Rob Forbes: Ways of seeing

譯者: Dxm Online大小媒體 審譯者: Lin Su-Wei(林書暐)

I was listed on the online biography

網路上有我的傳記

that said I was a design missionary.

說我是個設計傳教士。

That's a bit lofty; I'm really more

那有點崇高，實際上

of something like a street walker.

我更像是街頭漫步者

I spend a lot of time in urban areas

我花很多時間在城市裡

looking for design,

尋找設計元素

and studying design in the public sector.

並研究公共場所的設計

I take about 5,000 photographs a year,

我一年裡拍攝約5000多張照片

and I thought that I would edit from these,

我想我可編輯一下這些照片

and try to come up with some images

從中找些可能適合

that might be appropriate and interesting to you.

而且感興趣的照片給大家看

And I used three criteria:

我有三項標準

the first was, I thought I'd talk about

第一我想談的是

real design within reach,

大家可以真正接觸到的設計

design that's free, not design not quite within reach,

是免費的設計 是大家都可以接觸到的

as we're fondly known by our competition and competitors,

不是我們的競爭者　天真地認為的那種設計

but stuff that you can find on the streets, stuff that was free,

但你可在大街上找到的東西

stuff that was available to all people,

免費的 所有人都能用的

and stuff that probably contains some other important messages.

可能包含一些重要訊息的東西

I'll use these sidewalks in Rio as an example.

給大家舉一個里約熱內盧人行道的例子

A very common public design done in the '50s.

這是在50年代很普通的一個設計

It's got a nice kind of flowing, organic form,

它的流動性很好 形式很自然

very consistent with the Brazilian culture --

與巴西的文化非常一致

I think good design adds to culture.

我認為好的設計會豐富文化

Wholly inconsistent with San Francisco or New York.

完全與舊金山或紐約的風格不同

But I think these are my sort of information highways:

但我認為這些是我的資訊高速公路

I live in much more of an analog world,

我生活的世界更像是個模擬世界

where pedestrian traffic and

行人走動 互動

interaction and diversity exchange,

多樣性交流

and where I think the simple things under our feet

我認為我們腳下那些簡單的東西

have a great amount of meaning to us.

其實是具有非常重要的意義

How did I get started in this business?

我是如何在這個行業上起步的呢？

I was a ceramic designer for about 10 years,

我做了十年的陶瓷設計

and just loved utilitarian form --

很喜歡實用主義

simple things that we use every day,

我們每日使用簡單的物品

little compositions of color and surface on form.

單純的顏色和簡潔的外表

This led me to starting a company called Design Within Reach,

這使我開了一家名為「觸手可及」的設計公司

a company dealing with simple forms,

公司處理簡單的形式

making good designers available to us,

吸引好的設計師

and also selling the personalities and character of the designers

並推銷設計師的個性和風格

as well, and it seems to have worked.

這樣做效果還不錯

A couple of years into the process,

進入這個行業幾年後

I spent a lot of time in Europe traveling around, looking for design.

我花很多的時間在歐洲四處旅遊 尋找設計

And I had a bit of a wake-up call in Amsterdam:

在阿姆斯特丹我彷佛猛然覺醒

I was there going into the design stores,

我在那打算去些設計商店

and mixing with our crowd of designers,

加入到我們設計師群中

and I recognized that a whole lot of stuff

我發現許多東西

pretty much looked the same, and the effect of globalization

看起來幾乎是一樣的　全球化的影響

has had that in our community also.

也已深入到我們設計界

We know a lot about what's going on with design around the world,

我們知道全球設計的現況

and it's getting increasingly more difficult

但卻越來越難找到

to find design that reflects a unique culture.

反映出獨特文化的設計

I was walking around on the streets of Amsterdam

我在阿姆斯特丹的街道上漫步

and I recognized, you know, the big story

而我發現阿姆斯特丹的故事

from Amsterdam isn't what's in the design stores,

並不是在設計商店裡

it's what's out on the streets,

而是在街道上

and maybe it's self-explanatory,

或許它很明顯

but a city that hasn't been taken over by modernism,

但這座城市沒有被現代化所征服

that's preserved its kind of architecture and character,

它保留自己獨特的建築和風格

and where the bicycle plays an important part of the way

自行車是人們主要的外出方式

in which people get around and where pedestrian rights

行人的權利

are protected.

