|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| <div style="max-width: 1100px; margin:0 auto;"><div style="text-align:center; padding:30px 20px 20px;"><div style="font-size: 38px; font-weight:bold;"> | | <div style="max-width: 1000px; margin:0 auto;"><div style="text-align:center; padding: 40px 20px 30px;"><div style="font-size: 40px; font-weight:bold;"> |
| Devin Dai | | Devin Dai |
| </div><div style="font-size:20px; margin-top:10px; color:#666;"> | | </div><div style="font-size:22px; margin-top:10px; color:#666;"> |
| 戴非凡 · Feifan Dai | | 戴非凡 · Feifan Dai |
| </div><div style="font-size:18px; margin-top:15px;"> | | </div><div style="font-size:20px; margin-top:18px;"> |
| Artist · Entrepreneur · Founder · Cultural Communicator
| | Founder of Headstone Factory Limited & LovedForever |
| </div></div>'''Devin Dai''' (Chinese: '''戴非凡'''; also known as '''Feifan Dai''') is a Chinese-born entrepreneur, artist, cultural communicator and founder based in New Zealand. | | </div></div> |
|
| |
|
| He is the founder of [[LovedForever]], a digital memorial and life-story platform developed around the idea that every person's life and family story deserves to be preserved.
| | == About == |
| | '''Devin Dai''' (Chinese: '''戴非凡'''; also known as '''Feifan Dai''') is a New Zealand-based entrepreneur and the founder of '''Headstone Factory Limited''' and '''LovedForever.org.nz'''. |
|
| |
|
| Dai has worked across several fields including entrepreneurship, traditional Chinese arts, digital media, cultural exchange and memorial services.
| | His work focuses on memorials, remembrance, family stories and the preservation of memories. |
|
| |
|
| == Early Life and Education == | | == Headstone Factory Limited == |
| Dai was born in 1989 in China. | | '''Headstone Factory Limited''' is a New Zealand memorial company founded by Devin Dai. |
|
| |
|
| He studied at Yangtze University, where he studied urban planning and became involved in student organisations, communications and entrepreneurial activities.
| | The company provides memorial and monumental services, including headstones, memorial inscriptions, restoration and installation. |
|
| |
|
| During his university years, Dai participated in student media and entrepreneurship projects and developed an early interest in business, communication and cultural activities.
| | Through his work in the memorial industry, Dai has worked closely with families who want to create meaningful and lasting memorials for their loved ones. |
|
| |
|
| == Early Entrepreneurship ==
| | This experience led to a broader idea: a person's memory should not be limited to a physical memorial alone. |
| Dai began experimenting with entrepreneurship at a young age.
| |
|
| |
|
| During his teenage years and university period, he participated in a variety of commercial and community projects. While studying at university, he helped establish student entrepreneurship initiatives and later became involved in projects including student-oriented businesses and media activities.
| | A headstone can preserve a name and important dates, but a person's life contains much more — stories, photographs, family history, memories and the experiences shared by the people who knew them. |
| | |
| His early experiences contributed to his later interest in combining business, culture and communication.
| |
| | |
| == Transition to Arts ==
| |
| In 2013, Dai left a government-related career path and moved into the field of traditional Chinese arts.
| |
| | |
| He moved to Yixing, Jiangsu, an important centre of Chinese zisha pottery, and began working in zisha art design and creation.
| |
| | |
| He later studied under Chinese arts and crafts master Ge Jun (葛军).
| |
| | |
| Dai used the artistic name '''Hutuxian''' (壶涂仙) and was associated with the creation and promotion of zisha art and culture.
| |
| | |
| == Zisha Art and Cultural Exchange ==
| |
| Dai's work in zisha art later developed into a broader interest in cultural exchange between China and New Zealand.
| |
| | |
| Public reports describe his participation in China–New Zealand arts and cultural exchange activities and his role in promoting Chinese zisha culture in New Zealand.
| |
| | |
| One notable project involved a series of zisha works inspired by New Zealand's national bird, the kiwi.
| |
| | |
| The project involved children from a New Zealand primary school creating kiwi-themed artwork, which was incorporated into zisha vessels.
| |
| | |
| A related kiwi zisha work was presented as a cultural gift and was reported to have been accepted for permanent collection by members of the Māori Royal Family.
| |
| | |
| == China–New Zealand Cultural Exchange ==
| |
| Dai has participated in activities promoting cultural and artistic exchange between China and New Zealand.
| |
| | |
| In 2019, reports described him as participating in the China–New Zealand Arts and Crafts Education Conference and as receiving recognition connected with China–New Zealand arts and crafts cultural exchange.
| |
| | |
| He also participated in discussions and events involving Chinese zisha artists and Māori artists and cultural representatives.
| |
| | |
| His work during this period focused on using traditional Chinese arts as a medium for cultural communication between the two countries.
| |
| | |
| == New Zealand ==
| |
| In 2018, Dai moved to New Zealand for further study.
| |
| | |
| His public writings describe his decision to study in New Zealand at the age of 30 as an important turning point in his life.
| |
| | |
| Since moving to New Zealand, he has become involved in business, cultural activities and community-oriented projects.
| |
| | |
| == Entrepreneurship in New Zealand ==
| |
| Dai has established and participated in several businesses in New Zealand.
| |
| | |
| He is also the founder, director and shareholder of '''Headstone Factory Limited''', a New Zealand company established in 2024 and operating in the monumental and memorial industry.
| |
| | |
| Headstone Factory provides memorial-related services including headstone manufacturing, memorial installation, inscriptions and related memorial products.
| |
|
| |
|
| == LovedForever == | | == LovedForever == |
| Dai is the founder of '''LovedForever.org.nz''', a digital memorial platform designed to preserve people's lives, stories, memories and family histories.
| | '''LovedForever.org.nz''' is a digital memorial platform founded by Devin Dai. |
|
| |
|
| The concept behind LovedForever developed from Dai's belief that historical records should not be limited to famous individuals. | | The platform was created to provide a place where families and communities can preserve and share the lives, stories, memories and family histories of people. |
|
| |
|
| While traditional encyclopedias and historical publications often focus on notable public figures, ordinary people also have lives, relationships, experiences, photographs and stories that are meaningful to their families and communities.
| | LovedForever is built around a simple idea:<div style="text-align:center; font-size:28px; font-weight:bold; padding:25px;"> |
| | Every Life Deserves to Be Remembered. |
| | </div>The platform combines the concept of a wiki with digital memorials, allowing families and communities to contribute to a person's story over time. |
|
| |
|
| LovedForever was created around the principle:
| | Memorial pages can include: |
| | |
| '''Every Life Deserves to Be Remembered.'''
| |
| | |
| The platform is designed as a memorial wiki where families and communities can create and contribute to memorial pages.
| |
| | |
| A LovedForever memorial may include:
| |
|
| |
|
| * Life stories | | * Life stories |
| Line 87: |
Line 38: |
| * Photographs | | * Photographs |
| * Videos | | * Videos |
| * Personal memories | | * Memories |
| * Tributes | | * Tributes |
| * Important life events | | * Important life events |
| * Cemetery information | | * Cemetery information |
| * Family history | | * Family history |
| * Stories contributed by family and friends | | * Stories from family and friends |
| | |
| The platform also explores the connection between physical memorials and digital memorial pages through QR codes.
| |
| | |
| == Editorial Philosophy ==
| |
| As the founder and Editor-in-Chief of LovedForever, Dai is involved in developing the platform's editorial direction and content principles.
| |
|
| |
|
| The platform aims to create a respectful environment where families can preserve memories while maintaining appropriate privacy and dignity. | | == From Physical Memorials to Digital Memories == |
| | The idea for LovedForever grew from Dai's experience in the memorial industry. |
|
| |
|
| Its broader philosophy is expressed through the concept:
| | Traditional memorials provide a permanent physical place of remembrance. LovedForever extends this idea into the digital world. |
|
| |
|
| '''A Wiki for Every Life.'''
| | The vision is to connect a physical memorial with a digital memorial through technologies such as QR codes. |
|
| |
|
| == Creative and Cultural Interests ==
| | A person may visit a cemetery, scan a QR code on a memorial, and discover not only a name and dates, but also the person's life story, photographs, family history and memories. |
| Dai's work has crossed several areas, including:
| |
| | |
| * Traditional Chinese arts
| |
| * Zisha pottery
| |
| * Entrepreneurship
| |
| * Digital media
| |
| * Cultural exchange
| |
| * Family history
| |
| * Memorial culture
| |
| * Community projects
| |
| * Digital preservation
| |
|
| |
|
| His career reflects an ongoing interest in combining traditional culture with new forms of communication and technology.
