"Oh beloved dentist:

首先讓我念一首詩給各位：

Your rubber fingers in my mouth ...

「喔！我摯愛的牙醫：

your voice so soft and muffled ...

我口中　 仍有你戴著橡膠手套的手指

Lower the mask, dear dentist,

你的聲音輕柔而隱約

lower the mask."

我親愛的牙醫　卸下你的面罩

(Laughter)

卸下你的面罩」

Okay, in this presentation,

（笑）

I'm going to be putting the right side of your brains

好的，今天的演講

through a fairly serious workout.

我會讓各位的右腦

You're going to see a lot of imagery,

經歷一場嚴苛的考驗

and it's not always connected to what I'm talking about,

大家會看到很多的影像

so I need you to kind of split your brains in half

通常和我想談的沒什麼太大關係

and let the images flow over one side

所以呢請你們把腦袋分成兩半

and listen to me on the other.

一半讓影像自在遊走

So I am one of those people

一半聽我的演講

with a transformative personal story.

我是那種有著

Six years ago,

變化多端的人生的人

after 20 years in graphic design and typography,

六年前

I changed the way I was working

浸淫於圖像設計與字文設計已20年的我

and the way most graphic designers work

改變了工作方式

to pursue a more personal approach to my work,

一如大多數的設計師

with only the humble attempt

我希望作品有著更多的個人風格

to simply make a living doing something that I loved.

謙卑的試著

But something weird happened.

憑自己所愛過生活

I became bizarrely

但奇怪的事情發生了

popular.

我變得莫名其妙地

My current work

大受歡迎

seems to resonate with people

我現在的創作

in a way that has so taken me by surprise

似乎能與人們產生共鳴

that I still frequently wonder

到了讓我驚訝的地步

what in the hell is going on.

我常想

And I'm slowly coming to understand

到底發生了什麼事

that the appeal of what I do

漸漸的我發現

may be connected to why I do it.

我作品中的感染力

These days, I call myself a graphic artist.

跟我做作品的原因可能有關

So where my work as a graphic designer

這些日子以來，我稱我自己為圖像藝術家

was to follow strategy,

身為設計師的我

my work now

之前以策略為工作準則

follows my heart

現在的我

and my interests

以心為工作準則

with the guidance of my ego

我的興趣

to create work that is mutually beneficial to myself and a client.

以自我意識為導師

Now, this is heresy

創作出讓我和客戶都互惠滿意的作品。

in the design world.

這對設計界來說

The ego is not supposed

是異端

to be involved in graphic design.

自我意識不應該

But I find that for myself,

在設計裡頭出現

without exception,

但我發現，對我來說

the more I deal with the work

當我越把這些工作

as something of my own,

當成我自己的創作

as something that is personal,

讓它們充滿個人色彩

the more successful it is

作品就越成功

as something that's compelling,

也越吸引人、

interesting and sustaining.

有趣，且帶著永續的生命力。

So I exist somewhat outside of the mainstream

沒有一次例外

of design thinking.

因此，也許當大多數人只重視結果時

Where others might look at measurable results,

我是

I tend to be interested in more ethereal qualities,

設計思考的非主流派

like "Does it bring joy?"

我對抽象的質感比較有興趣

"Is there a sense of wonder?"

像是是否能讓人感到愉悅？

and "Does it invoke curiosity?"

能否帶來奇妙的感受？

This is a scientific diagram, by the way.

是否能激起好奇心？

I don't have time to explain it,

對了，這是一個科學相關的圖

but it has to do with DNA and RNA.

我沒時間解釋

So I have a particular imaginative approach to visual work.

它和去氧核糖核酸（DNA）與核糖核酸（RNA）有關

The things that interest me when I'm working

我以特別的想像法則來從事視覺設計

are visual structure,

在工作上，讓我感興趣的是

surprise

視覺結構、

and anything that requires figuring things out.

驚喜、

So for this reason, I'm particularly drawn

或任何需要挖掘的事物

to systems and patterns.

因為這個原因，我對

I'm going to give you a couple of examples of how my brain works.

系統與模式感興趣

This is a piece that I did for

我給各位幾個例子讓大家看看我怎麼思考的

The Guardian newspaper in the U.K.

這是我為英國的衛報

They have a magazine that they call G2.

所設計的作品

And this is for their puzzle special

他們有個叫G2的副刊

in 2007.

這是2007年的

And puzzling it is.

謎題特刊

I started by creating a series of tiling units.

作品本身就是個謎

And these tiling units, I designed

我從一系列的區塊單位開始

specifically so that they would contain

我刻意讓這些區塊

parts of letterforms within their shapes

形狀含有

so that I could then

字型的一部分

join those pieces together

這樣我就可以

to create letters and then words

藉著把這些區塊拼起來

within the abstract patterning.

