:: I love what Dustin Hostetler (publisher and curator of Faesthetic Magazine) is up to with the This Must Be The Place show he curated for Scion. Check it out below.

Also, check out his Think Faest! blog here. He is also a pretty ridiculously talented designer himself, all of his work is archived here. // AjS

:: in case you weren’t able to come by A Nice Set | Shanghai, the exhibition of international and Chinese designer slipmats, we’ve produced a short video of the opening night that you can check out below. If this video is loading slowly for you, try viewing it on Tudou or .

Special thanks again to our co-curators in making the event happen: Jellymon and We Are Plus; along with our sponsors and partners: Aerial7, Vedett, SOURCE, Supermarkart, IdN, AWE5OME, and Neocha. And a special shout-out to , who provided the beats and scratches at the party as well as the soundtrack for the video.

For more A Nice Set | Shanghai-related content on NeochaEDGE, link here.  // AjS

This post was originally published on NeochaEDGE, a site I regularly contribute to. To see more of my posts on NeochaEDGE, link here.

NeochaEDGE is a daily-curated, bilingual website and discovery engine dedicated to showcasing leading-edge creative content and emerging youth culture in China.

:: Shanghai is the next stop for A Nice Set, a traveling exhibition of customized slipmats designed by leading artists from around the world. Presented by NeochaEDGE and Jellymon, A Nice Set | Shanghai will feature slipmat designs from international artists as well as the first showing of original slipmat designs from emerging Chinese artists. Further integrating the music + art theme, a set of Aerial7 headphones will receive a custom-design treatment by Chinese artists and displayed at the exhibition.

A Nice Set | Shanghai exhibition will open at 7:30 PM on September 12th at SOURCE’s gallery space, and run until September 28. Original slipmats, reproductions, IdN’s commemorative book, and custom-designed Aerial7 headphones will all be available for sale throughout the exhibition. // AjS

Exhibition Opening Party :: Sept 12, 2009, 19:30

Exhibition Dates :: Sept 12 – Sept 28, 2009

Location :: SOURCE (158 Xinle Road, Near Donghu Road)

Participating Artists ::

China

Raylei, B6, Tyakasha, Yan Wei, Nini Sum, Jellymon, Kidplastik, Chairman, Shinjil, 96k, Rubberpixy

International

Asif Mian, Ben Loiz & Carolina Chaves, Bob Kronbauer, Build, Carlos Rodriguez, David Ellis, Genevieve Gauckler, Gerry Villareal, Harmen Liemburg, Hanna Werning, Hort, Ian Wright, Ian “Swifty” Swift, Jeff Staple, Jeff Zimmermann, Jenni Kim, Jeremy Hollister, Jeremyville, Maki Kawakita, Marc Atlan, Ray Smith, Republic of Regina, Stephen Bliss, Judy Wellfare, Kai and Sunny, Kenn Sakurai, Kustaa Saksi, Luca Ionesco, Maceo Villareal, Stephan “Maze” Georges, Timothy Saccenti, Universal Everything, Value and Service, Yuko Shimizu and many more

What is a slipmat?

A slipmat is a circular piece of felt material that DJs use on turntables to manipulate a record.

The Concept ::

Just as DJs sample the work of many musicians into the new mixes, visual artists tap into their own cultural surroundings, sampling the influences they have accumulated and integrate them into their work. Both the visual artist and the DJ can be seen as “selectors” who draw inspiration from their respective environments, as well as its trends and fads, with the finished product of a painting or a mix being their interpretation of the world around them.

First conceptualised by Jeremy Hollister of New York creative studio Plus et Plus and Jeff Staple of Staple Designs and The Reed Space, A Nice Set invites leading artists to customize a pair of blank slipmats with dimensions of the canvas as their only constraints.

The Artists ::

The selection of participating artists for A Nice Set is not based on any universal visual aesthetic, but rather on talent, uniqueness and a passion for music – in both the work and the lives of the chosen artists.

Since its debut in Hong Kong, A Nice Set has been on tour for the past three years, travelling from Tokyo to Spain, Paris, Australia and Singapore hitting Shanghai this September. In each city, a selection of local talent is chosen to be included in each exhibition alongside the original collective. The works of the local artists then travel to the next city of the tour, ever expanding global pool of customized designs.

Organizers ::

NeochaEDGE

NeochaEDGE is a full-service idea and execution house passionate about helping clients understand, engage, and co-create with Chinese creative communities, trendsetters, and youth culture opinion leaders.

NeochaEDGE is a daily-curated, bilingual website and discovery engine dedicated to showcasing leading-edge creative content and emerging youth culture in China.