也受到保護

And I write a newsletter that goes out every week,

每週我都會出一期時事通訊

and I wrote an article about this, and it got such enormous response

我在上面寫一篇關於這件事的文章 獲得廣大的迴響

that I realized that design, that common design,

我意識到這些公共場所的普通設計

that's in the public area means a lot to people,

對人們來說深具意義

and establishes kind of a groundwork and a dialog.

建立某種基礎與對話

I then kind of thought about the other cities

然後我想起了歐洲的另外一些城市

in Europe where I spend a lot of time looking for design,

我在那些地方尋找設計

like Basel, where Vitra is located, or in northern Italy --

例如巴塞爾 　是Vitra所在的城市 　或義大利北部

all cities where there are a whole lot of bicycles,

這些城市都有很多的自行車

and where pedestrian areas -- and I came to the conclusion that perhaps

和行人專區　我得到以下結論　可能

there was something about these important design centers

這些影響力較大的設計中心

that dealt with bicycles and foot traffic,

處理自行車和步行交通相關的設計是必有其因

and I'm sure the skeptic eye would say, no, the correlation there

肯定有懷疑論者會說 不

is that there are universities and schools

那是因為大學和中小學裡人們

where people can't afford cars,

買不起車

but it did seem that in many of these areas

但看起來很多這樣的地方

pedestrian traffic was protected.

行人交通是受到保護的

You wouldn't look at this and call this a designer bike:

你不會看看這個 就說是設計師設計的車吧

a designer bike is made of titanium or molybdenum.

設計師自行車是由鈦和鉬製作的

But I began looking at design in a place like Amsterdam

但是我開始觀察像阿姆斯特丹這地方的設計

and recognized, you know, the first job of design

結果發現 設計的首要目的

is to serve a social purpose.

是為社會服務

And so I look at this bike as not being a designer bike,

這輛車雖然不像是設計師自行車

but being a very good example of design.

但卻是非常好的一個設計的例子

And since that time in Amsterdam, I spent an increasing amount of time

自從那次在阿姆斯特丹的經驗　我又用更多的時間

in the cities, looking at design

在城市裡尋找設計作品

for common evidence of design

來證明很多設計

that really isn't under so much of a designer's signature.

是沒有設計者的鮮明特色

I was in Buenos Aires very recently,

看看一些　最近我去布宜諾斯艾利斯

and I went to see this bridge by Santiago Calatrava.

去參觀卡洛特拉瓦設計的橋

He's a Spanish architect and designer.

他是西班牙的建築家和設計師

And the tourist brochures pointed me in the direction of this bridge --

旅行手冊指引我從這個方向看這座橋

I love bridges, metaphorically and symbolically and structurally --

我喜愛橋 喜歡它的寓意、象徵意義和它的結構

and it was a bit of a disappointment,

但我對這座橋有點失望

because of the sludge from the river was encrusted on it; it really wasn't in use.

因為河裡的淤泥都結在上面　這橋並未使用

And I recognized that oftentimes design,

我意識到很多時候

when you're set up to see design,

當你刻意去看設計時

it can be a bit of a letdown.

會有點失望

But there were lots of other things going on in this area:

但這個地方還有很多事情正在發生

it was a kind of construction zone;

這有點像個建築區

a lot of buildings were going up.

很多建築正在興建

And, approaching a building from a distance, you don't see too much;

從遠處看這個建築物 看不到多少東西

you get a little closer, and you arrive at a nice little composition

當你靠近看 你會發現它是一些不錯元素的結合

that might remind you of a Mondrian or a Diebenkorn or something.

可能讓你想起蒙德里安的繪畫風格　或笛本卡爾或其他...

But to me it was an example of

但對我而言 這是一個工業原料的例子

industrial materials with a little bit of colors and animation

有一點點色彩 動畫

and a nice little still life -- kind of unintended piece of design.

和可愛的小靜物 一種意想不到的設計

And going a little closer, you get a different perspective.

再靠近一點 你會有不同的觀點

I find these little vignettes,

我發現了這些小插曲

these little accidental pieces of design,

意外的小設計

to be refreshing.

