Doing Business in China - Crowd Bournemouth
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The presentation given at the Doing Business in China event held at AFC Bournemouth 26th November 2019
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Doing Business in China - Crowd Bournemouth
- 3. Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络 www.cbbc.org How Your Business Can Succeed in China Jamie Shaw - 26th November An introduction to the huge potential of the Chinese market
- 4. www.cbbc.org “Whether China is right for you or not is another matter, but you cannot ignore it – it’s one of the biggest growing markets on the planet.” Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 5. www.cbbc.org ‘Golden Era’ of relations to continue… • UK exports to China (goods) £20.8bn 2018 – (£16.3bn in 2017) Increase 25% • UK imports from China £42.6bn 2018 – (£41.6 bn in 2017) Increase 2% China 2018 – UK’s 5th largest export market. Golden Era 2.0 Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 6. www.cbbc.org Environmental issues Rapid urbanisation China’s Rebalancing Traditional industry Rise of consumerism Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 7. Continental in Size www.cbbc.org 160+ Cities with populations of more than 1 million Source: Fung Business Intelligence Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 8. Smart City Selection www.cbbc.org Source: Fung Business Intelligence Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 9. www.cbbc.org 160+ Cities with populations of more than 1 million Continental in Size • Smart Selection of Lower-Tier Cities: • Brands will not only target the less competitive markets in the hinterland, but be much smarter about which cities they focus on. Smaller cities are leading the growth on Alibaba’s ecommerce platforms and have propelled social commerce Pinduoduo to become one of the most popular apps in China. • This is supported by increasing consumer wealth and sophistication, and improving logistics. Ecommerce growth is both raising awareness of new products, categories and origins, but also provides a depth of data that can help determine local and regional preferences. Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 10. www.cbbc.org Healthcare ICT Energy, Environment & Infrastructure Retail & Consumer Advanced Manufacturing Financial & Professional Services Automotive & Transportation Creative Industries • Luxury • Food & Drink • E-Commerce • Smart Transport • Intelligent Vehicles • Railway equipment • Aerospace • Robotics • Telecommunications • Smart Cities • Internet of Things • AI • Life Sciences • Digital Health • Education & Training • Elderly Care • Eco-cities • Smart Energy • Greentech • Banking • Insurance • Fintech • Film • Music • Gaming/Apps Assess your Potential to Export Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 11. The more you can ask, the more prepared you will be • What do you have to sell? • Why will the Chinese buy from you? • What is your unique selling proposition? • What research have you done about China? • Who have you spoken to about the market? • What opportunities exist in the market? www.cbbc.org Top Tips - Do your Research Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 12. What is your China strategy? www.cbbc.org • Online Vs Offline opportunities – which should come first? • Partner or on your own? • Who is your consumer – where, how old etc.? • Resources available internally? • Importance of insights / data Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 13. www.cbbc.org Chinese Consumer Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 14. www.cbbc.org Consumer Confidence is Strong https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=nH5Nj23-tuU Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 15. Slowdown? www.cbbc.org Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-01-20/china Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 16. Chinese Consumer www.cbbc.org • Government policies to promote domestic consumption • Consumer spending the largest driver of GDP growth in 2018 • Total retail sales up 9% yoy, online up 23.9% • Some concerns around consumer spending persist (19/20 figures) • Rapidly changing, fast-moving industry Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 17. Chinese Consumer www.cbbc.orgAdvice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 18. Premiumisation www.cbbc.org Source: McKinsey - https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/china/what-can-we-expect-in-china-in-2019 Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 19. www.cbbc.org E-Commerce Platforms Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 20. www.cbbc.org China’s Digital Overview Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 21. www.cbbc.org Routes to Market Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 22. Routes to Market www.cbbc.org Retailers / Brand Owners Domestic Retail Online Stores Cross-Border E-Commerce Platforms Chinese Consumers Distributor Importer Daigou Tourists Chinese Retail Online Marketplaces .com site Chinese Marketplace T P Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 23. Import Regulations www.cbbc.org • Depending on product category, registration or filing may be necessary • CCC – car seats, prams, some toys • Clothing – safety testing, colour fastness, etc. • Cosmetics – NMPA filing and testing (currently mandatory toxicology) • Food and Drink – registration process with CFDA/CIQ • Medical devices – NMPA regulation and registration • Customs labelling + product labelling • Marketing claims: • Organic • Best/most • Health benefits Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 24. www.cbbc.org REGISTER YOUR TRADEMARKS Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 25. www.cbbc.org Top Tips - Intellectual Property • Apply for and enforce IP rights in China. Consider any new IP created for China. • Contracts. Get advice. Use NDAs. Clearly specify IP provisions and penalties for breach. Consider jurisdiction, law and language. • Both Import & Export. • Relationships. Do due diligence. Build interpersonal trust. • Innovate. Add value in the long-term to incentivise successful partnerships. • Political support. Leverage visits. Access Embassy support for British business. Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 26. www.cbbc.org CBBC Advocacy Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 27. www.cbbc.org CBBC Advocacy Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 28. Consider the following questions: • Can a single partner cover the whole of China? • What warrants an exclusivity agreement? • How fragmented is the marketplace? • Do you require a focus on a specific region? • Are there certain regional cities that are important to you? • CBBC China Gateway aka OMIS www.cbbc.org Finding & Managing Partners Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 29. • Be clear on objectives in advance • Ensure dealing with main decision-maker • Allow some room for price discount • Be patient and allow for multiple rounds of negotiation • Will they support you getting product approvals? • Contracts often expected to have flexibility • Make sure you can support what you set up • CBBC China Cultural Training www.cbbc.org Finding & Managing Partners Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 30. 1. Set Clear Ground Rules • Take legal advice • Contract • Highlight the responsibilities of both parties. 2. Provide Incentives • Realistic & achievable sales targets • Company and individual incentives 3. Support Your Partners • Education & training • Regular communication • Long-term commitment • Technical support, marketing literature, digital 4. Invest In the Relationship • Regular visits (two way) • Make effort to understand local market environment • Be patient 5. Deal with Disputes in the Right Way • Try to anticipate • Cultural understanding & sensitivity • Face-to-face Finding & Managing Partners
- 31. Conclusions www.cbbc.org • There are many routes to market and doing it alone is expensive • Being British/European/Foreign is not enough • E-commerce can sometimes be a relatively easier route to market, but is still a complex and time-consuming process • Distributors can take a lot of the pain and expense out – but at what cost? • A key challenge is that many Chinese buyers are risk-averse and brand conscious • Models are shifting – e-marketplaces introducing e-tailing into their models; social commerce is on the rise • Building brand awareness in an increasingly crowded market takes patience, ingenuity, deep pockets, and often luck • But… if you have the right product or brand, there can be a real opportunity Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 32. CBBC www.cbbc.org • China is complex – we simplify it • Largest UK-China business community, with c.900 members • Staff across UK and China • Sector specific advice, support, and services • Events and reports • Bespoke research Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 33. CBBC Retail Members www.cbbc.orgAdvice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络
- 34. Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络 www.cbbc.org 建议 Advice Ι 支持 Support Ι 1,000 Member Companies drawn from a cross-section of industries A Membership Organisation
- 35. Advice 建议 Support 支持 Networking 网络 www.cbbc.org 建议 Advice Ι 支持 Support Ι Thank You Jamie Shaw E: jamie.shaw@cbbc.org T: 07939100027
- 96. '騎虎難下’ ‘Riding the Tiger’ Lessons from a creative agency in China CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 97. About us Imagemakers are a Devon based creative agency working across the heritage sector. We plan and design exhibitions and visitor experiences for museums, galleries, visitor centres, historic buildings, nature reserves and national parks. The company was established in 1989. We have 12 UK staff and 3 in China, plus a large network of freelance designers, illustrators, AV producers, fabricators etc. We are the only UK company in our field with a Chinese business. www.imagemakers.uk.com CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 98. How it all began The 2008-09 crash threatened our future, and we needed another market. “Would you like to come to China with me next week?” An opportunity arose, and we grabbed it. Our naivety meant we weren’t as daunted as perhaps we should have been. Our MD spent 5 very hard months in Xian overseeing the project, but that gave us a platform, contacts and credibility to build on. CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 99. Why us? Why China? After discussing the move within the company, we identified a range of reasons why we wanted to work in China: • Good for business • Stimulating work • Cultural exchange / broaden our horizons • Promote good practice – and a conservation ethos • We want to make a difference to people. In China our work can reach millions more visitors than we can in the UK. CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 100. The China ‘Museum Boom’ CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 101. The China Museum Boom • Science centres and museums • Wetland centres • Ecology parks • Geopark museums and visitor centres • Natural history museums • County, city and provincial museums • Folk art, handicrafts and music museums • Historic sites and destinations • War memorial museums • Urban planning museums CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 102. The China Museum Boom Government Policy 13th Five Year Plan of National Cultural Development (2016 – 2020): • 1 museum per 250,000 head of population • Target of visitor figure of 800 million • Diversification of museums • Distinctiveness of museums • Improved access to collections • Upgrade and modernise • Optimise governance and financial sustainability (e.g. branded goods) CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 103. The China ‘Museum Boom’ CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 104. What we have achieved Inner Mongolia Natural History Museum Exhibition Masterplan CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 105. What we have achieved Inner Mongolia Natural History Museum CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 106. What we have achieved Inner Mongolia Natural History Museum CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 107. What we have achieved Inner Mongolia Natural History Museum CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 108. What we have achieved Inner Mongolia Natural History Museum CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 109. What we have achieved Inner Mongolia Natural History Museum CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 110. What we have achieved Inner Mongolia Natural History Museum CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 111. What we have achieved Linhai Museum Pterosaur Gallery CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 112. What we have achieved Yanghu Wetland Centre CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 113. What we have achieved Yanghu Wetland Centre CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 114. What we have achieved Suzhou Intangible Culture Museum CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 115. What we have achieved Jinhua Science and Technology Museum CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 116. What we have achieved Korean War National Memorial CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 117. Do your research Lesson 1: Research and read all you can about Chinese history and culture, the specific market you are targeting, and relevant government policy. China has been a nation state and empire for thousands of years, and they see themselves as being at the centre of the world. There’s a lot to learn about China’s history and culture, and it definitely helps winning hearts and minds to show you’ve bothered to take an interest in the people and country. Also, if the government has a policy to do something, it almost invariably will. CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 118. Keep your research going – things can change quickly Lesson 2: The whole nature of an industry can change rapidly. Unless you have ‘insider’ connections and relationships, staying ahead of the game can be a challenge, and even then you will be told different things by different people. In our design sector, anti-corruption procurement rules changed overnight in 2018, causing a near halt to work across the industry for 6-9 months. We hadn’t seen it coming. If you’re serious about selling into China, do your homework and talk with people who know the your industry. But take advice with a pinch of salt, and try to verify from other sources where you can. CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 119. Take a risk, but make connections Lesson 3: Being prepared to jump in at the deep end will inevitably mean you make mistakes, but you will also make friends and alliances that will set you up for future opportunities. We partnered with a Chinese design and fabrication company from the outset, and have subsequently gone on to develop a long-lasting working relationship with them and a range of similar companies. CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 120. Rethink your scales Lesson 4: The scale of everything in China is huge, so you need a different mindset. The size of their museums, the number of their visitors, the distances you need to travel, the budgets you have to work with – are all 10x what you expect in the UK. I expect other sectors will have a similar difference of scale. CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 121. Its all about the people Lesson 5: We couldn’t run a business in China without our Chinese staff. Our three staff are a great team of lovely people, living and working in different parts of the country. They are our translators, project managers, business managers, fixers and organisers. Chinese people work very hard. We will be given a ‘20 day’ deadline for a commission, but to the Chinese that includes weekends (and don’t forget to allow time for translation). Our UK China team have to be very flexible, to travel at short notice, to spend real time in China, and to manage 5am skype calls and weekend working. CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 122. Make sure you get paid Lesson 6: Professional salaries and costs are comparable to the UK. You will need a Chinese company and bank account, and the accompanying overheads and tax liabilities, or to work with clients able to pay in foreign currency. Contracts can have a 10% retention to be paid at the end. Don’t depend on being paid this final invoice – cover your all costs and margins on a 90% fee basis, and if the final payment comes through, its pure profit. Projects and payments can be delayed for numerous reasons, which can be difficult to manage within your cashflow. CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 123. Its about people Lesson 7: ‘Guanxi’ is crucial to working successfully in China. This is a slow burner and can take several years to cultivate through shared meals, giving and receiving of gifts, numerous meetings and consumption of large quantities of baijiu during drinking bouts of ‘gambei!’ CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 124. Future strategy – next steps for Imagemakers • Target further awards and recognition • Achieve further accreditation • Continue to build the business, network, make contacts, develop marketing, etc • Stay ahead of the game – the Chinese learn fast so we need to keep ahead of our clients • Umbrella role for other UK suppliers in our sector – exciting development. CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 125. Conclusion • There are huge opportunities in China • China is an exciting and stimulating place to work • Always expect the unexpected • Prepare to be in it for the long haul • Find good people ‘on the ground’ to work with • Evan a small company can make a difference, and deepen ties between our countries and traditions. CBBC regional seminar November 2019
- 126. Xie xie Thank you! CBBC regional seminar November 2019
Notas do Editor
- Consumer intro? pictures
- Consumer intro? pictures
- *Indexed results
- *Indexed results
- *Indexed results
- *Indexed results
- Nihao. Hello. My name is Matthew Jones. As a long-standing member of Imagemakers Design & Consulting I’ve dabbled in various roles over the last 17 or so years, but currently describe myself as Senior Consultant or Creative Lead (China). First off, I feel I should explain the title of this workshop session! The Chinese expression “騎虎難下” (qí hǔ nán xià), literally “riding a tiger and it being hard to get off,” has come to mean facing a dilemma or being stuck in a difficult position with no way out but to see it through to the end. At the risk of mis-appropriating this well-known Chinese saying (not dissimilar to the English expression “to have a tiger by its tail”) I feel it conveys what it sometimes feels like working in China. Working in China is a bit like being on a thrill ride. It’s unnerving and disorienting and yet rewarding and enjoyable. Sometimes you really wish you could get off the tiger (or at least tame it a bit) but then there’s this other part of you that enjoys the danger, unpredictability and excitement. In actual fact, the dilemmas and difficulties that we’ve encountered along the way, since first venturing into China in 2009, have pretty much all come about as a result of our continued growth and development and the many opportunities that have come our way. So, buckle up as I share a few insights into our experiences of working in this amazing land and culture.
- You might be glad to hear that the heritage interpreter in me precludes me presenting a worthy academic treatise on socio-economic, political and museum industry trends in China in favour of some bite size facts and figures, and some unashamedly practical and anecdotal stories. I’m not sure what your motivations and expectations are coming into this workshop but if by the end of our time together you’re feeling inspired, enthused and emboldened about getting involved in this wonderful, frustrating, unpredictable and exhilarating thing called China, or simply feel that your curiosity has been satiated then I will be happy. (INTERESTS IN CHINA?) As with good interpretive design my main aim is simply to ‘spark an interest’ with the intention of carrying on conversations over a drink or some such similar sociable activity! Another thing to say at this point is that we’re learning all the time and make no pretensions to being ‘experts’ on China. Accordingly, I would love this workshop session to be a dialogue, and for you to feel free to intervene, correct, expand and share any of your own China experiences for the benefit of the session as a whole.
- You might be glad to hear that the heritage interpreter in me precludes me presenting a worthy academic treatise on socio-economic, political and museum industry trends in China in favour of some bite size facts and figures, and some unashamedly practical and anecdotal stories. I’m not sure what your motivations and expectations are coming into this workshop but if by the end of our time together you’re feeling inspired, enthused and emboldened about getting involved in this wonderful, frustrating, unpredictable and exhilarating thing called China, or simply feel that your curiosity has been satiated then I will be happy. (INTERESTS IN CHINA?) As with good interpretive design my main aim is simply to ‘spark an interest’ with the intention of carrying on conversations over a drink or some such similar sociable activity! Another thing to say at this point is that we’re learning all the time and make no pretensions to being ‘experts’ on China. Accordingly, I would love this workshop session to be a dialogue, and for you to feel free to intervene, correct, expand and share any of your own China experiences for the benefit of the session as a whole.
