Just as the first product "Bottle Opener" was launched, we invited Zhou Yizheng, editor-in-chief of Pedestrian Press, who is good at storytelling, to gather in his own apartment on Qingtian Street. The two parties have known each other for a long time. One uses design and the other tells a story. It has long tapped the potential of Taiwan's traditional industries and used its own efforts to promote activation and regeneration. The busy three people sat on the tatami in the morning light, drinking fragrant freshly brewed coffee, talking about design, talking to each other, and talking about the ordinary things in life that bring enthusiasm and surprises.

Q Share your process of knowing each other

Chen: The cause is a glass. As soon as we saw an unusual case on Gee, we went to investigate the initiator behind and found the strange pedestrian "Pedestrian" from a glass.

Zhou: We saw the "Five Metal Shop" on the Internet, which is named Taiwan, but the products and designs on the website are very international; the things in Taiwan are made very international, just what pedestrians want to do. But for things that could not be done, I felt that I had to know them anyway, so I asked my colleagues to take the initiative to contact them. The first meeting seemed to be a meal. I remember walking into the studio and seeing a row of open electric cookers, all of which are rice ⋯⋯

Chen: Right! At that time, a friend just happened to be helping rice farmers to develop pure rice and had a trial in our studio. They invited pedestrian partners to come and eat together. In fact, there has been no formal cooperation in these years, but it has always been concerned about what the other party is doing.

Zhou: Our concept is very similar to the direction. The difference is that Five Metal Shop started earlier and has gone international; pedestrians are still very Taiwanese, and have not yet gone out or designed.

Chen: But pedestrians have the ability to tell stories. They can tell the stories and literature background behind the design very movingly. This is what the Five Metal Shop most admires and is the goal of OOO to work hard next.

Q Pedestrians and hardware firms are brands that have been in contact with traditional industries for a long time. Can you share your views on the traditional manufacturing industry and your experience with these years?

Zhou: From a nostalgic point of view, traditional industries have built the environment where my previous generation and I grew up. The key word is "OEM". OEM has brought Taiwan a very delicate situation. Literally it seems to say that Taiwan has no creativity and will only help others to produce, but this is a very stigmatization, and production is very technically valued. We call this project "Pseudo-Second Generation", which means that if the factory does not have a second generation to pick up, we pretend that we are the second generation; then if there is really a chance, we are willing to pick up (laughs).

Chen: "Foundry" is indeed a very delicate process in Taiwan. It sounds like doing something others have told us, but we know that when we develop products ourselves, only good teachers and factories can really make good products. It is not so easy to manufacture, nor is it the aspect most people are willing to mention. A while ago I went to Zhushan, Nantou and found that the second generation wanted to sell their ancestors, mainly because the older generation felt too hard and hoped that the children would not come in. This has caused two phenomena. One is that the technical beauty stays 50 years ago. At the same time, China has established an industrial chain that can produce the same quality at a lower price. The second is that the next generation will study or do something else. In fact, it is impossible to return to the family industry, which is quite helpless.

Zhou: Why no one wants to take over? This is a very important question. For a long time, Taiwanese people think that OEM is not a technology. They think that the technology of helping OEMs of big brands is owned by others, but this is not the case. Some foreigners came to Taiwan with a screw to find electroplating, and the master of the factory just looked at it and knew how to do it. This factory is in Mie and still has the best plating technology in the world. As a publishing house, all pedestrians can do is tell the story, reverse the stigma, help traditional industries find a sense of glory, and make them proud of what they do.

Chen: We know that this history and concept cannot be reversed, so Five Metal Shop does two things: as long as there is a factory that feels that it has the opportunity to be close to this era, and there are descendants who are willing to take over, Five Metal Shop will help them complement the product and market. Design faults and follow-up to assist the product to develop internationally.

N: When I first came to Taiwan, I was most amazed by the hardware shops everywhere in the streets. Scotland ’s traditional industries started to fade about 3 or 40 years ago. Especially after the rise of China, factories were moved to China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. The UK pushed the industry outward, and the country no longer had anything to make itself. In Taiwan, I can actually buy mops, buckets and dust pans made on this land, which is really exciting! If there is a dustpan made in Scotland, I will definitely try to get it.

However, the manufacturing industry is not only the United Kingdom, but also less and less in Europe, gradually leaving only high-priced luxury goods. But Taiwan is different. You can find many everyday objects in Made in Taiwan, which are cheap and easy to use. Maybe the design is not perfect, but it is very precious to be able to make what you use every day.

Q Under such industrial conditions, why do you want to manufacture "products"?

Chen: Judging from the experience of Five Metal Shop, if there are 2-3 of the 100 factories interested, even if there is more, the market potential needs to be operated for a long time. Unfortunately, Taiwan ’s guerrilla national character makes most customers see it in the short term It's a pity that revenue is interrupted halfway through. This is also the reason why the "OOO" project started. We are all interested in craftsmanship and food life. We want to start with these ordinary objects in daily life and upgrade the experience through design to add points to life.

For me, "products" are just the result, but the materials, fine-tuning of the equipment, and the beauty of the aesthetics discovered in the process are the reasons why the products are unique. For example, the functional structure of a bamboo chair is complete and there is no need to manufacture new products. But if you can make the surface smoother, the material performance is more optimized, and the design is better, you can let the bamboo chair integrate into the modern indoor home without violation.

Zhou: This is where we have been studying with Five Metal Shop. What we are good at is telling the story and finding a lot of literature, but no one wants to read it. The next stage hopes to leapfrog publishing and use products to tell stories.

Chen: All the first attempts are worthy of respect! Quality optimization sounds simple, but it will change the operation mode of the factory in the past 2 or 30 years. Past experience shows that it is difficult to convince them, but we have observed that the market does have this demand. Modern people are willing to spend more and buy better. Things, to improve the quality of life from a small place, so we decided to do it ourselves.

N: The most important thing is that OOO is not for any customer. Instead, we extend our passion for daily life. In addition to exploring the inner nature of objects, we also want to create objects that everyone wants to use every day. Therefore, when this brand can go far and long, it means that everyone's quality of life is really improving.

Q What is your favorite and frequently used item in daily life?

N: This answer has been changing all the time, on the whole it is paper and pen. I ca n’t find a pen when I go out, and I will be very anxious. For me, the pen is an extension of the language. Whether it is handwriting or drawing, it is an important communication channel. Plus I am a foreigner, the pen and paper is simply my in Taiwan Life savior.

Zhou: My favorite in life is a flannel coffee filter cloth. I used to buy glass filter cups, but I did n’t buy them after I broke one. The flannel coffee filter cloth only has a handle and a hook. It is usually placed in the refrigerator. You can take it with you everywhere. It is simple and practical.

Chen: My kitchen knife. I do n’t think that kitchen knives are beautiful and I like them, but I love the job of cutting vegetables and preparing materials. One day I find a good kitchen knife can make the work smoother, and I start to look for good products; It can follow me a little longer, and it will also start learning to take care of it. I even went to learn to sharpen, and now I am a woman who can sharpen (laughs).

Q How did the corkscrew project start?

N: At the beginning, I collected a variety of corkscrews. This thing is everywhere, and the bar is even free. Gradually, I found that the corkscrew has something to do with everyone. For example, Jing Wen thought of Taiwan beer for the first time, colleagues in Hong Kong thought of soy milk, and friends in Europe thought of beer or soft drinks. Everyone is familiar with corkscrews, and it has something to do with everyone's life. They may even feel that they are made in their own country and are truly everyday objects.

Chen: When we discuss plans, we start with the daily objects we are interested in, and use the product as a carrier to dig and find the middle story and the connection with people. For example, if I like to drink tea, I want to explore the extension of the ritual behavior of making tea, tea leaves, etc .; Nicol likes to drink beer, and the bottle opener is the first thing to start.

N: Single use, single material. The design of the corkscrew is very simple, cheap and not difficult to obtain. It is very interesting to research and create a new everyday object. Even if the quality changes a little and the design is a little better, it may make life easier. Get a little better.

Q What does opening a bottle mean to you?

N: In my studio in Hong Kong, every Thursday there is a fixed meeting. All colleagues get together to eat and use the corkscrew to open the beer "Boom!" The moment when the stress relief is announced.

Zhou: For me, brewing beer is something a group of talents will do. It's like holding a party, setting up wine bottles on the table, and opening the first bottle of wine with a bottle opener "Bao!", Announcing the party's start, a little ceremonial.

Chen: I usually only drink after finishing work. Opening the bottle feels like "off work." After opening the bottle cap, there will be "the next time is my time!", Which makes me feel relaxed.

Zhou: Open a beer, off the work.

Q What is special about this corkscrew?

N: The function of the corkscrew itself is very simple and the design is very simple, so we start with the user experience. The appearance is integrated and there is no angle. It is natural and comfortable to hold in the hand. You can put it in your home or pocket at will. The texture makes people want to have a good collection and enjoy the beautiful moment of opening the bottle.

Chen: Don't underestimate the one-piece molding, because it is a combination of one and one arc, as long as the force is not correct, the angle will appear, and it will take a lot of time to make it. Secondly, the surface is polished and completely hand-made to ensure the yield of the product.

Zhou: This touch makes me think of the first generation of IPOD, which is a bit heavy and has a good texture. I personally like things with a single function and simple design, but they are usually difficult to buy. Corkscrews are too cheap, and store profits are low. Usually, you can only buy products that combine other functions or add strange shapes to increase the price. Simple corkscrews are difficult to buy.

Q. What are the next steps?

Zhou: Anything related to wine.

N: I don't know (seriously).

This is a characteristic of the Scots. We only focus on what is happening and what is happening now, and do what is right now, without thinking too far.

Chen: Try to tell the story of OOO to everyone in an easy-to-understand but serious way. Like the "Bottle Opening Festival" to be held next, we will introduce OOO to you in the most life and sincere way.

｜ Quick and Quick Answer Open Life Session ｜

1. The most expensive thing you have ever bought?

N: I don't buy expensive things

Week: Kyoto Kamogawa, a hotel of NT $ 100,000 a night

Chen: OOO

 

2. Will you choose when drinking?

N: daytime beer, evening whiskey

Chen: Whiskey

Week: Whiskey, OMAR Only

 

3. Drink the most ㄎ ㄧ ㄤ experience?

Chen: Fragment

Zhou: Fragment

N: Drink in Milan and quarrel with taxi driver

 

4. The healing food in mind?

Chen: Fried onion rings, and mom's pork feet

N: Potato

Zhou: Mayonnaise

 

5. What is the mantra?

Chen: Think again

N: For god ’s sake.

Zhou: Good (colleague: bring a cute tone)

 

6. If you can open a store, do you want to open it?

Chen: Whisky bar

Week: Whisky bar

N: Eating tea shop (coffee during the day, bar at night, JAZZ in the shop)

 

7. Where do you want to travel most?

N: It will always be Japan

Chen: Japan

Week: Japan