讓我耳目一新

They give me, I don't know,

他們給予我 我也不知

a sense of correctness in the world

一種正確的感覺

and some visual delight in the knowledge

和一些視覺上的享受

that the building will probably never look as good

這建築物以後可能還沒有

as this simple industrial scaffolding

這簡單的鷹架好看

that is there to serve.

鷹架還有很多用處

Down the road, there was another building, a nice visual structure:

沿著路走下去 有另外一棟建築 很棒的視覺性結構

horizontal, vertical elements, little decorative lines

水平的　垂直的元素　小的裝飾線橫跨

going across, these magenta squiggles,

這些紫紅色的 彎彎曲曲的線條

the workmen being reduced to decorative elements,

工人們也成為這些裝飾性的元素

just a nice, kind of, breakup

有一種不錯　看起來破碎的

of the urban place.

城市的角落

And, you know, that no longer exists.

你知道 它不再存在

You've captured it for a moment, and finding this little still life's

你在一瞬間捕捉了它 發現這個靜態

like listening to little songs or something:

就像聽著小曲之類的

it gives me an enormous amount of pleasure.

它讓我無比快樂

Antoine Predock designed

皮達克在聖地亞哥

a wonderful ball stadium in San Diego

設計一個非常好的球場

called Petco Park.

叫Petco球場

A terrific use of local materials,

充分利用當地的建材

but inside you could find some interior compositions.

但在球場內部你會發現一些構成元素

Some people go to baseball stadiums to look at games;

有人去球場看球賽

I go and see design relationships.

而我去看設計之間的關係

Just a wonderful kind of breakup of architecture,

這建築優美的分隔

and the way that the trees form vertical elements.

是用這些樹形成垂直的元素

Red is a color in the landscape

紅色通常是在

that is often on stop signs.

停止標誌上

It takes your attention; it has a great amount of emotion;

它能吸引你的注意力　給人們強烈的情感

it stares back at you the way that a figure might.

它就像個人那樣盯著你

Just a piece of barrier tape construction stuff in Italy.

這是在義大利看到的一個施工柵欄帶

Construction site in New York:

紐約的施工現場

red having this kind of emotional power

紅色有情感上的影響力

that's almost an equivalent with the way in which --

這幾乎是可以媲美

cuteness of puppies and such.

小狗的可愛

Side street in Italy.

義大利的小巷中

Red drew me into this little composition,

紅色吸引我看到這些小的物品

optimistic to me in the sense that maybe

讓我樂觀的感受到

the public service's mailbox,

也許公共服務的信箱

door service, plumbing.

上門服務　水管

It looks as if these different public services

看起來好像不同的公共服務

work together to create some nice little compositions.

一起創造了美好的組合

In Italy, you know, almost everything, kind of, looks good.

在義大利　你知道的　每樣物品看起來都不錯

Simple menus put on a board,

貼在木板上的簡單菜單

achieving, kind of, the sort of balance.

達到一種排序的平衡

But I'm convinced that it's because

我相信　是因為

you're walking around the streets and seeing things.

你在大街上會邊走邊看

Red can be comical: it can draw your attention

紅色是滑稽的 它能吸引你的注意力

to the poor little personality of the little fire hydrant

讓你看到可憐的小消防栓

suffering from bad civic planning in Havana.

正在遭受哈瓦那市政規劃的摧殘

Color can animate simple blocks,

顏色能讓簡單的街區

simple materials:

和材料變得有朝氣

walking in New York, I'll stop.

在紐約行走 有時我會停下來

I don't always know why I take photographs of things.

我不知道為什麼會拍物品的照片

A nice visual composition of symmetry.

好看的視覺對稱組合

Curves against sharp things.

圓弧和尖銳的對比

It's a comment on the way in which we deal with

這是一個我們處理

public seating in the city of New York.

紐約市公共座椅時　所看到的評論

I've come across some other just,

我無意中發現了

kind of, curious relationships

另外一些有點奇特的關係

of bollards on the street that have different interpretations,

這是大街上的護柱 它們之間的關係有很多種解釋

but -- these things amuse me.

這些東西逗人發笑

Sometimes a trash can -- this is just in the street in San Francisco --

有時一個垃圾桶　這是在舊金山的街道上

a trash can that's been left there for 18 months

一個留在那有18個月之久的垃圾桶

creates a nice 45-degree angle

它構成一個45度的角

against these other relationships,

和其他物品之間

and turns a common parking spot into a nice little piece of sculpture.

