Tear and Discover: Redefining the Relationship Between Sign and Function in Design

A Destructive Interaction that Liberates the True Essence of Household Products

The Tear and Discover collection features four household products - a speaker, floor lamp, clock, and fan - all covered in leather. The leather and labels represent the symbolic value of the goods, while the functional components hidden inside the leather deliver the true use-value. By incorporating a destructive interaction, users are invited to "cut" the symbolic veneer and liberate the honest function of each product.

Using the leather wet shaping craft, the designers have achieved a visually striking tension between the leather surface and the stainless steel support. Each product in the collection is meticulously crafted from 1.5mm whole vegetable-tanned leather. After soaking for 8 hours to awaken the active protein of the leather, it becomes more ductile. The leather is then wrapped on a shaping mold and shaped by hand, resulting in soft curves and an organic aesthetic.

The Tear and Discover collection includes a speaker measuring 345*345*1427mm, a floor lamp measuring 372*305*1930mm, a clock measuring 455*140*100mm, and a fan measuring 360*200*1610mm. These dimensions ensure that each product seamlessly integrates into various living spaces while making a bold design statement.

Through this design, Jie Gao and Hengguang Wu aim to spark contemplation on the relationship between symbols, functions, and commodities in our consumer society. By highlighting the contradiction between symbolic value and use-value, Tear and Discover challenges the prevailing mindset of on-demand consumption and encourages a deeper understanding of the true essence of products.

The Tear and Discover collection will be exhibited in Shanghai in June 2021, following its completion in November 2020. This project has been recognized with the prestigious Bronze A' Design Award in the Fine Arts and Art Installation Design category in 2022. This accolade acknowledges the designers' exceptional creativity and resourcefulness in redefining the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology.