I have similar information. Foreign manufacturers work by US
specifications, that means designs. US quality supervisors control the
compliance. The West is still keeping a hand on the white color labor.
Corporations keep manufacturing units in US for very specific purposes:
aligning the technology, developing new production methods, quality
samples, and so forth.
There is a trend for exporting white color jobs. A few days ago I read in
NYT or USToday that the export will grow from 2 million in 2002 to about 15
million (if memory serves) in 2020. However, they didn't mention styling.
And I don't remember mentioning design in general. After all, when we talk
design we mean too many things.
It is interesting who does the styling in the Japanese firms. I have
information for a lot of French, Italian, and US firms.
By the way, the sales of University degrees can go completely on the web,
with satisfied customers buying two and more documents. It will be cheaper
than spending money for dorm, food, and parties.
Just brace up,
Lubomir Popov
At 11:11 AM 8/7/2003 -0400, Rob Curedale wrote:
>Glen,
>
>I do not beilieve that the demand for designers located in the west will
>shrink as quickly as you suggest.
>
>It will take Chinese designers longer than 2 years to understand Western
>culture as it did for the Japanese before they can design products which
>will sell in western markets.
>
>I think that designers eventually follow manufacturing geographically and
>manufacturing is unlikely to totally disappear from the west. Good design
>is coming out of Taiwan, Singapore and a number of other Asian locations
>with mature manufacturing industry.Large objects which are expensive to
>transport such as cars white goods and furniture will continue to be
>manufactured in the west. Many Asian Manufactureres have US studios.
>Industry in Japan and Korea have actually led to a grater demand for
>designers in the US. We are training a lot of Asian Students at CCS. Car
>factories in the US are being geared towards far greater flexibility. At a
>conference in Michigan last week of 1500 auto execs Nissan indicted that
>their newest factories are being geared to simultaneously manufacturing
>six models with far shorter lifecycles. These more flexible factories may
>lead to a greater demand for design and for designers who understand
>global and regional cultural differences.
>
>______________________________
>
>R o b C u r e d a l e
>Chair Product Design
>College for Creative Studies Detroit
>201 East Kirby
>Detroit MI 48202-4034
>
>Phone: 313 664 7625
>Fax: 313 664 7620
>email: [log in to unmask]
>http://www.ccscad.edu
>______________________________
>
> >>> <[log in to unmask]> 07/28/03 09:25AM >>>
>Ken,
>
>Sorry,
>
>have been travelling (a lot) and sent my too strong a message after
>reading the list. Please could you forward your replies as they for some
>reason didn't get through - probably were deleted with a lot of junk email.
>
>Design chasm had evolved into the same old stance - and it ignited the
>original 'turf' passion again - and that's what engendered the weak retort
>about leaving design to the professionals.
>
>On top of this - two recent trips to top design agencies - and
>conversations with professional designers (European) have me convinced
>design as a profession in the west - is about to go down the tubes.
>
>Why?
>
>1. Chinese have come a very long way in design - almost self sufficient -
>will be in two years, (this view was repeated).
>
>2. Design in this environment is total commodity. Like tooling, injection
>molding and assembly it will move offshore.
>
>3. We are training designers for a workplace that will probably shrink by
>90% in 2-5 years.
>
>4. What do we do?
>
>When I use the phrase commercial artists - I mean maybe we (as designers)
>should look more to self expression as a way forward.
>
>If we make beautiful artefacts, interfaces and objects - that hopefully
>appeal - maybe there is life in design.
>
>We are returning to an arts and crafts mode whether we like it or not.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Glenn Johnson
>
>
>Industrial Design Manager
>
>
>
>
>
>Industrial Design Studio, B/E Aerospace Inc.
>
>
>1455 Fairchild Rd. Winston-Salem NC 27105-4588 USA
>
>
>Tel. (1) 336 744 3143 Fax. (1) 336 744 3207
>
>
>B/E Industrial Design Studio
>
>
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