NeochaEDGE is a product of Neocha.com, an online community and social network that empowers Chinese creatives to promote their work, collaborate with other creatives, and engage with fans.

Jellymon

Jellymon / JMGS is a multi-discipline design studio that creates Artwork, Toys, Fashion, Lifestyle products, Branding, Creative Direction. Jellymon was set up by Lin Lin and Sam Jacobs. The pair met at Chelsea School of Art in 2002 and have been working together ever since. Jellymon is about art and products with a fun and thoughtful twist. JMGS works closely with brands and advertising agencies. The projects we work on are very wide ranging but most focus mainly on the Youth Market.

Sponsors ::

Aerial7

Aerial7 was founded in 2008 based on the idea that great sound can be combined with awesome, eye-catching design. Our headphones are influenced by our devotion to art, streetwear, action sports, and DJ culture. They deliver unsurpassed audio quality in models that are as much a statement of individualism as they are a practical necessity.

Vedett

Vedett is a premium Belgian beer brand with a somewhat different attitude; taking itself not too serious (except when it comes to quality, then we’re damn serious!), a bit quirky, modest, not telling you what to do or how to behave.

:: I was recently in Chengdu and picked up some “worshiping incense” outside a local temple. When I got back home and took a better look at the packaging, I was impressed with the all-in-one design. The box that holds the dhoop sticks has a metal ringlet that acts as a burner / holder. A simple detail, but significantly differentiating and very functional. Bravo, well done.  // AjS

:: I was recently gifted some cologne and was particularly impressed with the design of the bottle it came in. Firstly, the product just sits so nicely on its own, like a polished stone of sorts. Secondly, it’s just so easy to get a grip on. Thirdly, as soon you get a grip on it, the product ready to be sprayed / used. The scent is not bad either. Bravo, well done.  // AjS

:: Chinese retro design has always fascinated me. Over the years I’ve bought more than a few 70’s and 80’s era Chinese books just for the cover designs. I recently saw some threads on MOP with interesting primary school language study book covers, so I thought I’d scour the Web for more examples from the 60s through to the 80s and share here, see below. It’s not only the images that get people nostalgic, there are a few dedicated souls transcribing the stories in these books.  // XD

[Xiao Du is a guest contributor on fifty 5]

:: a short video showcasing the versatility of a slinky-like cardboard couch. Bravo, well done. // AjS

:: a slideshow by the creative force behind the Beijing-based independent design brand Odi Et Amo and Neocha.com-user Wang Shaobei (王晓贝). I met Shaobei at this year’s MIDI Music Festival in Zhenjiang and was refreshed by his confidence, he told me then (and reiterated on his Neocha blog): “We will make the #1 independent and original brand in China. If we can think it, we can do it. Nothing is impossible in youth. A lot of people have similar ideas, but the difference is that I am going to make it happen. I believe in us, we have youth, we will do it.”  Check out a video interview with Shao Bei to learn more about Shaobei, his brand, and his world domination plans. See some of his designs below.  // AjS

[full disclosure: 56minus1 is a partner at Neocha.com]

:: anyone who reads 56minus1 regularly knows I love sneakers and that I’m a Ray Lei (雪磊) fanboy. So, there was no way I wasn’t going to like this collaboration. I’m just surprised it took me so long to find these. See below for two excellent productions by Ray, an extraordinarily talented multimedia designer based in Beijing.

The first one was for Nike’s Innov8 (创意沙龙) campaign and, I think, in support of the brand’s 706 interactive / multimedia exhibit last year in Beijing’s 798 art district. The 706 exhibit showcased – in a way only Nike can shamelessly pull off – 100 of the company’s most innovative accomplishments in footwear and apparel design. Pretty cool actually.

The second one, titled Moon Landing Plan, was shown at the Nike Dunk art exhibition in Shanghai last March. See Ray’s blog for some photos from the event, link here. Ou Ning, who also showed work at the exhibition, did a post on it too, link here.

Both works are great, and further examples of brands successfully engaging China’s creative community. Bravo, well done.  // AjS

:: live-action design knees-up Cut&Paste makes its Shanghai debut this Saturday, May 23.

The Cut&Paste Digital Design Tournament is a globally touring competition that pits designers head to head, in a series of lightning-fast rounds, to prove their mettle. 2009 sees 16 cities on its roster – Shanghai is number 14 – plus a global championship event in June. 2D, 3D and Motion Design are represented, and contestants have a fixed amount of time – 15 minutes for 2D, 20 minutes for 3D, eight hours for Motion – to execute a creative brief on the spot. Their work is projected, live and in real time, on massive screens so the audience can ooh over every creative decision, ahh over every technical move, and get a glimpse into the ever-nebulous Creative Process.