在抽象的圖像中

But then as well, I was able to

創作出字母和文字

just flip them, rotate them

當然囉，我可以

and combine them in different ways

反轉，旋轉這些區塊

to create either regular patterns

用不同的方式組合它們

or abstract patterns.

來創作出規律

So here's the word puzzle again.

或者抽象的圖型

And here it is with the abstract surrounding.

這是謎題這個字

And as you can see, it's extremely difficult to read.

其周圍由抽象圖像包圍著

But all I have to do is

如你所見，字非常難以辨別

fill certain areas of those letterforms

但只要我

and I can bring those words out of

將圖像的某些區域填滿

the background pattern.

我就能將這些字眼

But maybe that's a little too obvious.

從背景中凸顯出來。

So then I can add some color in with the background

或許這有點太明顯了

and add a bit more color in with the words themselves,

所以呢，我可以在背景加上一些顏色

and this way, working with the art director,

然後在圖像上也加上更多顏色

I'm able to bring it to just the right point

這樣子，和藝術總監合作

that it's puzzling for the audience --

我就能將主題呈現到剛剛好

they can figure out that there's something they have to read --

讓觀眾覺得困惑的程度

but it's not impossible for them to read.

他們可以看出是有個東西在那

I'm also interested in working with

但也不是完全看不出來是甚麼

unusual materials

我對於使用奇特的媒材

and common materials in unusual ways.

或是另類使用平凡的素材

So this requires figuring out how to

也很感興趣

get the most out of something's innate properties

這讓我得好好思考

and also how to bend it to my will.

如何配合我的意願

So ultimately,

來呈現這些物質的精髓

my goal is to create something unexpected.

最終

To this end, I have worked in sugar

我的目標是創造出人意表的作品

for Stefan Sagmeister,

至此，我已為三屆的TED講者

three-time TED speaker.

施德明設計過

And this project began essentially

以糖為媒介的創作

on my kitchen table.

這個專案一開始是出現在

I've been eating cereal for breakfast

我家廚房的餐桌上

all of my life.

我這輩子的早餐

And for that same amount of time,

都吃玉米片

I've been spilling sugar on the table

不可避免的

and just kind of playing with it with my fingers.

我老把糖灑在桌上

And eventually I used this technique

就這樣開始用手指玩起這些糖來

to create a piece of artwork.

後來，我曾用這樣的方式

And then I used it again to create

創作一件作品

six pieces for Stefan's book,

然後我用同樣的方式

"Things in My Life I've Learned So Far."

幫施德明的書《人生所學到的事》

And these were created

設計了六件作品

without sketches, just freehand,

創作時我沒打草稿

by putting the sugar down on a white surface

而是把糖放在白色表面

and then manipulating it to get

再用手撥弄

the words and designs out of it.

直到文字跟設計

Recently, I've also made some

躍然紙上

rather highbrow baroque borders

最近呢，我也用

out of lowbrow pasta.

普通的義大利麵條

And this is for a chapter that I'm doing in a book,

做了些高級的巴洛克框

and the chapter is on honor.

這是我參與的一本書裡其中一章

So it's a little bit unexpected,

內容關於榮譽

but, in a way, it refers

這有點出人意表

to the macaroni art

但靈感來自於

that children make for their parents

小朋友自發

or they make in school and give to their parents,

或他們在學校做給父母親的

which is in itself a form of honor.

通心麵條藝術

This is what you can do with some household tinfoil.

這也是一種榮耀的表現

Okay, well, it's what I can do with some household tinfoil.

你也能用家裡的鋁箔紙自己做

(Laughter)

好吧，是我能拿鋁箔紙自己做

I'm very interested in wonder,

（笑）

in design as an impetus to inquiring.

我對思考，和以設計為

To say I wonder is to say

質疑的動力很感興趣

I question, I ask.

說「我想......」也就是說

And to experience wonder is to experience awe.

「我質疑」、「我詢問」

So I'm currently working on a book,

思考的過程其實是在經歷「敬畏」

which plays with both senses of the word,

我正在寫一本書

as I explore some of my own ideas

利用文字的兩種不同意義來做設計

and inquiries

這讓我以視覺效果來呈現

in a visual display of rather

我自己的想法

peacock-like grandeur.

及自我探詢的過程

The world is full of wonder.

而非只是如孔雀開屏的大鳴大放

But the world of graphic design,

這個世界是充滿著驚奇的

for the most part, is not.

但就設計的世界而言

So I'm using my own writings

大部分並非如此

as a kind of testing ground for a book that has

我的寫作，就一本書而言

an interdependency between word and image

是一種測試，因為

as a kind of seductive force.

書裡的文字和影像互為表裡

I think that one of the things

這讓書得以吸引人

that religions got right

我想許多宗教

was the use of visual wonder

說對了一點：

to deliver a message.

使用影像效果

I think this true marriage of art and information

的確能傳遞訊息

is woefully underused in adult literature,

而藝術和訊息的結合

and I'm mystified as to

極少運用於成人文學

why visual wealth is not more commonly used

我對為什麼

to enhance intellectual wealth.

