trans - IED Madrid

project description
biography
Though Indonesia is the fourth most populated country in the world, it has
been left behind by other emerging countries in the development of design.
It is a country that is rich in tradition and culture, but sadly this treasure has
remained within the same visual ethnic archetype for generations. A great
deal of local production has been exploited by outsiders to manufacturer
international commodities and brands. This is holding us back, making us
mere tailors for the job.
This stagnation has been living in our bones for a long time, and it its
time to get a move on and catch up with the race to a better future. The
aim of this project is to manifest what modern contemporary Indonesian
design is and then to put it on the world map. The project then focuses
on designing a product that will suit what Indonesia needs in order to
catch up with the race. The design will be in the form of furniture, due to
the considerable importance furniture has in local industry, which gives
it a significant chance of getting into the mass market. With the synergy
between manufacturers and the media, we then need to invent iconic
designs that will then help to create a spot in the world design map. To help
propagate contemporary design, the product has to generate a dialogue
between users or with the public. This product will need to be placed in a
transitional space (semi private-public), so it also will be aimed at both the
residential and commercial market. It is expected to be an example of the
future Indonesian design.
The furniture will be in the form of a bench, as it will cater to two or three
or more people. By distorting the balance of the bench, it will improve the
probability of triggering interaction between its users. Additionally, it will
have subtle curves that will give a great visual impact, and with the curved
base, the bench will oscillate whenever a person sits on it. Furthermore, the
simple but dynamic swerving shape looks as if it were frozen in motion and
ready for action. Whilst using local material, the bench will give a different
experience to its users. The rather playful and casual feel it expresses will
provide extra comfort for users to easily communicate or socialise with
other users. It is expected that this will contribute to a constant stream of
zestful dialogue and interactions among users and infect and influence
the surrounding public. The product is modular, so it is possible to create a
connection between one and another an infinite number of times.
This product will give a boost both to local markets to start acknowledging
what modern contemporary design is and how it gives added value for
them in the future and to the international market to recognize the new
face of modern contemporary Indonesian design. This product will leave
the blunted past of Indonesian mentality and proceed on the way to a new
rising of optimism towards a better future.
Alvin Tjitrowirjo has been known for his
originality and his modern, sophisticated
and stylish lifestyle products,
which have been the talk of the town due
to their unusual dynamic designs. After
graduating with a Bachelor of Industrial
Design from RMIT University, he joined
Melbourne Movement, an organisation that
promotes young Australian designers.
Through this organisation, the “bell
chair” was selected to be exhibited in
the world’s leading furniture fair Salone
Satelitte in Milan 2005, and “Snug” was
exhibited in Melbourne Design EX. In 2006,
“Snug” was selected to be exhibited during
design week (Saturday In Design) and was
awarded as one of the top five favourite
designs chosen by an international jury.
Upon returning to Indonesia, Alvin has
joined Dform, an association to promote
young Indonesian Designers. In 2006,
Alvin held his first solo exhibition
entitled “Alvin+Volvo”. This exhibition
displayed a bold statement of his
commitment and passion for design as it
has indisputably earned him respect from
other fellow designers, the media and the
public itself. Since then, Alvin has been
involved with several collaboration projects,
working alongside Indonesia’s top
architects and fashion designers. Alvin
was also a part-time lecturer of furniture
and interior design at the University of
Pelita Harapan, Jakarta. In 2007, Alvin
held his second solo exhibition entitled
“Mi Casa Su Casa”. With the approach
of 2008, “Snug” and “Satool” were both
selected to exhibit at Ambiente’s Talents
in Frankfurt. Alvin’s unique and minimalistic
style did not go unnoticed, where
his success was published in the local
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper.
His recent move to Madrid to pursue his
European Design Labs has opened up new and
challenging opportunities that lie ahead.
His constant exposure to the design world
in Europe has established how significant
design is in this modern world and how
important it is for Indonesia to utilize
its resources and the ability to produce
and design high quality products. This new
experience has given a new perspective and
a new grasp of design in Indonesia, where
Alvin wishes to take upon this challenge.
As a futurist, Alvin wants to leave
the jaded past of Indonesian design and
proceed towards a new surge of optimism in
a contemporary spirit.
The potential beauty of Alvin’s simplistic
design shows how he is able
to acknowledge both the past and the
future without being too pretentious.
This awareness has truly been a warm and
welcoming invitation to a thrilling path
in the competitive international world of
design. And rest assure, the best is yet
to come.