China / Outsourcing design and the Global Economy

China - Outsourcing design and the Global Economy By Shion Go
Dec 25, 2011

Locations: Macau, China .

In the recent involvement and completion of administrative works for a resort hotel fit-out project in Macau, the thoughts and perspectives I would like to share will be on how the impact of global economy has affected our industry, various awareness and challenges for an execution of overseas-generated design imported and followed up in a foreign country.

The global economy has brought forth nations without borders, sustainability through trade and logistics achieved with interdependencies of various nations. However, I believe as the physical borders diminish the echoes of cultural discrepancies prevail. Borderless entities clash within the "inter"-national relationship where variations emerge from traditional gaps, different financial and cultural values, etc.

When handling design works introduced from overseas I usually embrace the project as a process of translation that will implement the designer's intent in domestic terms. All drawings are to be amplified and reformatted to suit it's country's standards, specifications legibly translated are all common practice and manual labour. Communication with the chief designer and interpretation (not reiteration) of its design intent are key issues in design management for effective liaising and coordination with mainland China contractors. In China, where low labour cost can afford anything to be made in a tenth of price overseas, the end quality of delivered materials from factories can range dramatically. Construction methods and workmanship are properly monitored to suit the overseas standards. There are many occasions, however, where construction methods implemented in drawings are not of common practice and designs mitigated, or "domestically modifed" due to scheduling and budgetary reasons. Variations are hence made and various methods investigated for a best possible solution.

As many people view the luxury and opportunities of the China industry where"anything can be made or built within a cheap and affordable price", the previously mentioned variatios are the common obstacles confronted within a China project. The latest projects which I was involved focused primarily on China's domestic production lines and factories while design work delivered from overseas. Again an effect from the current global economy, overseas procurement and import of materials tend to decrease in mainland China projects. More than 70% of speciifed items were replaced by domestic alternatives and FF&E items deemed as factory made replicas. It is a harsh fact for designers who are not trained in custom made furnishings, as all seleted ready-made designer furnitures are either re-drawn, or if lucky shop drawings are submitted for check back. Overseas suppliers face more difficulties as after a long and tedious work and follow-up with designers the awaited purchase order never arrives to their hands. Designers too will be affected, as without support and technical input from their allied suppliers creative ideas often cease and end as a bold challenge.

Ideas and creativity in design, aesthetics has it's ability to capture and influence one's mind without having it's borders. Especially with the development of information and communication technology, under the global market there are many occasions for clients nowadays to reach and commission an overseas designer to furnish their space. As I continue to practice in the field I envision to position myself within the dynamics of different cultures exposed. As designs are introduced into a foreign nation they are altered and modified to meet their financial / cultural demands. They key factor to proceed in this kind of environment, is to understand and absorb the nature of the place and it's people, to know both sides of the world and execute oneself to bridge and crossover the sharpened differences. Design, which was once envisioned as an act of universal language, is constantly reviewed and indigenously reconstructed within the process until it's final delivery.