- You might be glad to hear that the heritage interpreter in me precludes me presenting a worthy academic treatise on socio-economic, political and museum industry trends in China in favour of some bite size facts and figures, and some unashamedly practical and anecdotal stories. I’m not sure what your motivations and expectations are coming into this workshop but if by the end of our time together you’re feeling inspired, enthused and emboldened about getting involved in this wonderful, frustrating, unpredictable and exhilarating thing called China, or simply feel that your curiosity has been satiated then I will be happy. (INTERESTS IN CHINA?) As with good interpretive design my main aim is simply to ‘spark an interest’ with the intention of carrying on conversations over a drink or some such similar sociable activity! Another thing to say at this point is that we’re learning all the time and make no pretensions to being ‘experts’ on China. Accordingly, I would love this workshop session to be a dialogue, and for you to feel free to intervene, correct, expand and share any of your own China experiences for the benefit of the session as a whole.
- (CLICK TO PLAY VIDEO) As with the massive expansion of urban areas and the revolution in economy and social mobility, China’s museum and cultural heritage ‘sector’ has undergone and continues to undergo rapid and wide-reaching changes. The reasons for the China Museum Boom are widely reported and commented on by others, and I don’t wish to dwell on these too much, except to provide a bit of context for explaining how we’ve come to find our own particular niche within museum and visitor experience planning and design in China. I will however share a few facts and figures to help you understand the ‘nature of the beast’ – the tiger – that we’re dealing with today.
- You might be glad to hear that the heritage interpreter in me precludes me presenting a worthy academic treatise on socio-economic, political and museum industry trends in China in favour of some bite size facts and figures, and some unashamedly practical and anecdotal stories. I’m not sure what your motivations and expectations are coming into this workshop but if by the end of our time together you’re feeling inspired, enthused and emboldened about getting involved in this wonderful, frustrating, unpredictable and exhilarating thing called China, or simply feel that your curiosity has been satiated then I will be happy. (INTERESTS IN CHINA?) As with good interpretive design my main aim is simply to ‘spark an interest’ with the intention of carrying on conversations over a drink or some such similar sociable activity! Another thing to say at this point is that we’re learning all the time and make no pretensions to being ‘experts’ on China. Accordingly, I would love this workshop session to be a dialogue, and for you to feel free to intervene, correct, expand and share any of your own China experiences for the benefit of the session as a whole.
- Government policy Like most things in China, the staggering growth in museums is linked closely to Government policy. A ‘build it and they will come’ economic multiplier mentality has certainly prevailed in the thinking of Chinese government over the past decade or so. (Guggenheim / Bilbao). And whilst there are plenty of examples of where this has not proven to be the case (the white elephants), there are many more examples where this policy has been successful, often backed up by truly astonishing visitor figures! Of course, long term sustainability and quality is a different matter and one which the 13th Five Year Plan of National Cultural Development, issued by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, is taking seriously. This sets out a series of goals for China’s museums to be achieved by 2020. Reading through and simplifying this vast document is no small matter, but in the interest of brevity it identifies the following priorities: To ensure that there is a density of museum coverage across China equivalent to 1 per 250,000 head of population To reach an overall annual visitor figure of 800 million To diversify the types of museums To enhance regional and cultural distinctiveness in the museum offer To enable museums to better share their cultural treasures and collections through technological developments (e.g. VR & AR, online resources) To upgrade and modernise the museum stock to ensure a vibrant sector. To optimise governance and financial sustainability of museums and develop stronger branding and saleable product lines
- This map and the bullet lists beside it is our own testament to the China museum boom! It represents just some of the projects that we have been involved with since 2009.
- Firstly, a word or two about scale. Most museums in China are on a whole different scale. These are the architectural designs for the Inner Mongolia Natural History Museum.
