看來我們又回到
年前的討論了！
對從前自己深信不疑的東西產生動搖，我相信是因為我們多是站在自己故有的看法和信念evaluate其它的看法，卻鮮有給自己的看法給予較深入的反思或甚至質疑。不過在我看來，這裡的「動搖」並不是對與錯的問題，而只是選擇或point of emphasis的問題。
「設計的目的是溝通」這種偏向實用或功能主義的取向，根本是Bauhaus傳統form follows function思維下的產物。那當然仍然可以是金科玉律（我
再說，我也是吃Bauhaus奶水長大的），但我們卻少有追問為甚麼追求「好看」偏偏被偋棄在function所涵蓋的範圍之外...
宏觀地看，Bauhaus的主張其實是源自十七八世紀的
理性主義（之前的意識形態是以宗教和經驗為主導，偉大但「中看不中用」的藝術都是由此而生）。理性思維激發了數學和科學的急速發展，繼而是設計機器，之後是工業革命... 通過科學（如物理和化學）和數學精確的計算，無論在質和量上，人設計的機器都大大延展和提高了人類一雙手所能做/造的東西。這種以理性出發的思潮甚至影響了我們對「美」的看法：人們重新拿遠至
古希臘Acropolis的Parthenon，近至文藝復興Michelangelo的畫作來分析，認為比例、構圖等泛指「美」的原則其實都是可以客觀地、理性地計算出來的，甚麼「黃金比例」之類的說法日漸廣被接受。將這種以實用或功能出發的進路說為因，將一大堆藝術、建築、平面、室內和工業設計的作品說為果，這種論述成為上世紀初的主導思潮。然而世界就是這樣的，一種思潮的興起，往往又會有一種抗衡它的想法應運而生：
Arts & Crafts Movement，以歌頌人手所造的創作如何優勝於用機器大量生產出來沒有人性的東西云云...
回來看設計的目的，我想我們必須給設計的論述範圍分類和收窄，這樣的討論才會有較建設性的結果。在服裝設計的領域裡，將一襲衣裳弄得好看肯定必要，亦可以說這就是它最終極的目的。但給太空人的設計太空服又怎樣？是否功能方面絕不能忽略呢？當較有野心或前衛的時裝設計大師作更大膽和expressive的嘗試，不惜犧牲或甚至偋棄衣服的functionality或現有的風格，為要突破和創造潮流，這又是否也算是用設計達到「溝通」的目的呢？在typography和平面設計的領域裡，這樣的例子也俯拾皆是（
Neville Brody、
David Carson...）。
「取悅」這功能：對visual communication design而言，我認為它肯是problem solving重要的一步，因為好看和美麗至少可以令你的作品在坊間云云叫人嘔心的設計之中脫穎而出，叫我們花時間看（如你所說），達到溝通的第一步。只是在「fulfil the purpose by being pleasing」之後，還有沒有後著繼續將要傳達的訊息有效地傳達給觀眾，也是我們必須追問的問題。
"
Design is to design a design to produce a design." (
Heskett, 2002, p.5)
Design (a concept or field; a noun) is to design (an action; a verb) a design (a concept, a proposal, a solution, a tool; a noun) to produce a design (a finished product, a concept made actual; a noun)。我常常覺得我們在討論「設計」時，往往傾向將它的含義無限擴展，以至曖昧不清，再談美重要還是功能或是溝通重要也就落得沒有結果。設計既可以是人類任何有意識的行為，亦可以是狹窄如一個幼稚園小朋友的小手工，你到底在說上面四個design的那一個？否則誰要說服誰對誰錯，那種概念較為重要等，豈不是白費時間？
鬆一口氣！
終於完成這學期一科兩班（full-time and part-time）Experimental Typography的所有課堂！（還要在個多星期內完成評分工作。）雖然已經是第五個學期教授這個科目，但今個學期算是最吃力的了：既要為改動課程內容而傷腦筋和重新做準備功夫（especially some changes that I don't really believe in），也是最多學生的一次 —— 日夜校兩班共57人，每次tutorial和他們逐個談功課十分鐘，也最少要用上九個半小時！ —— 叫我不得不將有限的事間花在導修上而犧牲了lecture的時間。結果今晚final presentation至十時下課後，一些學生雖然已經離開，還是有八九個同學嚷著要看看我一早已經準備了卻沒有時間deliver的lecture PowerPoint...