視覺的豐富性不能更常被用來

When we look at works like this,

提高知識的豐富性而感到困擾

we tend to associate them with children's literature.

當我們看著這樣的作品

There's an implication that ornamental graphics

會認為這跟兒童文學有關

detract from the seriousness of the content.

一般認為，裝飾用的圖形

But I really hope to have the opportunity

會降低內容的嚴肅性

to change that perception.

但我真的希望有機會

This book is taking rather a long time,

能改變這樣的觀念

but I'm nearly done.

這本書花了我許多時間

For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea

已接近完成

to put an intermission

為了某些原因，我想

in my talk.

先中斷我的演講

And this is it -- just to give you and me a moment to catch up.

會是個好主意

(Laughter)

就是這個─給我們一點時間喘口氣

So I do these valentines.

（笑）

I've been sending out valentines

我設計了這些情人節圖案

on a fairly large scale since 2005.

從2005年開始

These are my valentines

每年我都會寄許多出去

from 2005 and 2006.

這是我05到06年的

And I started by

設計

doing just a single image like this

我從做這樣一個

and sending them out to each person.

單一圖形開始

But in 2007,

再寄給每個人

I got the cockamamie idea

但是在2007年

to hand-draw each valentine

我有個很荒謬的想法：

for everyone on my mailing list.

我要為我通訊錄上的每個人

I reduced my mailing list to 150 people.

手繪一個情人節圖案

And I drew each person

我將名單縮小到150人

their own unique valentine

為每一個人

and put their name on it

設計一個獨特的圖案

and numbered it and signed it and sent it out.

放進他的名字

Believe it or not, I devised this

編號、簽名、再寄出

as a timesaving method.

無論你信不信

I was very busy in the beginning of that year,

我用一種省時的方法設計它

and I didn't know when I was going to find time

那年剛開年時我非常忙碌

to design and print a single valentine.

而我不知道我是不是會有時間

And I thought that I could kind of do this piecemeal

設計跟印刷一個情人節圖案

as I was traveling.

我以為我可以在我旅行時

It didn't exactly work out that way.

一次做一點

There's a longer story to this,

但是最後不完全是這樣

but I did get them all done in time,

這故事有點長

and they were extremely well received.

我並沒有準時完成它們

I got an almost 100 percent response rate.

但效果相當好

(Laughter)

我有將近百分之百的回覆率

And those who didn't respond

（笑）

will never receive anything from me ever again.

而那些沒有回復的

(Laughter)

再也不會收到我任何禮物

Last year,

（笑）

I took a more conceptual approach to the valentine.

去年

I had this idea that I wanted people

我用比較概念藝術的方式來設計

to receive a kind of

有這個主意是因為

mysterious love letter,

我希望人們像收到

like a found fragment in their mailbox.

秘密情書一般

I wanted it to be something

又好比在信箱裡找到的碎片

that was not addressed to them

我希望這不是

or signed by me,

指名要給他們的

something that caused them to wonder

或是由我簽名的作品

what on Earth this thing was.

而是能讓他們想想

And I specifically wrote

這到底是甚麼

four pages that don't connect.

我還特別為此

There were four different versions of this.

寫了四頁不互相關的文字

And I wrote them

這是其中四個不同的版本

so that they begin in the middle of a sentence,

我讓文字從

end in the middle of a sentence.

某句中間開始

And they're on the one hand, universal,

在某句中間結束

so I avoid specific names or places,

一方面，這些文字有共通性

but on the other hand, they're personal.

我避免寫下名字或地點

So I wanted people to really get the sense that

但另一方面，這些也是私人文字

they had received something that could have been

我希望人們能夠有

a love letter to them.

收到專屬於自己的情書的

And I'm just going to read one of them to you.

感覺

"You've never really been sure of this,

讓我讀其中一篇給各位聽：

but I can assure you that this quirk

「你大概從來就不確定這點

you're so self-conscious of

但我可以保證

is intensely endearing.

這你相當自覺的怪癖

Just please accept that this piece of you

非常受人喜愛

escapes with your smile,

所以，請接受這一部份的你

and those of us who notice

隨著微笑跑走時

are happy to catch it in passing.

我們這些注意到的

Time spent with you is like chasing and catching small birds,

會非常樂意在它經過時抓住它

but without the scratches and bird shit."

和你在一起的時光就像追逐捕捉小鳥一般

(Laughter)

但沒有抓痕跟鳥大便。」

"That is to say,

（笑）

your thoughts and words flit and dart,

「這就是說

disconcertedly elusive at times,

你的思緒奔放亂竄

but when caught and examined --

隨時都令人疑惑無法定義

ahh, such a wonder,

但若是捕捉一縷下來細細研究：

such a delightful reward.

喔，多有趣

There's no passing time with you,