Bean Dolls of the Old Trades 腕托 by Jesvin Yeo

Bean Dolls of the Old Trades 腕托 by Jesvin Yeo is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award 鐵獎 in 禮品設計 Competition Category.

鐵禮品· 2021

Bean Dolls of the Old Trades 腕托

by Jesvin Yeo

Client: Designing Cultures Studio

A' Design Award 鐵獎 Winner in 禮品 Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #106288

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Bean Dolls of the Old Trades 腕托

豆娃娃採用乾豆芽皮的傳統方法製作，以新加坡舊唐人街的四個像徵人物為特色：Towkay、Kopi叔叔、Samsui女人和Majie。他們分別通過創造就業機會、提供舒適的茶飲、建設基礎設施和提供托兒服務，幫助建設了舊新加坡。在現在唐人街老人的努力下，豆娃娃被設計成腕托、可愛的玩具或舊行業的紀念品。它旨在成為發現當地歷史的繆斯，並鼓勵年輕一代進一步探索他們的文化。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 鐵獎

Bean Dolls of the Old Trades 腕托是 A' Design Award 鐵獎得主，這是授予滿足人們對設計精良的創作所期待的專業與工業要求的優良設計的聲望認可。鐵獎得主展現出其創作者的高超技藝、高度專業化、專家級的理解力和創造能力。預計Bean Dolls of the Old Trades 腕托將成為一件備受推崇、令人欽佩且被珍愛的創作，既實用又創新。這件贏得 A' Design Award 鐵獎的設計整合了行業最佳實踐，並擁有與專業知識和才華相結合的稱職技術特性。Bean Dolls of the Old Trades 腕托因其嚴謹而受到尊重，旨在提供有助於讓世界變得更美好的生活品質改善。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: 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.
Dimensions & Packaging: 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
Production 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.
Design 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.
Research: 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.
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.
Project Duration: The project started in May 2010 and finished and launched in January 2012 in Singapore.
Operation Flow: 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.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Jesvin Yeo, 2012-2020
Team Members: Jesvin Yeo
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