them.
The vases pay homage to China's long history of porcelain-making, yet have a thoroughly modern appearance
The Dutch design outfit also invited Dutch in on the project. He came back with a design for 'Tea Pot', which replaces the traditional teapot handle with a more ergonomic version in Chinese red
Taking the theme one step further, the designers chose to unveil the new collection at the Zhen Jia shopping mall in Guangzhou, a neighbour of Shenzhen, the copycat 'hub' of China
The results of Droog's 'The New Original' project go far towards alleviating the stigma of the archetypal copycat label while enabling a fresh appreciation to time-honoured products
Turning the archetypal Chinese restaurant inside out, 'Fish Tank' sees miniature versions of typical dining furniture arranged inside a fish tank, a ubiquitous design element in Chinese restaurants
A pair of 3D-printed 'Lantern Lightbulbs' by Studio Droog hang over the New Original collection showcase at Zhen Jia shopping mall
ADDRESS
Hi space
Zhen Jia shopping mall
4th floor, No 228
Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, China
-
One to Watch: designer Valerie Name infuses contemporary objects and spaces with historical detailFrom vessels to furnishings and interiors, New York- and Athens-based designer Valerie Name finds new relevance for age-old craft techniques
-
Cora Sheibani celebrates unexpected diamond cuts in a new jewellery collectionCora Sheibani's latest collection, ‘Facets and Forms’, marries her love of history and science
-
Meet Kenia Almaraz Murillo, the artist rethinking weavingKenia Almaraz Murillo draws on the new and the traditional in her exhibition 'Andean Cosmovision' at London's Waddington Custot
-
Homeware and design store Beverly’s puts down roots in New York’s ChinatownBeverly’s was founded by Beverly Nguyen as a retail destination focused on community by supporting small business owners, creatives and craftspeople
-
Highlights from Design Shanghai 2023: ‘Now is the golden age of Chinese design’Our Design Shanghai 2023 highlights, from leading Chinese designers and brands to emerging creatives
-
Droog toasts 30 years of irreverent designDutch design collective Droog presents an exhibition at Triennale during Milan Design Week 2023, curated by Maria Cristina Didero and Richard Hutten and celebrating its 30th anniversary
-
Shanghai’s MMR Studio is inspired by industrial processes and materialsChinese designer Zhang Zhongyu of MMR Studio is inspired by industrial processes to create furniture and objects
-
China’s Designew platform explores the design of errorsThis collection of furniture and objects is the result of a new collaborative project led by designer Mario Tsai, exploring how mistakes can positively impact the creative process
-
Hong Kong art scene expands its reachBeyond fairs, museums and galleries, Hong Kong’s burgeoning art scene is influencing its bars, restaurants and hotels
-
Four Hong Kong crafts embracing the futureHong Kong has a rich craft tradition. Meet four artisans preserving historic crafts and updating them for the 21st century in unexpected ways
-
The pared-back designs of Mario TsaiMario Tsai – named by Nendo’s Oki Sato as a creative leader of the future for Wallpaper’s 25th Anniversary Issue ‘5x5’ project – talks about his experience working as a designer and entrepreneur in China, at the cusp of innovation and tradition