把一個很普通的停車位　變成一小塊好看的藝術品

So, there's this sort of silent hand of design at work

這是一些無聲的手　從事的設計工作

that I see in places that I go.

都是我在去過的地方所看到的

Havana is a wonderful area.

哈瓦那是一個非常好的地區

It's quite free of commercial clutter:

它是一個遠離商業紛爭的地方

you don't see our logos and brands and names,

你看不到商品的商標 品牌和名字

and therefore you're alert to things physically.

因此你必須自己切身體驗所有的東西

And this is a great protection of a pedestrian zone,

這個東西對步行區有很好的保護作用

and the repurposing of some colonial cannons to do that.

這是殖民地大砲再利用的好地方

And Cuba needs to be far more resourceful,

古巴由於封鎖

because of the blockades and things,

所以需要有更多的資源

but a really wonderful playground.

但它確實是一個樂園

I've often wondered why Italy is really a leader in modern design.

我經常想為何義大利會引領現代的設計潮流

In our area, in furnishings,

在我們這個行業 家具業

they're sort of way at the top.

義大利可以說是首屈一指

The Dutch are good also, but the Italians are good.

荷蘭的也很好 但沒有義大利的好

And I came across this little street in Venice,

我在威尼斯偶然經過了這個小巷

where the communist headquarters

發現共產黨的總部

were sharing a wall with this Catholic shrine.

和天主教的神殿　竟然共用一面牆

And I realized that, you know, Italy is a place

我意識到 義大利人

where they can accept these different ideologies

能夠接受這些不同的意識形態

and deal with diversity and not have the problem,

他們可以自然地處理這種多元性

or they can choose to ignore them,

或選擇忽略它們

but these -- you don't have warring factions,

但這些 你沒有敵對的派別

and I think that maybe the tolerance of the absurdity

我想也許就是對這些荒誕事情的容忍

which has made Italy so innovative

使得義大利如此富於創新性

and so tolerant.

和包容性

The past and the present work quite well together in Italy also,

義大利過去和現在的作品融合得也很好

and I think that it's recognizable there,

我認為設計在那裡是公認的

and has an important effect on culture,

並對文化有重要影響的原因是

because their public spaces are protected,

他們的公共場所都受到了保護

their sidewalks are protected,

他們的人行道也受到了保護

and you're actually able to confront these things

實際上　你可以切身體會這些東西

physically,

實體上

and I think this helps people get over

我認為這使得人們

their fear of modernism and other such things.

能戰勝對現代化的恐懼感

A change might be a typical street corner in San Francisco.

舊金山典型的街角與義大利完全不同

And I use this -- this is, sort of,

我用這種圖片向大家說明　這個 有點

what I consider to be urban spam.

是我認為的城市形象垃圾

I notice this stuff because I walk a lot,

因為我經常步行所以會注意到這些

but here, private industry is really kind of

但在這裡　民間產業某種程度上

making a mess of the public sector.

確實讓公共場所變得一團糟

And as I look at it, I sort of say, you know,

當我觀察它時 我必須說

the publications that report on problems in the urban area

報導城市問題的那些出版品　其實

also contribute to it,

也造成城市的問題

and it's just my call to say to all of us,

我在此呼籲大家

public policy won't change this at all;

公共政策根本不能改變這一點

private industry has to work to take things like this seriously.

民間產業必須認真對待這類問題

The extreme might be in Italy where, again,

另一種極端情況又出現在義大利

there's kind of some type of control

有一種控制

over what's happening in the environment is very evident,

這對環境上的影響非常明顯

even in the way that they sell and distribute periodicals.

這點從他們出售和分發期刊的方式就可看出來

I walk to work every day or ride my scooter,

我每天都是步行或騎我的小摩托車去上班

and I come down and park in this little spot.

在這個小停車位停車

And I came down one day,

有一天我過去的時候

and all the bikes were red.

所有的摩托車都是紅色的

Now, this is not going to impress you guys who Photoshop, and can do stuff,

這不是用photoshop做出來的

but this was an actual moment

這是當我下車時的

when I got off my bike,

真實景象

and I looked and I thought, it's as if

我觀察且思考

all of my biker brethren

好像我們這些騎士兄弟

had kind of gotten together and conspired

一起想好了串聯

to make a little statement.