- Individual galleries typically vary between 1000m2 to 3000m2. This might equate to around 10 – 15,000m2 + of exhibition space for a whole museum. It is not uncommon to hear of implementation budgets of 20 – 30 million RMB (Renmimbi / Yuan) (£2 – 3 million) per gallery. For the Inner Mongolia Natural History Museum we developed concept designs in support of one of our design agency partners for a lobby and 8 galleries spread over two floors. The smallest gallery space was 300 sq metres and the largest in this instance was 1237 sq metres.
- For the Inner Mongolia project we helped our client with the preparation of their CONCEPT DESIGN bid. The concept is is the first step in what is typically a two stage tendering process which includes: Concept Design, Deeper Design (or Design & Build). Planning is sometimes offered as a separate contract and as such is frequently done in isolation from the design. Sometimes the museum employs a team of experts or employs a specialist planning company to prepare an outline plan which forms the brief. Other times they don’t, and you’re pretty much given carte blanche to interpret their broad aims and objectives.
- (SELF RUNNING SLIDES) With this particular project the onus was on our partner design and fabrication company client to develop the brief. I should say that very often the concept design phase of a project is done entirely at risk! This can mean taking designs as far as RIBA 4 equivalent without any payment and no guarantee of success in the tendering! Our clients have to spend a lot of time building relationships with various ‘experts’, museums and government departments in order to get the best possible understanding of their requirements. Sometimes this involves us meeting our clients’ clients early in the process, long before formal tendering starts.
- (SELF RUNNING SLIDES x 6 PICS) Anyway, back to the Inner Mongolia Natural History Museum. I’ve mentioned scale. With several huge galleries to play with there was scope to create some intriguing, immersive and engaging visitor experiences. This sequence of visuals relates to a section of the museum about mining and geology. A central concept was the creation of a large-scale visitor ride-on experience through an opencast mine as well as an immersive, underground mining challenge.
- Nanjing Tangshan Fangshan National Geopark Museum I’ve mentioned this project previously in relation to some concept designs we did for the central atrium / lobby depicting Nanjing Man. Actually we were involved in the concept design for several galleries as well. I just want to use this sequence of slides to talk about one of the frustrations of being a design company working in China. One of these frustrations is the build quality of exhibitions. It’s a very mixed bag, but fair to say that the quality of finishing and robustness of many exhibitions is some way off the best of the west. At its best it is about 70% to 80% there. I’m not singling this project out for any other reason than it is one where it is clear to see how the concept designs have made it to the final ‘as built’ state. Actually in this case the quality is pretty acceptable. However, the graphic design is a real let down. Also, the end quality of AV is not as impactful as it could be. There is a real need for western museum graphic design expertise and AV production values. Anyway, despite having said all this, the Nanjing Geopark Museum has been a great success.
- Nanjing Tangshan Fangshan National Geopark Museum I’ve mentioned this project previously in relation to some concept designs we did for the central atrium / lobby depicting Nanjing Man. Actually we were involved in the concept design for several galleries as well. I just want to use this sequence of slides to talk about one of the frustrations of being a design company working in China. One of these frustrations is the build quality of exhibitions. It’s a very mixed bag, but fair to say that the quality of finishing and robustness of many exhibitions is some way off the best of the west. At its best it is about 70% to 80% there. I’m not singling this project out for any other reason than it is one where it is clear to see how the concept designs have made it to the final ‘as built’ state. Actually in this case the quality is pretty acceptable. However, the graphic design is a real let down. Also, the end quality of AV is not as impactful as it could be. There is a real need for western museum graphic design expertise and AV production values. Anyway, despite having said all this, the Nanjing Geopark Museum has been a great success.
- Nanjing Tangshan Fangshan National Geopark Museum I’ve mentioned this project previously in relation to some concept designs we did for the central atrium / lobby depicting Nanjing Man. Actually we were involved in the concept design for several galleries as well. I just want to use this sequence of slides to talk about one of the frustrations of being a design company working in China. One of these frustrations is the build quality of exhibitions. It’s a very mixed bag, but fair to say that the quality of finishing and robustness of many exhibitions is some way off the best of the west. At its best it is about 70% to 80% there. I’m not singling this project out for any other reason than it is one where it is clear to see how the concept designs have made it to the final ‘as built’ state. Actually in this case the quality is pretty acceptable. However, the graphic design is a real let down. Also, the end quality of AV is not as impactful as it could be. There is a real need for western museum graphic design expertise and AV production values. Anyway, despite having said all this, the Nanjing Geopark Museum has been a great success.
