The Sum of the Parts...

"At this moment, design, fabric, form - sprinkled with small clusters of particles called stories turn into a high-spirited butterfly to take on the journey through one hundred years of memory." Omata, Chiyoshi {Director of Culture Design Department of 'Shiseido'}

I was reading more of Mina Perhonen 'Particle' today..and this quote, and these particular images set me thinking. Notions and ideas of design have been floating about in my head for a few weeks, what with Mav's posts about Design and the conversations that ensued, amongst other things {maybe it's because I am designing at the moment??}. What has been at the forefront of my mind has been the idea of 'process' and the notion that the sum of the parts equal the whole {the finished design}....but that the design is nothing without the parts, or the process...that the process is what gives design a basis, a story..meaning.

I suppose this also fits in with my thinking of the art of all things handmade...and how important the process one goes though to achieve a handmade product actually is. My job and role, in effect is always rooted and consumed by a process....the exploration of thoughts, the visual research and fleshing out of this...the physical manufacture of this 'idea', which becomes {in my case} a piece of jewellery. The journey, in most peoples eyes, is only now about to begin..when the jewel can be worn and is bought, but that is where my involvement ends...design for me is (nothing without the) process.

This brings me back to the images I have shown today...which I think show ' process' in such a beautiful way, together....one not existing without the other. I love how the shells that have been used to make the mother of pearl buttons, with their pierced holes, have been placed next to the buttons themselves..showing the impact process has on the base material....and the Tori bird bag {which I covet so badly} which is shown in pieces, which highlights how well the making process shines though in the finished article, preserved and not hidden. I think this public airing of process is really important as it highlights the different ways that design is experienced. Is design appreciated differently by those who have insight into the process? I'm not sure.....but I think the way I view design, and the design I like, is the direct result {mostly} of my feeling some connection to a process the maker has gone through...in short I want to be able to see it.

" I like using my hands to create products. I like to see the accidental happenings during the process of production, such as surprises found in nice linings or sections of materials, or intriguing mistakes" Hiroyasu Omura {Leather Artist}

This afternoon, I watched The Scent of Green Papaya which is just an amazing film. So slow and delicate, showing the processes and repetitions in life..time and care taken over these tasks, such beauty. Maybe when it comes to process...{to life} it really is true that fruits are only produced after much labour...?

Xox