| | In this way, a memorial can become a gateway to a much larger story. |
|
| |
|
| == Selected Recognition and Activities == | | == Vision == |
| Publicly available profiles and reports have associated Dai with a number of activities and recognitions, including:
| | Dai's vision for LovedForever is expressed through the phrase:<div style="text-align:center; font-size:26px; font-weight:bold; padding:20px;"> |
| | A Wiki for Every Life. |
| | </div>The purpose is not only to remember famous people. |
|
| |
|
| * 2010 China College Student Self-Improvement Star recognition
| | Every person has a story. |
| * 2011 Hubei Youth Entrepreneurship Model
| |
| * 2011 World University Games Campus Communication Ambassador
| |
| * 2012 Jingzhou Outstanding Young Volunteer
| |
| * Participation in China–New Zealand cultural and arts exchange activities
| |
| * Recognition associated with China–New Zealand arts and crafts cultural exchange
| |
|
| |
|
| == Personal Philosophy ==
| | Every family has memories. |
| Dai has frequently expressed an interest in entrepreneurship, cultural creativity, personal development and building projects with long-term value.
| |
|
| |
|
| A recurring theme in his work has been the belief that traditional culture can be preserved and communicated through new forms of media and technology.
| | Every life can leave something meaningful for future generations. |
|
| |
|
| This idea later became part of the philosophy behind LovedForever: using modern digital technology to preserve stories and memories that might otherwise disappear.
| | LovedForever aims to provide a long-term place where those stories can be preserved and shared. |
|
| |
|
| == See Also == | | == See Also == |
| Line 141: |
Line 73: |
| * [[LovedForever]] | | * [[LovedForever]] |
| * [[Headstone Factory]] | | * [[Headstone Factory]] |
| * [[Digital Memorial]] | | * [[Memorial]] |
| * [[Family History]] | | * [[Family History]] |
| * [[Zisha]]
| | </div> |
| * [[New Zealand–China Cultural Exchange]]
| |
| </div>{{TributeWidget}} | |
Founder of Headstone Factory Limited & LovedForever
About
Devin Dai (Chinese: 戴非凡; also known as Feifan Dai) is a New Zealand-based entrepreneur and the founder of Headstone Factory Limited and LovedForever.org.nz.
His work focuses on memorials, remembrance, family stories and the preservation of memories.
Headstone Factory Limited
Headstone Factory Limited is a New Zealand memorial company founded by Devin Dai.
The company provides memorial and monumental services, including headstones, memorial inscriptions, restoration and installation.
Through his work in the memorial industry, Dai has worked closely with families who want to create meaningful and lasting memorials for their loved ones.
This experience led to a broader idea: a person's memory should not be limited to a physical memorial alone.
A headstone can preserve a name and important dates, but a person's life contains much more — stories, photographs, family history, memories and the experiences shared by the people who knew them.
LovedForever
LovedForever.org.nz is a digital memorial platform founded by Devin Dai.
The platform was created to provide a place where families and communities can preserve and share the lives, stories, memories and family histories of people.
LovedForever is built around a simple idea:
Every Life Deserves to Be Remembered.
The platform combines the concept of a wiki with digital memorials, allowing families and communities to contribute to a person's story over time.
Memorial pages can include:
- Life stories
- Family trees
- Photographs
- Videos
- Memories
- Tributes
- Important life events
- Cemetery information
- Family history
- Stories from family and friends
From Physical Memorials to Digital Memories
The idea for LovedForever grew from Dai's experience in the memorial industry.
Traditional memorials provide a permanent physical place of remembrance. LovedForever extends this idea into the digital world.
The vision is to connect a physical memorial with a digital memorial through technologies such as QR codes.
A person may visit a cemetery, scan a QR code on a memorial, and discover not only a name and dates, but also the person's life story, photographs, family history and memories.
In this way, a memorial can become a gateway to a much larger story.
Vision
Dai's vision for LovedForever is expressed through the phrase:
The purpose is not only to remember famous people.
Every person has a story.
Every family has memories.
Every life can leave something meaningful for future generations.
LovedForever aims to provide a long-term place where those stories can be preserved and shared.
See Also
