Organized by PMQ, deTour is one of Hong Kong’s major annual design events, focusing on showcasing the exciting works and ideas of local and international creative talents. This year, deTour is curated by renowned creative Shin Wong and local studio Bilingual Design’s Chris Tsui and Adonian Chan, under the theme “Useful(less)” connecting virtual and physical exhibitions, design lectures, and workshops. Is “useful” design always good design? If it lacks practicality but is aesthetically pleasing, can it still be considered good design?
The virtual and physical exhibitions of deTour 2021 are divided into three main exhibition areas, including the installation “Fate Red Line – Da Shen Gong” co-created with Sputniko!, unconventional design installations from four thematic exhibitions (philosophy, sound, typography, sports), and 10 selected works from open submissions. Here are 7 selected installations with outstanding visual appeal and design concepts for everyone to enjoy!
1. Sputniko!: “Red String of Fate – Omiya Shrine”
Japanese speculative designer Sputniko! collaborates with a biotechnology research studio to produce genetically modified red threads reminiscent of those in myths, containing the love hormone “oxytocin.” This year, they teamed up with Hong Kong architectural design team Napp Studio & Architects to weave the red threads into a long cloth, intertwining to create a love shrine built from ancient emotions. The shrine, as a place where beliefs and wishes, emotions and purposes intertwine, allows visitors to admire cloud and flower patterns made by Kyoto textile artists in the moonlight-like lighting setting. Behind the romantic myth of the Matchmaking Deity, one can reflect on the meaning of emotions and connections under social distancing.
2. Philosophy X Design: “Don’t Know What Coffee Shop”
A coffee shop designed by Li Kangting (Fourth Brother) from the Good Young Men’s Poison Room and designer Hu Zhuobin is both an experiment and a performance. The audience participates in this work by buying coffee, just like going to a regular coffee shop. In a typical coffee shop, design is just a supplement, and coffee is the main focus. This coffee shop attempts to bring design from the background to the foreground, making people notice how design shapes our life experiences.
3. Font X Design: T-11
T-11 is a convenience store that explores how fonts and text layout play a role in our daily lives. T-11 showcases the various decisions made by graphic and font designers when designing for different reading situations. How do these seemingly insignificant design decisions affect the reader’s perception, as well as communication efficiency and effectiveness? Designers invite viewers to reveal their preferences for fonts and layouts, addressing various visual issues that arise when reading printed materials, screens, and signs.
4. Sound X Design: The Interpreter
A special sound device designed by instrument designer Wu Zelin and sociolinguist Dr. Lou Jiabo, “The Interpreter” is like a translation device between language and music. It first records the conversation between the two, but unlike translation as a conversion between languages, the algorithm built into this device converts language into rhythm and pitch, which are then played on a series of instruments; making even a simple conversation can become a melodious piece of music.
5. Sports X Design: The Garden of Focus
This experimental installation experience called “The Garden of Unity” allows participants to engage in a challenge of strength and endurance using the simplest and most common “hanging” practice in rock climbing. At the same time, they can understand the differences between themselves and rock climbing enthusiasts and professional athletes in terms of physical fitness. The team hopes that through this simple challenge, the public can discover more “useful” aspects of their bodies, and test the “usefulness” and “uselessness” of peer support and encouragement on self-performance.
6. “Gratitude”
7. “Between Ripples”
This exhibition carefully selects 10 groups of publicly recruited works to showcase the new design forces of local creative groups to the audience. In addition to the professional design group, this year also added a group of design graduates, including living environment, technology, interpersonal relationships, and spatial design, among others. The above are two outstanding designs that have attracted many viewers to admire and take photos.
In addition to the unique device designs, the design festival will also bring 37 workshops and 12 design lectures, with a continuous stream of exciting activities. Don’t miss out!
Learn more: deTour