共同發表一份聲明

And it reminded me that --

它提醒我

to keep in the present,

要活在當下

to look out for these kinds of things.

要留意這類事物

It gave me possibilities for wonder --

它給我好奇的可能性

if maybe it's a yellow day in San Francisco, and we could all agree,

如果哪天舊金山天空泛黃　我們可能都同意

and create some installations.

可以創造一些裝置

But it also reminded me of the power

它也提醒我

of pattern and repetition

形式和重複的力量

to make an effect in our mind.

對我們心智的影響

And I don't know if there's a stronger kind of effect

但我不知道是否還有其他東西

than pattern and the way it unites

比式樣把不同元素結合起來的方式

kind of disparate elements.

更讓人印象深刻

I was at the art show in Miami in December,

十二月的時候我在邁阿密的藝術展上

and spent a couple of hours looking at fine art,

花很長時間欣賞展出的藝術品

and amazed at the prices of art

我對那些藝術品的價格非常驚訝

and how expensive it is, but having a great time looking at it.

它們實在是太貴了　不過我欣賞它們時心情很愉快

And I came outside, and the valets for this car service

我出來時發現代客停車的服務員

had created, you know, quite a nice little collage

做出了挺好看的一張拼貼畫

of these car keys,

就用這些車鑰匙

and my closest equivalent were a group of prayer tags

我發現和它最像的一個作品是

that I had seen in Tokyo.

我在東京見到的祈禱籤

And I thought that if

我想如果

pattern can unite these disparate elements,

圖案能把這些獨立的元素結合起來

it can do just about anything.

它就可以做任何事情

I don't have very many shots of people,

我不常拍人物照

because they kind of get in the way of studying pure form.

因為會阻礙我研究純粹的形式

I was in a small restaurant in Spain,

那時我在西班牙的一間小酒店裡

having lunch --

吃午餐

one of those nice days where

天氣不錯

you had the place kind of to yourself,

你覺得這地方就是專門為你準備的

and you have a glass of wine, and enjoying the local area

你在喝著紅酒 欣賞著當地的風景

and the culture and the food

文化以及食物

and the quiet, and feeling very lucky,

環境很安靜 你感覺很幸運

and a bus load of tourists arrived,

突然一輛旅遊巴士到達

emptied out,

大家一擁而上

filled up the restaurant.

填滿這家酒店

In a very short period of time,

在很短的時間內

completely changed the atmosphere

完全改變那裡的氣氛

and character with loud voices and large bodies and such,

他們說話聲音實在太大 人也長得很壯

and we had to get up and leave;

我們只好站起來離開

it was just that uncomfortable.

很不舒服

And at that moment, the sun came out,

在那一刻 太陽出來

and through this perforated screen,

通過這些有洞的屏帳

a pattern was cast over these bodies

把帶孔的圖案投到了那些人的身上

and they kind of faded into the rear,

他們漸漸地消失在後方

and we left the restaurant kind of

我們離開餐館時

feeling O.K. about stuff.

因此而感到不錯

And I do think pattern

我認為圖案

has the capability of eradicating

能根除社會上一些

some of the most evil

一些最邪惡的

forces of society,

社會勢力

such as bad form in restaurants,

例如在餐廳裡的不好例子

but quite seriously, it was a statement to me

但認真說來 對我而言它是種表述

that one thing that you do, sort of, see

這是一種

is the aggressive nature

侵略的性質

of the industrial world has produced --

工業社會所產生的

kind of,

一種

large masses of things,

巨大的混亂

and when you -- in monoculture,

當你　在單一文化中

and I think the preservation of diversity in culture

保留文化多元性

is something that's important to us.

對我們而言是很重要的

The last shots that I have deal with --

我向大家說明的最後幾張照片

coming back to this theme of sidewalks,

回到人行道的主題

and I wanted to

我想

say something here about -- I'm, kind of, optimistic, you know.

在這裡說幾句話　我這個人有點樂觀

Post-Second World War,

二次大戰之後

the influence of the automobile

汽車的影響

has really been devastating in a lot of our cities.

在我們城市裡確實具有破壞性

A lot of urban areas have been converted into parking lots

很多城市地區被改造成停車場

in a sort of indiscriminate use.

