Sales Space Design: A Collection of German Design Excellence

Author: Jin Guicheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-06-01
Features: One afternoon when I first arrived in Germany, I was strolling along an ancient street, thinking about where to visit an exhibition over the weekend. Suddenly, a ray of sunlight reflected off the ground, catching my attention. I stopped and bent down to look. It turned out to be a metal plate slightly larger than a business card. Engraved on it were words with exceptionally clear raised characters, arranged in a well-ordered and beautifully designed font. After reading the text, I realized it was a manhole cover plaque. It indicated that the pipe below was for communication cables, managed by the telecommunications company, along with codes and other detailed information. It was just a manhole cover plaque, yet it was crafted so meticulously—made of copper, half-exposed and half-embedded in a concrete slab, blending seamlessly with the ground. The surface had been polished to a golden sheen by the footsteps of passersby, resembling a buried treasure revealed after the dust on its surface was brushed away. After that, whenever I traveled to a new place, I would pay close attention to these manhole cover plaques. Besides those made of copper, there were also steel ones. Some were embedded in cast-iron manhole covers, while others were embedded in concrete. The content of the plaques varied depending on their purpose. However, they were all crafted with exquisite detail, adorning the ancient streets and enduring the tests of wind and rain, reflecting the light of the sun and moon. These small manhole cover plaques deeply moved me. They represent a concrete manifestation of the overall quality of a nation and reflect the profound social foundation and environment. With a sense of awe, I realized that I should do my best to contribute to the design of our society's foundation and environment in whatever small way I could. Therefore, I compiled this series of books to introduce some common social and commercial designs in Germany to domestic readers. I hope it can inspire those who read this book and achieve the effect of sparking further discussion.