日校的學生下課後說要拍張集體照。Congratulations to all of you finishing the classes and assignments, finally -- not an easy task indeed!
好了，還有星期二晚的一科尚有兩堂...
A good day
This was a good day.
When the golden ray shone into my window, onto my bed, woke me up, I knew this would be a good day. I remembered
my fellow Chinese people in mid-southern China who suffered from the snow disaster. After days of struggling with the cold, the freezing rain, the chaos, the hunger, the exhausted bodies... I knew this warm sunshine would ease their suffering a bit. This would be a good day.
I prayed that their desperate wish for going back home to spend the Chinese New Year with their families could come true soon!
Despite it was Sunday, I still need to work today, for it was the last session of the MBA class on Strategic Design. This was
the 2nd time I co-taught this subject with my boss. Today I didn't need to prepare for any lecture because it was them presenting their final assignment. After spending with the class a consecutive 3 weekends, 6 hours each session, I was eager to see if they managed to learn a thing or two and reveal those learning in their assignment. Whatever subject I taught, I would always be excited at the last class, because it is a time I enjoy and harvest the result of my teaching. That was a good day.
19 students in 5 groups, they presented their final assignment. I always tried to be critical in giving comments as well as giving suggestions on how they could improve in preparing the written proposal for final submission. I find students always welcome suggestions on how they could move on. And because I pointed to them the way ahead, they usually felt less offensive about my critical comments. Today, we didn't end the class until we finished all the presentation at 2:30 pm. Before we dismissed, student C (the man sitting on the floor), the leading figure among them, also one of the students who my boss and I gave the most harsh criticism during the tutorial last week, proposed to take a photo together, as well as treated my boss and I a late lunch too! This was a good day.
These students came from a diverse spectrum of background and streams of specialism: they are from MBA in Innovation and Design Management, MBA in Information Technology Management, MBA in General Management, and Master of Design (Advanced Strategies); they are design managers, designers, design teacher, R&D manager, HR manager, account servicing, IT and marketing practitioners, TV producer... From their accents, I could tell many of them are either raised or educated in foreign countries: from India, New Zealand, Britain, Taiwan, the US... Gladly there were many positive comments given on the dining table, mostly on what they learned and what could be applied in their daily work. Apparently, most of them had a good experience in this subject. Thank God!
This was a good day indeed!
又是寫在學期終結時
It is usually the most satisfying moment when a semester comes to an end: neither do I need to prepare for lectures nor scratching my head on thinking how to push my students to work against tight submission deadlines.
在整個學期裡我給了學生五項功課，單poster design一項已足夠鋪滿地上！日夜校兩班Typography共43人，你幫我算一算我有多少件功課要評分！While I'm grading my students' works, it always feel great when I
receive compliment emails from them. But in this semester I do receive something new, something I've never heard before from previous semesters（Mmm... 沒有徵得他們同意便放上來，哈！）:
"Thanks very much for your kindness and smile. They make the lessons more interesting and we are not afraid to ask questions in the class.【這可真是第一次聽見這樣的comment！早陣子才聽見成人和小朋友都說我的樣子蠻嚴肅的，現在正好有人幫我平反了吧！】
Indeed, we improved our sensitivity of font and typography thru this project. Some presentations are quite unique and we learnt a lot from them. Actually, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for making this course interesting."
