Jonathan Biddle – Made in Taiwan

Blog

  • Escape Pod

    I have not posted so much of late – perhaps because work has been grilling me, and I have had so many to finish at this most busy time of year. It’s a strange environment to be in heading up to Christmas – there is no communal Christmas spirit (why should there be) and the idea of my leaving is not quite synchronised. So, I have an enormous pile of projects to finish (one of them being Christmas shopping for certain family members!) and my brain is hurting from having to think about packing.

    This is a tale in itself. I am bringing my old bike back to sell, so I though it would make sense to buy a specific bike box for the task. However, upon weighing bike in box, I discovered it came to something over 25kg… and my weight limit should really be 20. So, a change of pants, a toothbrush and a credit card for me! And some intelligent packing of pockets and notebook computer bags!

    You’ll be able to spot me – I’ll be the one with the huge oversized suitcase and the paedophile jacket packed with consumer electronics!

    The sooner I get out of here the better for my sanity.

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Back on the Wagon

    After a week of solid rain and impending manic depression, the heavens finally cleared for my first ride of the last three months and the last in Taiwan this year. At last, Taipei seems back in balance once more (endorphines well and truly kicking in at this precise moment as I type).

    The doctor pronounced me fit to ride again, and although I was taking it easy on some of the really rough sections it was amazing to get back into it again – especially on a new bike that feels as smooth and controllable as the one I now have.

    For those that are interested, I also splashed out on a trick new fork yesterday to replace my Fox F100 RL that came fitted as standard equipment (and was a rather camp shade of creamy white). The new Talas is fully adjustable on the fly from 100 to 140mm and it just soaks up the action (and, critically, the gun metal grey really looks so so much better – I am a designer after all). It is also an amazing feeling to enter a climb section, flick the lever to 100 and feel the front end gracefully dipping, and with a second flick of the lever fire down the downhill with the raised bar and slacker head tube angle giving more confidence than I would have ever imagined with the old Rock Shox Pilot I had (which seemed to have a set of internal elastic bands providing the spring duties).

    I’ll be taking my old NRS back to the UK to ride and sell (after a quick clean), but it was nice to have my final weekend here back on track. There is surely some glorious riding to be had in 2007.


    Previously in ER … you can see a wee crack in the middle of the big bone on the right, just at the wristy bit (spot the Doctor!)

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Mathematical Graffiti

    I spotted these calculations outside a building site in the south of Taipei. Obviously, some brickies needed some quick sums doing on their construction work, so they picked the panel on the gate to the site, leaving a great photo op’ for me.

    And spot also the sprayed-on warning sign in Chinese. If only all tags were this attractive!


    Graffiti exams

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Lonely God

    Some rather intreresting packaging:


    Lonely God – Potato Twists

    And while we are at it, a new shop has opened downstairs from us … simply, ‘LED’.


    LED


    LED – Light Emitting Diode – It must be a trend

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Simple Life

    This weekend I went to ‘Simple Life’ – an urban music festival at my new top location, The HuaShan Arts District. Somebody is clearly doing their job exceedingly well, as I have written about that place several times of late.

    The term ‘Simple Life’ applied to this festival is perhaps pushing it a bit. Sponsored jointly by Muji and 7-11, well over half of the site was filled with a craft market, a Muji museum, food stalls, mini 7-11s and clothes shops. It really hit the sweet spot in that Birkenstock-clad, excessively worthy yet cute style that is such the rage here. Why brave the elements when you can do what you love best – buying cute crap.


    Cute crap mart at the Muji stand

    Strangely, there was also a reading room. An entire hall of the exhibition was taken up with the real Camper warriors all nodding in agreement at the speakers extolling the virtues of ‘sustainable’ lifestyles, all while munching on their 7-11 boiled snacks.

    But I did get to see my favourite Taiwan rockers, 1976, bring the house down, even though everyone behind me (several hundred people) could not see over my shoulders. They’ll learn.


    1976 – notice all the blinky camera and phone screens as people record the concert … when do they expect to watch this again?

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • 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…