Ghost Studio

Author: He Jianping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: The term "globalization" has had a profound impact on our era. It has seeped into every corner of culture through the economy, and the regionalism of world design is rapidly disappearing. The boundaries between the designs of different nations have become indistinguishable. This theory has also been discussed and accepted by most designers in various contexts. Under this trend, public attention will directly focus on designers with distinct style symbols. Successful designers always incorporate personal character, living environment, and feedback from social influences into their creations, making their designs an expression of their design concepts, life philosophy, aesthetic tastes, and perceptions of the times. In his book The Arts of Mankind, A. de Saint-Exupéry stated, "Life is the greatest art of mankind." I believe life is also the creative source and driving force for designers. Therefore, I have attempted to introduce some truly outstanding designers by exploring the conceptual connection between "design + life." This series introduces: Rosemary Tiss from Zurich, a prominent representative of the Swiss typographic style, undoubtedly a symbol of world women designers; George Stainler from Switzerland, a "recluse" among international graphic designers, whose works vividly interpret simplicity and wisdom; Matsunaga Minoru from Tokyo, widely known in China, with over 40 years of experience in graphic design, whose works always embody leadership in fashion; Philippe Apelo from Paris, whose design is dominated by typography, filling his works with a humanistic touch; Leonardo Sonori from Italy, also renowned for his typographic design, yet his works are filled with experimental styles; Pica Roli from Northern Finland, whose designs reveal a colorful world far from the geographical and climatic features of his homeland; Christophe Geusen, a professor at the University of Arts in Kassel, Germany, whose works embody his deep understanding of literature and music; Lech Siewinski [Germany], David Tatarokwa [Israel], and Annaabella Sal and Gabrielle Matteo from the Argentine ghost studio, who offer a different interpretation of design, elevating it to political engagement and the social consciousness of designers. Their works almost touch upon all the issues of the modern world: war, violence, hunger, poverty, disease, and the environment. I introduce this design category in the series because every society has inequalities and vulnerable groups, and designers' real participation in society will make the profession of "design" perfect.