"I found your course is very useful, and it enlightens me to be more sensitive in typography. Most of time now, I will unconsciously keep watch for typo designs like on movie posters, movie trailers, magazines ads, signages and shop's logotypes...etc.
Well, I don't know how long this habit will last, but at least I can apply what I learnt from you to answer/challenge my marketing colleagues' stupid comments on typography."【這位同學每次功課都做很多concept sketches，比起今日很多designers在工作上都只做一兩個草圖，沒有design development便直接在電腦做final artwork，他是否算是瀕臨絕種一族呢？】
"I pleased that I can join these high-standard lesson, lets me pay attention how to create typeface, analyzes the typeface, resolution of letterform...
Because your lecture on typeface let us know to request the homework standard. I study many course, I never seen a lot of diligent classmate in a class, it lets me positive diligently myself.【By the way，這個semester夜校生的學習態度又真積極，叫我做教的都格外有心機和加把勁！】
At the end of the subject of Typography, thanks for the tutorial and the email opinion, it is very detailed and clear. I gained a lot from this semester and I think it really can grab every chance in future in applying I have learned."
"I am glad to finish all the lessons of 'Typography'. Thanks for your patient to teach us for these months. Typeface design made me satisfied... they are designed by myself and are unique. Now, I have my own typeface!【你能否感受到她那份興奮？】
It is a special experience to me. After I finished the final assignment, I understood that typeface design is really really difficult thing. During the process of designing the new typeface, I did many many times revision including the revision of the strokes. But I still enjoyed to do it. It is because I can learn more from each revision."
"May you spend some time to give some comments as your comments are highly effective and useful."
"Thank you for your kindly teaching/tutorial. I learnt a lot from the lesson."
"I am really grateful to you for that you had done, eg. diligent teaching, tutorial/e-mail opinions, especially you would still try your best to give me some detailed and useful opinions even if I hadn't do the well prepare for the tutorial... actually I feel so shame about that... Thank you for your teaching~~"【能否透過tutorial給學生一些用得上的意見是我非常重視的一環。既不應spoon-feed、亦要point the way ahead、inspire他們回去後知道下一步做甚麼... 這位同學跟很多其他同學一樣，過了遞交功課的時間還不斷寄來改進了的功課，要求我給予意見，完全體現「讀書不是求分數」的精神！】
"I also would like to thank for your teaching, the lesson make me interest in typography and let me know there are different angles tolook at design. I'm really enjoy your class... And feel surprise lot of the works of my classmates are doing so well in the final... I hope to share more about design with you at the future in the spare time~"
"... thank you so much in the Typography module. Before this semester I think I am sensitive to the fonts or text... But now, I know we have a long long way to go ... haha! All topics in the lessons are interesting, although the courseworks are really hard for me... I have to spend so much time to do... But i earned so much!!! At least, I will 堅持 what I learnt in the Typography lessons!!"