被濫用

A lot of the planning departments became subordinated

很多計劃部門變成

to the transportation department. It's as easy to rag on cars

交通部門的附屬 　諷刺汽車

as it is on Wal-Mart;

就如同諷刺沃爾瑪一樣容易

I'm not going to do that.

但我不打算這樣做

But they're real examples in urbanization

但它們是都市化真實的案例

and the change that's occurred in the last number of years,

和過去幾年裡發生的變化

and the heightened sensitivity to the importance

高度敏感的重要性

of our urban environments as cultural centers.

對於我們都市環境成為文化中心的重要性

I think that they are, that the statements that we make

我認為　我們所做的宣言

in this public sector

在這個公眾場合

are our contributions

是我們對大眾

to a larger whole.

所做的貢獻

Cities are the place where we're most likely

城市是我們最有可能

to encounter diversity

接觸多樣性

and to mix with other people.

並與他人交流的地方

We go there for stimulation in art and all those other things.

我們去那裡尋找藝術上的刺激和其他

But I think people have recognized

我想人們已經意識到

the sanctity of our urban areas.

我們都會區的神聖

A place like Chicago

像芝加哥這樣的城市

has really reached kind of a level of international stature.

已屬國際知名都市

The U.S. is actually becoming a bit of a leader in kind of

美國可以說是先驅

enlightened urban planning and renewal,

在城市的規劃和重建方面

and I want to single out a place like Chicago,

我想在此讚揚芝加哥

where I look at some guy like Mayor Daley as a bit of a design hero

戴利市長可以說是個設計英雄

for being able to work through the

他通過政治上的重重阻礙

political processes and all that to improve an area.

改善芝加哥

You would expect a city like this to have

你可能以為芝加哥這樣的城市

upgraded flower boxes

高檔的花箱

on Michigan Avenue where wealthy people shop,

只有在富人購物的密西根大道上才有

but if you actually go along the street you find

但若你沿著街道走

the flower boxes change from street to street:

會發現每條街的花箱都不同

there's actual diversity in the plants.

植物也有多樣性

And the idea that a city group can maintain

一個城市維持照顧

different types of foliage

不同種類植物

is really quite exceptional.

確實很特別

There are common elements of this that you'll see throughout Chicago,

若你看遍芝加哥 你會發現很多共通的元素

and then there are your big-D design statements:

這是被人們稱為big-D的設計聲明

the Pritzker Pavilion done by Frank Gehry.

是法蘭克.蓋瑞設計的普利茲克露天音樂廳

My measure of this as being an important bit of design

我認為這個設計之所以重要

is not so much the way that it looks,

並不是因為它的外表

but the fact that it performs a very important social function.

而是因為它在社會上所引起的重要作用

There are a lot of free concerts, for example,

例如這裡有很多免費的音樂會

that go on in this area;

在這個區塊

it has a phenomenal acoustic system.

它有出色的音響系統

But the commitment that the city has made to the public area

但這個城市為大眾提供服務的承諾

is significant, and almost an international model.

意義重大 可說是國際典範

I work on the mayor's council in San Francisco,

我參與舊金山的市長顧問委員會的工作

on the International Design Council for Mayors,

主要是關於國際化的設計

and Chicago is looked at as the pinnacle,

芝加哥在這個方面是翹楚

and I really would like to salute Mayor Daley and the folks there.

我在此向戴利市長與市民致意

I thought that I should include at least one

我想我至少該給大家看一張

shot of technology for you guys.

科技元素的照片

This is also in Millennium Park in Chicago,

這也是芝加哥千禧公園裡的一景

where the Spanish artist-designer Plensa

西班牙的藝術家普連薩設計的

has created, kind of,

有點像一種

a digital readout in this park

數位讀出裝置

that reflects back

它反照出

the characters and personalities

這一地區人們的

of the people in this area.

性格和特點

And it's a welcoming area, I think, inclusive of diversity,

這是入口歡迎處　我想　包含了多樣性

reflective of diversity, and I think

多樣性的反映　我認為

this marriage of both technology and art

在公共場域

in the public sector is an area where the U.S.

把科技和藝術結合起來

can really take a leadership role,

美國在這一點還是領先其他國家

and Chicago is one example.

芝加哥就是一個例子

Thank you very much.

謝謝大家