Jonathan Biddle – Made in Taiwan

Month: October 2007

  • Pure Insight – Innovation in Asia

    Last night, working with Mark Stocker at DDG, we conducted a second online seminar with Pure Insight. Unlike the bulk of their presentations (far more McKinsey in style, with lots of graphs and metrics and other things to lean on) we kept it much more conversational and anecdotal. Unlike the previous session, this ‘Members Only Call’ allowed people to call in with their questions. It really felt like a radio show!

    Pure Insight – Innovating in the East: Managing Teams and Partnerships in Asia

    … and the good news is, that’s the last of the major commitments I have made in the last few months coming home. I think I will give myself a bit of a breather, and allow some space for some more Chinese homework!

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Markus Leaves

    Markus has left Taiwan!

    Horror of horrors. The rechtsfahrer actually did it!

    It’s sad to see him leave of course, but I also know that there will be one or two opportunities in the future to make some new stories… but for now, this guy was there for some of the best of mine on this island.

    Tour de Taiwan


    Yes sah!


    Enduring images of a design executive


    Shallow grave

    Karaoke Destruction


    No, we are really taking this seriously!


    Ich liebe dich!

    Miaoli Horrors


    Hello nasties!


    Markus, no doubt talking total bullshit, as usual 🙂

    Formoz Insanity


    Markus is the one on the left glowing just like the sun. In most pictures that day his face was totally overexposed – even at night!

    Dali Bread


    Markus and I playing with new cameras is a consistent theme


    As well as unimaginative composition!


    But he’ll be joining Evelyn soon… and good luck to them!

    Underworld


    Beer and music… who is my wingman now?

    Rooftop Live Taipei


    The last run…. too funny, even now.

    Ride 2 Live


    The last one. But a good one!

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Taipei Times – GPS

    Here is my latest article for the Taipei Times.

    This month I have mostly been testing … GPS

    Find it here.

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Ride 2 Live…

    After rather too much alcohol from the night before showing the British design delegation Shilin nightmarket, I got up early and met up with the team of riders from Asus as they attempted the ascent up the deadly Yangming Mountain.

    As is often the case in Taiwan, there are trends in the air … and in this case the trend is small-wheel bikes. Folding bikes. Moultons. Bromptons. All totally unsuitable for the climb, and all completely, immaculately clean.

    None the less – a great ride, and I had the pleasure to show off the opening trail of the Graveyard mountain bike run to Markus. With the cool, sunny weather, it was a fantastic chance to say goodbye!


    … Live 2 Ride. The boys are back in town!

    Some more Flickr photos here

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Love & Money

    Government support for exporting design in the UK is pretty strong, and the efforts landed in Taiwan last week, with the ‘Love & Money’ show rolling into town. Basically, a show case of the British creative industries, it showcased work from, among others, Zaha Hadid, Sam Hecht, Thomas Heatherwick and Jamie Hewlett. The work was supported by the de-facto embassy, British Council, British Trade & Industry and Design UK.

    The two week event culminated with a Pecha Kucha show and I was invited to speak alongside Sam Hecht of Industrial Facility and Benjamin Chia of Elemental Eight – previously Designafairs USA.

    The basic format is, 20 seconds for each slide, with a total of 20 slides, creating a total of 6 minutes 40 seconds – and you have no control over the slides. Believe me, a badly rehearsed presentation makes the 6 minutes feel like an eternity, while a good show flies by in a flash. The rock and roll of presentations!


    Pecha Kucha night Taipei


    Keeping the ladies awake – what are you looking at, David?


    It’s all just hot air, really


    I had some important points to make – and thanks to Abe for the great photos!

    I am trying out the Slideshare service, in order to publish the results. See what you think!

    http://s3.amazonaws.com/slideshare/ssplayer2.swf?doc=pecha-kucha-jonathan-biddle-1193068225935190-4

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Hello Kitty

    Sorry, some entirely gratuitous photos of our two house cats, DaTou and Tripod. I think this is the beginning of the end.


    Tripod, who is simply a ball of delightful cuteness


    … and then there is DaTou, dark lord of the cat underworld.


    He displays rodent-like tendencies, including biting his way into boxes, creating almost perfectly circular holes along the way. Deeply strange.


    And there he sits, plotting his revenge…

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • 10 / 10 Fireworks

    First blog posting in a wee while, and I hope to go back and fill in a couple of gaps…

    Anyway, today is national day in Taiwan, and to cap it all the city organises a huge fireworks show by the river. We, however, chose the wrong river, and were treated to a display requiring either Hubble levels of magnification, or at least a strong imagination.

    None the less, in one of the first days of Autumn, it was nice to go for a stroll and soak in the atmosphere of kids trying their absolute hardest to get excited by the tiny dots exploding in the distance.


    Apartment Blocks


    DaZhi Bridge

    Check out some more images on my Web Gallery here:

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Rooftop Live

    With Markus leaving Taiwan there are a few activities that we need to clear out of the way before he is granted access to the United States, we have not been the bessst at meeting up, but in the last few days we have made some pretty serious effort to meet up and redress the balance.

    I am still a bit groggy from the weekend and lack of sleep, but we had an absolute stormer of a night watching 1976 on the roof of Eslite bookstore. Fighting the elements, we enjoyed a good show, and capped it with one of the funniest moments of Taiwan in months. More to tell later on that one, in case it ruins any surprises in the near future.


    Markus and I, with about 250 people behind us not able to see past us


    Taiwan does pull of some good locations when it wants to!


    Peeking through


    My baby’s on fire


    1976 in the house

    More pics on my web gallery here:

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…