「我們一些同學想食飯with u, like 謝謝宴~哈哈」【這個問題我真不懂回答呢！應承她們會否給人說我受賄？】
在另一個科目，我跟學生分享著作為老師，我教學方法的取向是多給建設性的批評（等他們知道下一步應怎樣做），不單給一些苛刻的意見（用俗一點的廣東話就是「插」他們或「打沉」他們），因為我贊成
Edward de Bono的說法，這個世界太追捧critical thinking而忽略了creative thinking。有一位學生這樣覆我：
"yes, I agree with your standpoint... you are the first runner up in my favourite tutor list. Just keep it up and I am sure you will be a brilliant teacher and teach someone likes me, hahah!【然後他提到自己白天做的工作】
I have a successful private show last night and of course after writing the proposal, frankly speaking, I gain a lot of inspirations through your lesson....I am sure you are a passion and a sincere lecturer, just keep it up and make more contributions, you inspired me actually."順祝各位
聖誕蒙福，新年快樂！
鳴聲喜聞友聲
一直以來沒有提及過
寒舍中文名字的由來（英文Patrick's viewpoints的意思大概已經在右邊的sidebar闡明了），想籍今天收到
Ryana的comment趁機道來：
「嚶其鳴矣，求其友聲」其實是出自古老的《詩經》，後來晚清梁啟超在1920年一份叫《改造》的政治理論刊物撰寫創刊詞，引用了這一句來結束，充份反映這位英豪人物對時代和民族所懷的悲情，與及如何渴望籍研究、出版、和文字喚起國人對國家政情的關心和著緊。
（註）我不像梁啟超，絕非棟樑之材，卻願借用這句說話，寄望寒舍能成為一塊有意思的分享園地。今天因讀
Ryana的comment得悉淺見不單引發
精采友聲，更間接造就了
一個集體創作的機會，實在可喜！謝謝你
Ryana，我大開眼界了！
註：古敏 編，《頭版頭條：中國創刊詞》，北京：時事出版社，2005年。
Art vs Design
Art is DIFFERENT from design, which most people just confused about. Many people just think that they like drawing, like looking at beautiful things, and so try to find a design school to study and think that someday he'll be working as a designer.
Art is often about self-expression, reflection of one's world views through the creation of art. When an artist creates an art piece, say a painting or a sculpture, he works on it, changes it, experiments with it, struggles with it, refines it, polishes it and then comes a moment when he is happy with it, he stops and says he has just finished the creation of an art piece, then he sits down and appreciates what he has done and also takes a break. Now this piece of art is a reflection of what and how he sees this world or what is in his mind, and even a reflection of him this person -- it is all about self-expression and self-satisfaction -- he has the total authority on that piece of work. He does not care whether his work is making money or appreciated by other people (well, it feels great of course if his work gets recognized), he enjoyed the process of creating. The process of creating art is so satisfying because he is free to do anything, free to experiment with any media and ways of representing his ideas in your mind -- there is no rule about it.
A designer, however, does things in a total different way. Design is often about solving problems. A designer sees the world as not good enough and tries to "design" for a better one. A furniture designer analyzes how people sit (knowledge of human anatomy), what postures will feel best for them and why is that (knowledge of culture and anthropology), and designs a chair for them. In the design process he has to research for the best type of materials which is on one hand best suits the purpose and on the other cheap enough for mass production (knowledge of general science and mathematics), then he has to figure out whether his design is actually practical to reproduce in the factory, he has to test whether his design, although looking good, is firm enough to hold a fat man or a naughty boy jumping on it, suffering good wear and tear.... (knowledge of physics....). Or take a fashion designer as another example. She has to design a sportswear for athletes. Similarly besides making it look great through those fashion drawings, she has to research for the suitable kind of cloth which is good looking and comfortable to wear (knowledge of textile), what cutting would make it most economical to produce in the factories, how the design would make the athlete perform best on the sportsground (how the cloth absorbs sweats well and release body heat efficiently, and let him do whatever activity he has to do? -- knowledge of biology and chemistry?)... There are endless questions and problems for a designer to consider so that what an athlete wears does matter in a competition. It takes all these problems solved to make a design work.
Designers create new user experiences. This is why designers always have to approach his brief in a very LOGICAL and CRITICAL way. He cannot do whatever he wants since he has to identify the problems, analyze the problems, understand the limitations, seek for the best solutions and then evaluate whether the selected solutions are doing their jobs. And also sometimes the most difficult of all, he has to explain in an easy-to-understand way and convince his client/boss that his design will work long BEFORE the design comes to be a reality. And also he has to be confident about meeting all those deadlines and budgets given by his client/boss (knowledge of management). So you see he is never doing something which only satisfies himself like an artist. And he has to integrate many kinds of knowledge in different areas to put his design a reality. Art is only one of his tools to achieve a purpose.
