Conference?

It's been a while since I last participated in any kind of event, so I've been delighted in yesterday's event - 3rd ThinkLab Design Conference; The New Malaysian Design Agenda.

All of the speakers are renown for their contribution in their own field like design, business and technology:

Prof. Dato Dr. Ahmad Hj. Zainuddin -  Majlis Rekabentuk Malaysia Chairman

• Malaysia is 40th in design ranking in the world... quite low isn't it? +_+
• He also presented on how can design build-up and make-up the economy of a country; Japan and Korea as a case study on how their enthusiasm in designing things better, solving problems.
• Most people will look into the after-service of product after considering price.
• 6 things to look into:

1. How geopolitics affects trends. (Rise of the East - US and EU consumer are now craving for products that comes from the East)
2. Demographics - The declining of the Baby Boomers and the rise of Generation-Y - How their behavior affecting demand and trends.
3. New technology such as Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube) and Digital Cultures (E-book, Blog) dominates people nowadays. Two-third of the world Internet population use social networks and it is increasing day by day...
4. Urbanization
5. Global Warming - Green is the Word for the Future.

Shukor Yahya - Graphic Designer and Contemporary Artist www.kufikufi.com

• Renown for his painting involving Kufi khat, most of his talk emphasizes idea in making design as a plan for future changes.
• His favorite quote, "Make peace first, than together we progress." Heh. I like this quote.. ^_^
• He presented 6 model ideas for the Jabatan Perdana Menteri worth looking for in improving Malaysia Creative Industry.

Michael Teoh - Youth Entrepreneurs Malaysia Co-founder

• His portfolio is so overwhelmingly plenty I just can't list it all of!!
• And I like this guy!! XD

 

Jeremy Little - Laguna Music Founder

• Popular with his band Prana, he and his brother founded Laguna Music to help promote and developed indie artists such as Estrella, Seven Collar T-shirt and many more.
• He presented on the background on how the indie scene first coming up and how the old trend differ from the new one; like at first indie music revolve around English, but now people are starting coming back with Malay songs. Ironically.
• People from around the world take quite a liking in Malaysian music scene because of its uniqueness. It got so many style and influence like ABC and that's why it is unique!! People are not bothered by just one style instead they have the power to choose which genre they prefer. Heck. Never realize that before... :D
• US and UK has ventured around Asia searching for new talents; example like Zee Avi and Yuna. They want to venture into a new style and people from those country demanding new and original music as they've been bored by their own music industry... To much R&B perhaps? Ironically, we Malaysian didn't even appreciate one from our own...
• We had to brand our own talent and support our own community.
  

Ismail Ibrahim - CEO of GeoSense Sdn. Bhd.

• His company specializes on UAV - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.
• The technology is progressing so fast as the knowledge can only be found in our door-step by just clicking away...
• How the technology pushes us forward while co-exist and symbiotic with design pushes it further.
• Different design and technology lead to different means - Military uses, Civilian uses etc.
  

Elizabeth Cardosa - Executive Director of Badan Warisan Malaysia

• She is a conservationist, architect and designer and had a liberty to explore many kind of cultural diverse and different landscapes.
• A search for distinction of style in Malaysian Design always fail and most of the search has led to nothing substantially. Most of style has been the same with some in any other region because of our diverse influence and the perception of the old and the new.
• How do we interpret Malaysia?
• The designer had to know these basic rules:

1. Know your Community
2. Know your Cultural Background
3. Know your Tradition
4. Know your Climate
5. Know your Material
6. Know your Craftmen
7. Know your Craft

• A quote from UNESCO, "Our cultural identity is forged in the environment in which we live." So we had to accept that Malaysia had no monopolizing style that solely define Malaysia as a whole.

And then we had our little breakout and discussion ensued among respected teams regarding Malaysian Design issues...

Thanks to William-Harald Wong for sharing your insights and your experience in the design world... :D

After the events ended, me, Pali and Jambu take a stroll around Balai Seni Lukis Negara (National Art Gallery) and gaze upon Japanese Design Today 100 Exhibition and Underwater Scenerist of Malaysia Exhibition.

Found this book under a pile of other design books at Basyeer booth just outside of the conference... :P

Ironically, we always hide from any criticism from doing nothing. Right?

p/s: I had to stop obsessing over something that I can't measure. Maybe doing things like attending seminar and events can keep me occupied and busy like I used to. Had to seek a new purpose in life and as far as I know, I've lost mine before and I do hope seeking a new one will not get me down-under again. Do pray that I do well this time. Correction. REALLY well. By the way, I use "ironically" word quite often this time around. I don't know why... :S

Cheers.