Jonathan Biddle – Made in Taiwan

Month: November 2006

  • Pencils for Gambling – Kokuyo

    Well, the results are out, and I won the ‘Special Prize’ in the annual Kokuyo Design Award!

    ‘Pencils for Gambling’ are a combination of dice and pencils.

    The inspiration came when looking at these two traditional, easily recognized objects, and realizing that they both had six sides. The resultant design simply places dots on the end of a pencil’s shaft. Subtle and fun, it allows the user to play games without anyone else knowing.

    When researching the project, the team also discovered that the first dice, used in ancient China, were formed from sticks of bamboo. Therefore, the shape also reflects Asian history, in a modern, yet affordable product.

    Check out the link – I am very excited!

    Kokuyo Design Award 2006

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Voting Time in Taipei

    For all the problems with Taiwanese democracy, it is quite the most vibrant and passionate group of voters I have ever encountered. Perhaps we just need to give them time to adjust and develop a healthy dollop of voter apathy, but for the moment they are resplendant in their suits communally shouting ‘down with this sort of thing!’ or ‘don’t stop doing this sort of thing!’ at the top of their lungs.

    As horrified as I am at seeing a small truck dressed up as a tank – or rather, horrified that someone would deem this appropriate for a political campaign – it is pretty cool. I even saw one of the candidate’s posters the other day where the guy was holding a baseball bat, ready to strike. Amazing.


    “YOU HAVE 20 SECONDS TO VOTE”


    I forgot to post much about the huge political protests aimed at Chen ShuiBien (the President) over the past few months, but this was perhaps the most impressive image of all that I saw. The people have spoken.

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Bali Escape

    Feeling the need to escape the bullshit of Taipei for at least a few hours, Nick, Grace and I took up the MRT as far north as it goes and hopped over to Bali on the boat. A feast of sights, sounds and smells it was more than worth it (and we caught James Bond in the evening which we all agreed was rather good).


    Mesmerised by a calligrapher selling is wares


    … but he’s not tracing, honest.


    Nick and Grace on the ferry


    “Cool Smoke”


    Get them young

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Luxy (not again)

    Just for the record:


    On the loose


    The Helen & Jonny Show


    The bright lights of Taipei

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Urban Underground

    Some pics from the weekend…


    A walk in the park – Rich and I have a beer in Sun Yat Sen


    A pretty cool street art exhibition in Shilin Night Market – very nice to see, since the guys here have a shop, exhibition space and dance studio over three levels. I have been waiting for an underground movement to begin to claim these places as their own … and it is a theme that continues.


    Rich, Nick and I rocking it up at Luxy – our first night out together in ages, since we have all been jet setting off around Asia for the last couple of months.


    Campo – this is really developing as a very nice design / art / music conglomeration. I was delighted to see they were using the HuaShan arts district – Taipei’s old cigarettes and alcohol factory. The design style is very Taiwanese and over-cute, but it is developing … but the most pleasing thing to see is the way they are renovating the buildings, but without completely polishing it.

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • New Bike

    Before:

    After:

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Wrist – Good News!

    Saw the wrist Doctor tonight, had some X-rays … and he says that my wrist is healing very quickly. Basically, it’s 100% but I need to wait for another month before riding properly again … but until then I can at least ride my bike on the street. Yeah!

    And in a double twist of good news, Nick – a friend from the US and A – came back from the States today. His Dad was in a pretty horiffic car crash, and he flew home to be with his family. Luckily, he is in the middle of making a full recovery. This struck a little close to home – as I am sure it did with many young guys away from home. It could have been my parents, friend or loved one. This time it wasn’t, and I hope it never will.

    The flip side was seeing the way that this disperate group of people here rallied around with a barrage of e-mails accross the Pacific. Rather comforting.

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • DaLi

    Today, I had the pleasure of a wonderful hike with Ruth & Christophe (designers from Germany) and Markus & Evelyn. The weather was supreme, and it is quite strange to think that the weather back in the UK is probably cold and ‘orrid. We are still in t-shirts, though there is a distinct chill in the air these days. We took a train out down the coast and arrived at DaLi – just past Fulong. After a very pleasant climb over the peak we had a wonderful stroll accross farmland with a light and coolness that made me think I was back in Blighty once again.


    Stairway from Heaven


    Bike & shoes under palms


    Paddy’s Day


    Trike


    Games with reflective things 1.0


    Sun set bank account in the red


    Games with reflective things 2.0


    Ruth and Christophe have a cheeky laugh on the way home


    The kids are asleep in the back

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • We’re Night Clubbing

    I had a pretty great night out last night – went to VT Art Salon to see live electric geetars twinned with fiendish techno beats. Exceptionally cool, and rather nice to meet several people again that are fast becoming good friends here in Taipei. They took their time!

    I took some photos on the way home – a rather sinister looking entranceway to a super gangsterish night club, a street corner, and me in a lift watching the doors close.


    Stay on target


    Intersection


    Sliding Doors

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Assorted Photos

    Some assorted photos over the last week or so in Taipei.


    Nelson looking pretty in PS Cafe while hanging out pretending to study Chinese


    Messing around with the RAW settings on my camera while downtown at night in Taipei


    Mister Donuts is a Japanese confectionary chain in Taiwan. The quality is poor poor poor, but every time a new one opens expect a line up around the building and down the block. People like donuts here in Taiwan.


    Markus and I out for some quiet (mid-week) beers at Underworld on ShiDa road. The place shut down a few months ago and we were happy to see it humming again (and our heads the next day).


    A night time street vendor is either stopping or starting work for the day


    Rich and I head north as I make my first trip on scooter in about five weeks. We stop to admire the paddy fields.

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…