The trainings provided in art (and not design) schools usually concentrate on how one interprets the world (cultural studies), helping one to see the world in a different way that nobody has ever done before, and why in history those masters are representing their surrounding world in such ways (art history and criticism). Typically in an art school one would specialize on a specific art skill, like painting or sculpture, or installation art, and use the skills acquired to do your SUBJECTIVE interpretations in new and experimental ways. Well, I must admit this is still a very important training for a designer too, because this is one way how innovation and creativity are trained -- designer has to look into problems in new ways and look for innovative solutions. But for a designer, he can never use subjective reasons to convince his client/boss on what and why his design is good and an appropriate solution to the problems and needs. (Obviously the client will never be convinced and pay to a designer who just tell him that he likes to use red in the design because he thinks red is better than green.) Everything has to be explained in objective and scientific terms based on data and research, sounds justified. Besides, since the information and technological explosion, more often a designer has to solve his problems by integrating different kinds of knowledge. Say for a jewellery designer, he has to understand very much about aesthetics, but at the same time he has to know the materials (metal, gold, diamond and how lights could be reflected to its maximum (physics/science)...) inside out.
For those who are keen in art and considering the design profession, I hope the explanations above can help them have a good fundamental understanding of both art and design, and which is the one they really want to do. I have seen too many people came into the design profession with a wrong motivation from day one, but came too far to turn back.
P.S. This post is edited from an email I sent in 2003 to a teenager who was considering studying design. Today when I read it again, perhaps my view has evolved a little bit but I think it is still worthwhile to post it here.
Design is...
謝謝
Ethan的推介，引發我繼續探索
怎樣說明甚麼是設計...
校園還張貼著一張「過氣」的海報（說是「過氣」，因為有些內容已經outdate了），是由
Keith Tam設計，以「Design is...」為題，用作宣傳學院所提供的碩士課程。我認為它是一張出色的typographic work：由構圖到grid design、由英文字體選擇到給「設計」兩個中文字的處理、由structure of information到顏色的運用等，都顯示出一位typographer既含蓄內斂但亦能在規範中發揮創意的特質。
「Design is...」唔... 一條既老生常談但又不是一時之間可以答得好的填充題...
談到「設計」的定義，廣義來說或許跟藝術一樣，甚麼都是設計，甚麼都是藝術，正所謂「設計就是生活」麻！但我還是偏向將它的範圍收窄一點，讓人明白設計並不是觸不著邊際的東西。
吃
Bauhaus學派奶水、一直奉行
form follows function教義長大的我，一直以來當然也接受design is problem solving的說法。然而世界在變，我發現form已經不一定follow function的了。在後現代的今天，form或許更多時候follow emotion，若要換上同是一個「F」字頭的英文字，可以這樣說：
Form follows Function, Function follows Fantasy.
就拿廣告設計來舉個例：「廣告的目的在於使觀賞者對他當前的生活方式萌生不滿... 廣告示意：假若他購買廣告推銷的商品，生活便可望改善。... 廣告總是... 向買主提供富魅力的自我形象。」再沒有比
John Berger在
Ways of Seeing（台譯《勢與藝七篇 —— 觀賞的觀念》）中更精闢獨到的分析，說明廣告設計緊緊跟隨著fantasy。當然，要保衛form follows function這教義，我們還可以爭辯不論emotion或fantasy，都可被算作function的一種。
設計固然是problem solving，然而engineering、accounting、medicine等不也都是在solving problems嗎？設計師總不能太arrogant地說design涵蓋了engineering、accounting、medicine等知識範疇吧！？總之，這個定義似乎已無法說明設計跟其它專業的分別。
這些年來，我常在思想設計的專業性在那兒、設計師的core competence是甚麼、它跟其它專業的差異又是甚麼⋯ 今年我自己對於定義設計，用得最多的是：
Design is putting things together in a creative way.
在給它詳盡一點的解釋前，我倒想聽聽你對設計的定義又會是怎樣，請幫我來個填充吧！
Design is...
