Raffles and the British Council welcome UK Architect Mark Dytham to Shanghai

 

 

Mark Dytham presents his ideas to Raffles students (inset) the interior design for Selfridges, London store

Raffles, Shanghai were delighted to welcome architect and designer Mark Dytham onto campus in collaboration with the British Council’s 2011 Smart Talk programme. Both graduates from the Royal Academy of Arts in London, Mark and Astrid Klein founded Klein Dytham Architects in Tokyo twenty years ago and the event gave Mark the chance to share his knowledge and unique creative outlook to students from across all Raffles departments. The event was extra special as it was Raffles’ first collaboration with the British Council, and was attended by numerous media and participants from across Shanghai’s student community.

 

With an impressive portfolio that includes prominent international clients such as Japanese architect Toyo Ito, Sony in the US and Canada and Google in Japan, Mark proclaimed his design ideas as “fun and enjoyable for everyone”. As an award winning architectural firm Klein Dytham’s work encompasses commercial building projects, as well as residential and retail design. Giving a lively and inspiring talk students learned the importance of client liaison and networking alongside obvious design principles involving colour theory and the economic viability of design projects.

 

“Good design means good economics, and good profit.”

Mark attributed his company’s success to a holistic design and working attitude, which helps businesses learn to value their client opinions in order to achieve commercial as well as design success, demonstrating to the student audience how quirky design can be tailored to include a client’s requirements and preferences.

 

Klein-Dytham’s interior design and rebrand for SONY in the US and Canada bolstered the company’s profile

For both Interior Design and Visual Communication students it was a chance to discover how Klein Dytham turned around the fortune of big name electronics manufacturer SONY. Rebranding SONY was a major success for Mark’s company, and included the interior design for their retail outlets across North America. Learning how to reach out to and consider your target market were topics all covered, along with the importance of recognizing the value of your employees and how design success demands a co-operative working attitude.

“Create your own luck!”

 

The interior design for Google’s headquarters in Tokyo was another successful project for Klein Dytham Architects

The talk was a chance for students to learn about what it takes to establish a good business, and how strong networking and an ability to set parameters for your design and marketing ideas can define a company’s success. Dytham recognized the importance of strong global links – using traditional networking skills and design and business technology to bring people together.

 

L-R: Photography by Peter Dixie at the UK Pavilion and Alex Duncan’s clothing line madetofitme.co.uk

The event was also a chance for local entrepreneur guest speakers to talk about their own design perspectives, using the innovative design platform founded by Klein Dytham ‘Pecha Kucha’, where designers from across the globe are invited to participate in design events. Photographer Peter Dixie gave students insight into his experience photographing the UK Pavilion at last year’s Shanghai Expo and clothing designer Alex Duncan bought his entrepreneurial knowledge, highlighting the importance of Shanghai as an international hub for design and retail.

Following the presentation students engaged in a Q&A session, using the opportunity to gain advice about their own career paths and how they could use the skills they learned after graduation to achieve their own design goals. The talk provided an excellent opportunity for Raffles and the British Council to work together to inspire students, and will lead the way for future possible collaboration with more industry partners.