- Nanjing Tangshan Fangshan National Geopark Museum I’ve mentioned this project previously in relation to some concept designs we did for the central atrium / lobby depicting Nanjing Man. Actually we were involved in the concept design for several galleries as well. I just want to use this sequence of slides to talk about one of the frustrations of being a design company working in China. One of these frustrations is the build quality of exhibitions. It’s a very mixed bag, but fair to say that the quality of finishing and robustness of many exhibitions is some way off the best of the west. At its best it is about 70% to 80% there. I’m not singling this project out for any other reason than it is one where it is clear to see how the concept designs have made it to the final ‘as built’ state. Actually in this case the quality is pretty acceptable. However, the graphic design is a real let down. Also, the end quality of AV is not as impactful as it could be. There is a real need for western museum graphic design expertise and AV production values. Anyway, despite having said all this, the Nanjing Geopark Museum has been a great success.
- Nanjing Tangshan Fangshan National Geopark Museum I’ve mentioned this project previously in relation to some concept designs we did for the central atrium / lobby depicting Nanjing Man. Actually we were involved in the concept design for several galleries as well. I just want to use this sequence of slides to talk about one of the frustrations of being a design company working in China. One of these frustrations is the build quality of exhibitions. It’s a very mixed bag, but fair to say that the quality of finishing and robustness of many exhibitions is some way off the best of the west. At its best it is about 70% to 80% there. I’m not singling this project out for any other reason than it is one where it is clear to see how the concept designs have made it to the final ‘as built’ state. Actually in this case the quality is pretty acceptable. However, the graphic design is a real let down. Also, the end quality of AV is not as impactful as it could be. There is a real need for western museum graphic design expertise and AV production values. Anyway, despite having said all this, the Nanjing Geopark Museum has been a great success.
- Nanjing Tangshan Fangshan National Geopark Museum I’ve mentioned this project previously in relation to some concept designs we did for the central atrium / lobby depicting Nanjing Man. Actually we were involved in the concept design for several galleries as well. I just want to use this sequence of slides to talk about one of the frustrations of being a design company working in China. One of these frustrations is the build quality of exhibitions. It’s a very mixed bag, but fair to say that the quality of finishing and robustness of many exhibitions is some way off the best of the west. At its best it is about 70% to 80% there. I’m not singling this project out for any other reason than it is one where it is clear to see how the concept designs have made it to the final ‘as built’ state. Actually in this case the quality is pretty acceptable. However, the graphic design is a real let down. Also, the end quality of AV is not as impactful as it could be. There is a real need for western museum graphic design expertise and AV production values. Anyway, despite having said all this, the Nanjing Geopark Museum has been a great success.
- Lesson 1: Research and read all you can – there’s a lot to learn about China’s history and culture and it definitely helps the process of winning hearts and minds to show you’ve bothered to take an interest.
- Lesson 2: In China, when the Government backs something and says that they will achieve it, they will! The whole nature of an industry can change overnight. Unless you have ‘insider’ connections and relationships, staying ahead of the game can be a challenge. If you’re serious about getting involved, do your homework first and talk with people who know the policy landscape for this industry (The Department of International Trade and China Britain Business Council).
- Lesson 4: Although China is a very large place, the museum exhibition design industry is actually pretty small. Being prepared to jump in at the deep end will inevitably mean you make mistakes but you will also likely make friends and alliances that will set you up nicely for doing further work in China. We partnered with a Chinese design and fabrication company who actually produced the exhibition elements for the Daming Palace project, and have subsequently gone on to develop a long-lasting working relationship.
