Droog launches ’The New Original’ in Guangzhou, China

Image of 'Family Vases' — Droog has launched 26 new pieces for the home, each of them indebted to classic Chinese design yet spun in a new and creative way. These 'Family Vases' have traditional contours that hearken back to Dynastic China, yet the designers have used a contemporary palette and applied it with an inventive fade

(Image credit: press)

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, China has become master of sweet-talk, studying its neighbours' design innovations and tweaking them for its own discerning population. Now the innovative Dutch design outfit Droog has turned the tables with a new collection that pirates the pirates.

The practice recently launched 26 new pieces for the home, each of them indebted to classic Chinese design yet spun in a new and creative way. From a squat clay teapot that plays on traditional contours to a witty take on the fish tank, each 'New Original' improves upon the archetype, either in form, usability or simply the message it sends to the world. Replication, they seem to say, can actually be a driver for innovation.

The role-reversal was first proposed by Droog Lab, Droog's in-house think tank. Enlisting Chinese architects Urbanus, Hong Kong graphic designer Stanley Wong and Dutch designers Richard Hutten and the late Ed Annink, the Lab led a field trip to Shenzhen, hub of China's so-called copycat culture. In that environment the team studied the local design heritage while also surveying the modern approach to development.

The results go far towards alleviating the stigma of the copycat label while enabling a fresh appreciation to time-honoured products. Taking the theme one step further, the designers chose to exhibit the collection at the Zhen Jia shopping mall in Guangzhou, a neighbour of Shenzhen, where the original copycats can learn about us learning about them.

1 vase in yellow and violet colour and 1 vase in black, grey, red colour — The vases pay homage to China's long history of porcelain-making, yet have a thoroughly modern appearance

Image of Tea Pot' — The Dutch design outfit also invited Dutch in on the project. He came back with a design for 'Tea Pot', which replaces the traditional teapot handle with a more ergonomic version in Chinese red

Copycat 'hub' of China — Taking the theme one step further, the designers chose to unveil the new collection at the Zhen Jia shopping mall in Guangzhou, a neighbour of Shenzhen, the copycat 'hub' of China

New collection at the Zhen Jia shopping mall — The results of Droog's 'The New Original' project go far towards alleviating the stigma of the archetypal copycat label while enabling a fresh appreciation to time-honoured products

Dining furniture arranged inside a fish tank, — Turning the archetypal Chinese restaurant inside out, 'Fish Tank' sees miniature versions of typical dining furniture arranged inside a fish tank, a ubiquitous design element in Chinese restaurants

A pair of 3D-printed 'Lantern Lightbulbs' by Studio Droog hang over the New Original collection showcase at Zhen Jia shopping mall

ADDRESS

Hi space
Zhen Jia shopping mall
4th floor, No 228
Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, China

VIEW GOOGLE MAPS

Based in London, Ellen Himelfarb travels widely for her reports on architecture and design. Her words appear in The Times, The Telegraph, The World of Interiors, and The Globe and Mail in her native Canada. She has worked with Wallpaper* since 2006.