Planning for Testing

trying to set up different way to test my market. at different location, different presentation, and different atmosphere - to test if people percieve luxurious design different given it's the same design.

planning in actions. am in London now but will head to HK to do the first one.

> Applied for Fast Track

Did some reasearch on what events/elements/function/program can help on my research and discovery/testing of my artifact, I found few of them, one quite interesting one is the Jewelry Award School by Camden ,another one is Fast Track Program by Innovation Centre. I applied to both, but am more incline to the latter one. It's an intensive program run over 2-3 months time from mid Jan2008 which gives personal and professional development for creative business. In my interpretation, it's a incubation program for creative individuals who is thinking, anaylzing, researching or even continuing their own creative ventures. am interested.

> MY THANK YOU

I WOULD LOVE TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO PEOPLE BELOW FOR INSPIRATIONS, CREATIVE INPUT, COLLABORATIONS AND SUPPORT,

PAUL COLBECK, CSM TUTOR
FUNG LI, ART DIRECTOR, LEO BURNETT HK
KWANG SU KIM, GRAPHIC/WEB DESIGNER
GIANDANIELE ASQUINI, INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER
DANNY ROOSTY WOOLSTON, FREELANCE COPYWRITER
MY FAMILY- HM LAM, HELEN CHEUNG, RITA LAM
HANS CHOI, JEWELER
VICTORIA JOHNSTON, ACTRESS
LARENT TEK
EDWIN LIU
NANCY LEUNG
KELVIN LAM
DANIEL YUSUP
FERGAL NOLAN
STELLA CHAN
SANDY WONG
MARCEL FUNG
MIKE WALSH
JOYCE KWOK

> MADS FINAL SYNOPSIS

“Ah. Luxury.”

"When will men stop and think of luxury on the neckline?"

What leads to a change of taste? When will men decided to trade up? And, what is the definition of the always-changing idea of luxury that we all aspire?

Noticing the missing of luxurious jewelry on men’s necklines, the fact that they are mostly shy about showing off – a prosperity denial mentality and dislike to be related to ideas they despise, e.g. heals; makeup, diamonds, etc., I drew a mid-way conclusion as well as an assumption, “Men may like to have luxury on their necklines but are not able to embrace the idea itself”.

Carole Forêt - a luxurious necklace label for men using diamond and gold/platinum - a “high resistance” category- was created intentionally to challenge and explore “what is luxury”, “at what point men will stop and trade up to the luxurious platform”.

By first created 2 different sets of name cards, I challenged a new concept of luxury. Feedbacks from tests confirmed that luxury extended further than the product itself but a higher personal aspiration of being alive. Based on this, prototypes of necklaces, packaging and most importantly a presentation, which goes against today’s store concept and ecommerce - private viewing sessions on an intimate one on one basis were developed as my final artifact.

From the results of my final testing, I believe today, in the homogenization leading to disintegrating identities, in the disconnections through digital space in which we are losing the sense of life, men secretly return to a desire of themselves. Luxury, brings back values, dimensions of ourselves and the simple basic feeling of being alive with senses wild open. It is an intimate, sophisticated, hidden pleasure one has been chasing. It chases other than what is disclosed, get out of the fiction of what most people define it. It is the certainty of the experience’s uniqueness, perhaps it is the voice telling never-heard stories, it is the perfume we never experienced, it is the connections that penetrate the pureness of beings, It’s the engagement of the non repetitive. It is never a surplus, it is the rare thing.

While men don't like to be related to things they don't feel home, re-engaging men to a different environment possibly breaks the stubbornness of their rooted habitual perception of such item and they are happy to take on a new angle in their way.

Carefully control the way in communicating luxury through design which provides the awareness of deserving and self-definition, it allows design to act as a medium to connect men to their aspiration, an opportunity to reconstruct oneself by “acquiring meanings”. It doesn’t have to be confined by visual/store display; it can go further as in experience uniqueness. At this point then, will be a huge step closer to have them stop and desire such medium, despite their habitual behaviors, beliefs and mentalities are still considered quite a resistance to a change of taste.

> TO CHANGE THIER TASTE

While men don't like to be related to things they don't feel home, re-engaging men to a different environment possibly breaks the stubbornness of their rooted habitual perception of the item and they are happy to take on a new angle in their way.

Carefully control the way in communicating luxury through design which provides the awareness of deserving and self-definition, it allows design to act as a medium to connect men to their aspiration, an opportunity to reconstruct oneself by “acquiring meanings”. e.g. I believe strongly, in some designs, by not showing the product to viewer at the first contact but provide a "feeling/meaning" to the brand/product will have a more powerful desire than showing designs at the first place.

Way of such communication NEED NOT BE confined by visual/store display nor limited by Ecommerce; it can go further as in experience with human interaction that such total experience construct a new connection between the product and the audience effortlessly, ephemerally . At this point then, will be a huge step closer to have men stop and desire such medium, despite their habitual behaviors, beliefs and mentalities are still considered quite a resistance to a change of taste.

> DESIRE DESIRES DESIRE

I believe today, in the homogenization leading to disintegrating identities, in the disconnections through digital space in which we are losing the sense of life, men secretly return to a desire of themselves. Luxury, brings back values, dimensions of ourselves and the simple basic feeling of being alive with senses wild open. It is a desire of having the feeling at the right place on a conscious ground. It is an intimate, sophisticated, hidden pleasure one has been chasing. It chases other than what is disclosed, get out of the fiction of what most people define it. It is the certainty of the experience’s uniqueness, perhaps it is the voice telling never-heard stories, it is the perfume we never experienced, it is the connections that penetrate the pureness of beings, It’s the engagement of the non repetitive. It is never a surplus, it is the rare thing. It is the spiritual and inspirational.

> SOMETHING DANGEROUS

decided exhibition will be using this method.

it's risky, as most of us (MADS) are showing everything, the work, the result, video, graphics and the end product, while I am not showing anything. but such idea is to pin point what's luxury is the about and with this, men may stop and think of luxury and lead to change of taste:

exclusivity
chasing the rare
private human 1 on 1 experience
to acquire time, engaged with someone willing to spend time
a connection that we may be loosing
and the extension of the product to aspiration (so by not showing it, tells the key is not the product itself)

and I think this is fun , like a joke, that someone is expecting to see something in an expo but you see nothing.

either viewer in exhibition either get it or don't

I just feel like this is what I'd like to do. as in Oscar Wilde said, "An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all. "

> LOGO ON BOXES

> i, I, II PROTOTYPE - IT'S ALL GOOD

revised prototype received from jeweler finally. i, I, II.
things look OK, diamonds are now constructed in a vertical alignment now which gives masculinity
serial number and all engraved well.

> BOXES RECIEVED

black glossy box - very beautifully made, magnet, velvet cushion, black on black printing, exactly what I want. except, the holding of necklace is too wide.

white glossy box - so beautiful. however, may leave to later use. too gay, less assurance and less detached to the preconception of necklace. Need to break the habitual thoughts of necklace-gay relations

leather box - beautiful leather but need fine adjustment. will work on it.

asked around, tested : men picked leather, women, picked glossy black more in glossy white.

> WATCHED A FILM ABOUT ME, ME AND ME

a fascinating inspiriting film. about how some think and want in life these days. about being lost, disconnection and loneliness , about struggling with desire.
ABSOLUTELY FUNNY.

> THE DROWNING PIG

From "Who I Am and What I want" one scene quoted
"Before I die, there are still something I want, I've been so far a stranger of responsibilities, but I like to change that"

-> this attitude shows men's desire to give, to do some good, to help the pig while they didn't, only standing there, laughing at the drowning pig
->"to be responsible" = "what I want" "men's aspiration". This to me, is actually acting out of "selflessness" too, but this selfishness of giving, to help, give pleasure to one's self definition; in a way, that can be interpreted as "selfishly fulfilling ourself by helping others." compassion out of selfishness. well.. but who cares, as long as it helps whom suffer.

-----> Anti Slavery act injected into Carole Foret(or other charity act) can act as mean to such self aspiration while the end result is to help the less fortunate. I LIKE THIS IDEA.

and very importantly, I BELIEVE IN HUMANITY, COMPASSION AND LOVE IN BEINGS, ANY BEINGS, including stairs, sand and water. I like to share such mind

> CARD PRINT OUT - BUT WITH PROBLEMS

color of 2 design are off and need to be reprinted. sending DHL of the 3 good ones to London and reprint the 2. so 2 will be missing.. not good but at least a few for exhibition.

>TESTING, PRIVATE VIEWING III

profile and feedbacks as follow:

profession: a couple. entrepreneur(male) work in bank (female)
age:30 (male), 33 (female)
location: at cocoon
date and time: 11 Nov 07, 7 pm
duration of meeting: 20 mins
habits on necklace usage, budget: never wear necklace
other accessories they own: cuff links and family ring
feedback: very interested. guy especially like the cross.
2 days later: girl bought the cross (II) secretly as Xmas gift for the boyfriend.

> WWW.CAROLEFORET.CO.UK - PRELUDE

Been trying to work with Kwang Su Kim from CSM on site, but haven't been delivered except this, but this is a movie clip did on south ken
idea : awaiting, flying ribbon as in freedom and time.

waiting for further work done.

> TO GIVE - ANTI SLAVERY

have been looking for a few non profit charity organizations that I may like to donate part of the profit from Carole Foret to. company that have been contacting and understanding further is : ActionAid, Anti Slavery international, Whitebread etc.

2 motives:
1. personal reason: I care, and there are people out there not doing very well. to give another channel for people to donate.

2. we all living one small world, compassion is important. at least raising awareness of it is a start. having luxurious possession doesn't contradict in being compassionate and giving hand to the needed. they are not mutually exclusive as some may argue.

finally confirm Anti slavery is the one I'd like to work with as I care alot about Child labor esp in China and Trafficking. confirmed by the Charity that I can use the logo and help promoting.

> THE ESSENTIAL DALAI LAMA

AM READING THIS BOOK ...

> EXHIBITION DESIGN - IDEA 3

SHOWING THE CONCEPT OF DIAMONDS FACE IS NOT FACING OUTWARDS - HIDDEN TREASURE. AND USING MIRROR TO REFLECT IT IN ORDER TO VIEW THEM.

> EXHIBITION DESIGN - IDEA 2

Idea/reasoning:
to deliver the conclusion of my artifact: luxury is about exclusivity, privacy, chasing the rare, engaging in an experience and back to the one on one, human interaction in real space.

viewer expecting something to be viewed in exhibition, however, "private viewing appointment only" deliver such conclusion just right and crisp.

a telephone number on the plate - if anyone call, the necklace can be viewed. effort need to be paid to engage.

ORIGINAL IDEA.. BUT SUGGESTED TO USE IDEA 1. WILL ASK AROUND.

> EXHIBITION DESIGN - IDEA 1

Idea/reasoning:
to deliver the conclusion of my artifact: luxury is about exclusivity, privacy, chasing the rare, engaging in an experience and back to the one on one, human interaction in real space.

By showing the box, viewer will open, expecting something as in a accessories which give away by the box, but the absent of necklace with "private viewing appointment only" deliver the conclusion just right and crisp.

a telephone number on the plate - if anyone call, the necklace can be viewed. effort need to be paid to engage.


HIGHER INCLINATION OF THIS EXHIBITION DESIGN. BUT WILL REVIEW.