The designer of “The Configurable T-shirt”, Usman Haque, visited our office!
“The Configurable T-shirt” is a design that enables you to create your own t-shirt by coloring the pixels on it.
Time for some interview!
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Hi Usman, nice to meet you! |
Usman |
Hi! The pleasure is mine! |
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Thank you for joining this year’s T-1 WORLD CUP! |
Usman |
Thank you for inviting me. Designing a t-shirt is something I rarely get the chance to do, so I was really interested in it. |
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Of course, you’re an architect. Architects design buildings, not t-shirts.
What do you think of the other contestant’s t-shirts? |
Usman |
Hmmmm…. Personally, I like Tom’s t-shirt the most. I think he’s going to win again this year. I think the “Fighting Club” is another potential winner. The design reminds me of the movie “Shaolin Soccer”! Nando’s design is also interesting… |
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The t-shirts you choose seem to be a lot different from your own design… |
Usman |
Maybe that’s the reason why I like them. I’m not a “designer” myself, so I’m attracted to these kinds of “designed” t-shirts. |
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Where did you get the idea for “The Configurable T-shirt”? |
Usman |
In the architectural world today, the general concept is that the architect creates the “architecture” including the interior, and the residents reside in that creation.
I want to change that idea.
I want to create something like a container, where people living in it can freely design the space.
This t-shirt is based on that idea. The t-shirt should be different depending on the person wearing it. |
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I see. How come you designed the “container” for this t-shirt like 2 wings? |
Usman |
It’s the image of drawing graffiti on walls. You can create two dimensional or three dimensional designs, using these two walls. |
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You made a website where people can try designing this t-shirt, and see other people’s designs like a gallery. |
Usman |
Yes. A total of 250 people designed their t-shirt in the past 4 days. |
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Wow! |
Usman |
Some people drew patterns, some people wrote political messages… It’s really interesting to see all the different designs by different people. People can change other people’s design if they want. |
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So the designs keep on changing! |
Usman |
Yup. If you draw the name of your country on the left wall, and design your national flag on the right wall… |
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I see! You can create “the t-shirt for your country”! |
Usman |
Actually, someone designed “JPN” and a person kicking the ball on the left, and the right as the goal, so that when you score a goal, the right wall becomes the national flag of Japan! |
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By the way, you sent us a photo of the t-shirts. |
Usman |
Yes. |
Usman |
The random colored dots are done by me, and the t-shirt in the middle is done by my wife. “OPEN BUBBLE” is the name of my next project. The one on the right is done by my wife’s brother, a bicycle designer. And my mother is designing another one right now. I’ll send a photo of her when it’s finished! |
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Thanks! We’ll be waiting! Thanks for coming today! |
Usman |
Not at all! It was great being here! Thanks! |
Usman left us a gift, an assorted package of tea. The tea was flavorful! Thank you!
Check out Usman’s web gallery, and try “configuring” your own t-shirt!
2006/6/26
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