- Building up guanxi is crucial to working successfully in China. You might think of this as simply developing ‘good feeling’ with individuals and parties. Developing guanxi is a slow burner and can take several years to cultivate through shared meals, present giving and receiving, numerous meetings and consumption of large quantities of baijiu during bouts of ‘gambei’. (CLICK) The morning after.
- Lesson 4: Although China is a very large place, the museum exhibition design industry is actually pretty small. Being prepared to jump in at the deep end will inevitably mean you make mistakes but you will also likely make friends and alliances that will set you up nicely for doing further work in China. We partnered with a Chinese design and fabrication company who actually produced the exhibition elements for the Daming Palace project, and have subsequently gone on to develop a long-lasting working relationship.
- Lesson 4: Although China is a very large place, the museum exhibition design industry is actually pretty small. Being prepared to jump in at the deep end will inevitably mean you make mistakes but you will also likely make friends and alliances that will set you up nicely for doing further work in China. We partnered with a Chinese design and fabrication company who actually produced the exhibition elements for the Daming Palace project, and have subsequently gone on to develop a long-lasting working relationship.
- Building up guanxi is crucial to working successfully in China. You might think of this as simply developing ‘good feeling’ with individuals and parties. Developing guanxi is a slow burner and can take several years to cultivate through shared meals, present giving and receiving, numerous meetings and consumption of large quantities of baijiu during bouts of ‘gambei’. (CLICK) The morning after.
- You might be glad to hear that the heritage interpreter in me precludes me presenting a worthy academic treatise on socio-economic, political and museum industry trends in China in favour of some bite size facts and figures, and some unashamedly practical and anecdotal stories. I’m not sure what your motivations and expectations are coming into this workshop but if by the end of our time together you’re feeling inspired, enthused and emboldened about getting involved in this wonderful, frustrating, unpredictable and exhilarating thing called China, or simply feel that your curiosity has been satiated then I will be happy. (INTERESTS IN CHINA?) As with good interpretive design my main aim is simply to ‘spark an interest’ with the intention of carrying on conversations over a drink or some such similar sociable activity! Another thing to say at this point is that we’re learning all the time and make no pretensions to being ‘experts’ on China. Accordingly, I would love this workshop session to be a dialogue, and for you to feel free to intervene, correct, expand and share any of your own China experiences for the benefit of the session as a whole.
- In the manner of a well-ordered Chinese museum exhibition narrative, I will finish this presentation with some brief concluding thoughts. Expect the unexpected. It might sound cheesy but its true. There are surprises around every corner. (CLICK) You might just find yourself keynoting at a hurriedly convened ‘international creative cooperation’ seminar in Hainan (CLICK) Or being asked to help organise an international delegation for a forum on world river cultures in Wuhan (CLICK) Or visiting the cavernous interior of some new museum, awed that the structure has risen from the dirt in little more than 3 months (CLICK) Or popping up a sacred mountain and seeing a man carrying more than your own body weight in water bottles (CLICK) Or encountering some nasty hairy surprises at a street stall in Hangzhou (CLICK) Or entertaining the prospect of purchasing your latest ’naturally sourced skincare product’ from an unlikely sounding shopping emporium. (CLICK) Or discovering an illicit form of night time pursuit advertised in broad daylight! I could go on and on. I won’t. Prepare to be in it for the long haul Getting into China means being prepared to stick around, to spend time building relationships and getting used to airports, hotel lounges and office blocks. Find good people Finding good people on the ground is essential you’ll need that insider knowledge of culture and business practice and to guide you on your travels around China. Together we can make a difference We wouldn’t be in this if we didn’t think we could make a difference. Of course it has to stack up financially (which it does) but our continuing motivation is that we can fly the flag for good interpretive planning and design and see the industry in China wake up and take notice. In 9 years we’ve worked on well over 40 projects all across China. We’ve run training sessions, talked at conferences, become the first western company to join the China Exhibition Association and we now work with the top design agencies in China. We can make a difference. Not just us, but other creatives and people passionate about helping create great museums. China will succeed in creating world-class museums Like everything else to which China puts its collective effort, it will succeed in creating world-class new museums. So, if riding tigers is your kind of thing, what are you waiting for?!