Bean Dolls of the Old Trades Wrist Rest by Jesvin Yeo

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DESIGN DETAILS
DESIGN NAME:
Bean Dolls of the Old Trades

PRIMARY FUNCTION:
Wrist Rest

INSPIRATION:
The project was inspired by the small bean husks pillow used by Chinese Singaporeans to give a sense of security and cushions any sudden noises that may shock their babies. Relating jobs with security. The initial idea was to introduce exciting occupations in the 1950s, such as gangsters of secret societies and coolie, laborer from China. However, the client rejected the unglamorous occupations to avoid any touchy subject. Eventually, the design focused on people who help built Singapore.

UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Hand-sewn and filled with dried bean sprout husks, the Bean Dolls of four symbolic figures of Singapore old Chinatown are designed as a wrist rest, a plushie, or a memento of the early trades of Singapore. The design is a combined effort of the designer and the elderly of current Chinatown who used the traditional method of making bean husk pillows. The design seeks to raise public awareness and serve as a muse for the younger generations to discover local history, culture and heritage.

OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION:
The design is multifunctional as it can be used a wrist rest or played as a comfort stuffed toy. Importantly, it is also a memento of the old trade of Singapore Chinatown, which supported the critical period of the development and independence of Singapore. Through interaction, the design seeks to raise public interests and encourage the younger generations to probe further into our culture and heritage.

PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION:
The project started in May 2010 and finished and launched in January 2012 in Singapore.

PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY:
The making of the bean dolls was a community effort. With help from the elderly of Kreta Ayer Senior Activity Centre, sacks of bean sprout husks were collected from neighbours, washed and dried in the sun till the husks are dried and solidified. The dried husks were then left in a cool, dry place and carefully handpicked for production. Illustrations of the figures were printed on organic textiles using digital textile printing, which is an eco-friendly process. Next, the elderly cut and stitched the fabric, stuffed them with bean sprout husks, cotton and gave shape to a nice and firm bean doll.

SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES:
120 mm x 60 mm x 270 mm Estimated dimensions as the size of the hand-sewn bean dolls may vary slightly.

TAGS:
Traditional Occupations, Old Trades, Cultural Heritage, Bean Doll, Wrist Rest

RESEARCH ABSTRACT:
The project employed Cultural Design Studies method to explore the culture of old trades and occupations of Chinatown from 1950 to1970. Desk research and empirical data from scholars and trade people were collected and analyzed to envisages the culture through the perspective of visual communication and to shape multiple conceptions of place and identity. The design outputs are functional mementoes that aim to promote the values and appreciative awareness of Asian cultures and history. Commission by the Singapore Chinatown Association and funded by the National Heritage Board.

CHALLENGE:
The challenge was to interview the remaining trade people as they: i) only speak dialects which lead to some difficulty in understanding ii) are too old to be interviewed iii) feel ashamed of their ex-job iv) are the only survivor of their trade (Samsui woman and Majie) and has been interviewed too many times before. Samsui woman, dressed in blue samfoos and a red headgear, is a construction worker who fetches building materials. Majie, dressed in black and white samfoos, dedicate their lives to servanthood with unwavering loyalty.

ADDED DATE:
2020-05-31 06:54:37

TEAM MEMBERS (2) :
Jesvin Yeo and Alvin Ng

IMAGE CREDITS:
Image #1: Designer Jesvin Yeo, Bean dolls old trades_Main, 2012
Image #2: Designer Jesvin Yeo, Bean dolls old trades_01, 2012
Image #3: Designer Jesvin Yeo, Bean dolls old trades_02, 2012
Image #4: Designer Jesvin Yeo, Bean dolls old trades_03, 2012
Image #5: Designer Jesvin Yeo, Bean dolls old trades_04, 2012


PATENTS/COPYRIGHTS:
Copyrights belong to Jesvin Yeo, 2012-2020

Visit the following page to learn more: http://bit.ly/2ZS0wqv


CLIENT/STUDIO/BRAND DETAILS
NAME:
Designing Cultures Studio

PROFILE:
The core design interests of Designing Cultures Studio are the confluences of applied design, cultural elements, cultural identities and tradition, and their interface with emerging aspects of the modern contemporary world. Approaches are grounded on conceptual experimentations with the rich disciplines of visual communication and design stem from the use of critical and strategic design thinking as a means to grasp, examine, critique and make valuable sense of the design and cultural world.



NOMINATION DETAILS

Bean Dolls of The Old Trades Wrist Rest by Jesvin Yeo is a Nominee in Giftware Design Category.

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AWARD DETAILS

Bean Dolls of The Old Trades Wrist Rest by Jesvin Yeo is Winner in Giftware Design Category, 2020 - 2021.



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COMMENTS
Giulia Esposito Comment #11983 on December 27, 2022, 6:11 am
What an amazing design! It's so inspiring to see how a seemingly mundane object can be transformed into a piece of art. The way the colors and textures are used creates a unique visual effect that looks both vintage and modern. I'm sure that this design is sure to bring a lot of comfort and joy to its users. I'm truly impressed by the creativity that went into this piece and I'm excited to see what else Jesvin Yeo has to offer!
Mark Allen Comment #85496 on January 4, 2023, 11:57 am
Congratulations to the designer of this unique and inspiring piece! The Bean Dolls of the Old Trades are a remarkable reminder of Singapore's culture, history and heritage. The combination of traditional craftsmanship and modern textile printing techniques makes it an incredibly special work of art that celebrates the people and the labor of Singapore's past. The intricate details and meaningful story behind the design is sure to capture the imagination of viewers and bring a sense of nostalgia and appreciation for the past.
Elisabeth Clark Comment #86869 on January 4, 2023, 1:06 pm
I'm very impressed by Jesvin Yeo's work, "Bean Dolls of the Old Trades". The attention to detail and commitment to the research process to tell the story of Singapore Chinatown is truly commendable. This work is a great example of how design can be used to promote cultural values and appreciation of Asian heritage. The Bean Dolls are a unique creation, a functional memento that conveys history and culture in a visually engaging way. It's wonderful to see that Jesvin Yeo was recognised for their craftsmanship with the A' Design Award!

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