Seasoning Soldiers

Image from: http://www.0532ts.com/html/toy/09520310525349961.html

In design, we often see objects that are transformed from something very original into a new concept of its own. The image of seasoning containers, for example transforms into "people," as they  are redressed as Chinese Qing Dynasty men. The original ones people may be used to seeing are little plastic or glass cups with a top. But these made use of every aspect of it by changing the cup itself into a body, the top into a hat, and the spear into a scooper, using the three primary colors. The focus of design in these containers is not the colors, but rather the concept of the design. It seemed to have given the containers life, transforming it into something that one would want to take another look at.

These seasoning containers are from the Italian Company Alessi, a well known house ware manufacturing Design Company. There are probably many other more seasoning container designs out there, but what is interesting is the simplicity of the design and how it incorporates a part of Chinese history. It would be enjoyable seeing these in my kitchen every day, knowing that these are little soldiers of the Qing Dynasty.

Design, as I see it, is unique, as it puts pieces together to create something with its own uniqueness and style. This is so with the seasoning containers, as they’re combined with the Qing dynasty men to produce a new design. After reading the article, “The Etymology of Design: Pre-Socratic Perspective” by Kostas Terzidis, I was confused about the term originality. He said, “If innovation leads towards one direction, then the search for originality leads toward the opposite. Innovation may be seen as a process of adding one more leaf to the tree, while originality can be seen as the process of adding one more root.” In this case, this design would seem to fit the notion of innovation because it presents the original containers in a new and unique way that’s different from all the other seasoning containers out there. Although the seasoning container is not original itself, the theme or concept of the container, I would call originality. 
Design in society can be something fascinating, or it can be something as simple as these seasoning containers. Seasoning containers are something we see in many kitchens, but design transforms the object to make it something more than just a container, just as design transforms the society.