Check the video from the last tour:

Pretty neat, eh?

Shanghai’s 16 contestants have been handpicked from tons of entries collected earlier in the year (they’re listed on the Shanghai event page, under their respective categories). Tournament judges include Chinese contemporary artists Ding Yi and Jellymon creative director Sam Jacobs for the 2D category, Asentio Design founder David Williams and adFunture founder Eddi Yip for 3D; and W+K’s Francis Lam and AKQA’s Johan Vakidis for Motion.
The afterparty – co-hosted by (they who brought Daedelus, People Under the Stairs and, most recently, Modular Records) – sees LA’s in Shanghai, rather fitting given Cut&Paste’s 2009 tour started in LA three months ago. (It’s been moving across North America, Europe and Asia ever since.)

Three audience design contests will allow folks not content just watching to get a taste of what those onstage are up against. Winners of these contests – selected from all global entries – get to go to global championships in June, along with the official winners from each city.
Whether you’d like to see the creative process somewhat demystified, or are just hankering for a good show, head down the Shanghai Sculpture Space Saturday evening.

Cut&Paste Digital Design Tournament 2009: Shanghai. Saturday, May 23. Doors 6:30pm / Show 7:00pm. Shanghai Sculpture Space (570 Huaihai Xi Lu, near Kaixuan Lu). RMB 100 presale (RMB 80 for students) through Ticketmaster / RMB 120 at the door (tickets include entry to the at Yuyintang with Free the Robots). Full details: www.cutandpaste.com or . Facebook event .  // PL

[Panthea Lee is a guest contributor on 56minus1. Full disclosure: Panthea is the producer of Cut&Paste Shanghai, and Neocha.com – of which Adam Schokora (56minus1) is a partner – is a sponsor of the event.]

:: Ray Lei (雷磊) is one of my favorite Chinese animators – but truthfully, he is probably more aptly described as a multimedia designer. I wrote about him once before on 56minus1 here. See below for an animated short he did for Cotton USA’s “Natural World, Hope for Future” marketing campaign in China titled (I think incorrectly in English) The Universe Marshmallow. In Chinese it’s titled 宇宙棉花糖, which is best translated as Cotton Candy Universe or Universe of Cotton Candy. Either way, it’s his work and he can call it whatever he wants in any language, the point is, it’s suburb. It also shows another solid example of brands successfully engaging Chinese creatives for branded / marketing content. Bravo. Enjoy. Oh, and btw, my head is made of cotton candy.  // AjS

:: a slideshow of DIY bags and accessories created by Neocha.com-user Daydreamerido.  // AjS

[full disclosure: 56minus1 is a partner at Neocha.com]

:: I’m a TED.com fanboy – always have been, always will be. It’s some of the best content on the whole of the world wide wide, and It’s just gotten better.

With the support of NOKIA, TED.com is rolling out a major open source translation project aiming to present TED talk videos in 40+ subtitled languages, including simplified and traditional Chinese. There are already four videos subtitled in simplified Chinese (1, 2, 3, and 4 – many more coming soon), one of which is probably my all-time favorite TED talk: Jill Bolte Taylor’s Stroke of Insight. Enjoy, and share with your Chinese friends that perhaps wouldn’t watch without subtitles.

Related, TED.com is holding it’s first ever official event in China next month: TEDxShanghai. (Full disclosure: I am a member of the TEDxShanghai advisory board). Also, link here to check out TEDtoChina, a Chinese-language TED fan / community site.  // AjS

:: art+shanghai has an exhibition now through June 21st titled Fold 1: Unifying Art + Design that features a 56minus1 favorite, Nial O’Connor (who I’ve posted about before here, here, and here). Nial recently told me that one of the images he created for the exhibition “is of Little Red Riding Hood playing ping pong against an elephant-riding mythical Buddhist character – it was a lot of fun to make.”

According to art+shanghai, the Fold 1 group exhibition explores the intricacies of art and design as a partnership; it is an equal cooperation on every level from the initial sharing of ideas to negotiating changes and making decisions about possible outcomes. Don’t miss it.  // AjS

:: I came across this old instruction manual for a Hong Deng (红灯) model 265 radio while doing some research for this post. What a simple, compelling cover. It’s almost beautiful. There is something special about the green used, and of course the fonts. Excellent.

For the most comprehensive collection of old-school Chinese radio instruction manual covers you could possibly imagine, link here (it’s worth it). Bravo, well done.  // AjS