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Interview with Elbert Han |
Home > Designer Interviews > Elbert Han |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Elbert Han (EH) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Elbert Han by clicking here.
FS: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
EH: I became an artist because I've always had an interest in drawing and thinking up designs.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
EH: My design studio works in industrial design and specializes in jewelry and watches.
FS: What is "design" for you?
EH: Design is creating a work that not only serves its function well but is aesthetically pleasing and invites the viewer to take a closer look at how the design works.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
EH: I like designing work that can be worn by others. Art should be shared, not kept in a glass case, and wearable jewelry symbolizes this ideal of spreading art.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
EH: The first thing I designed was a tension-set sapphire ring that was 3D printed in stainless steel.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
EH: My favorite platform is Google Sketchup because it is intuitive, easy to use, and functions perfectly well for my needs.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
EH: I feel the most creative at night when I have no other distractions and I am free to let my mind wander and wrap itself around any idea that comes into my head.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
EH: I focus on functionality and aesthetics the most during designing. I want the product to match the aesthetic qualities that I want but also to function as it's supposed to.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
EH: I feel happiness and accomplishment when my designs are realized because then I know that my ideas worked as they should and that what I envisioned in my mind has become reality.
FS: What makes a design successful?
EH: I think a successful design first and foremost does its job well, and second, appeals to the aesthetic vision of many viewers.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
EH: I consider functionality, reliability, and aesthetic value.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
EH: I think the responsibility of a designer is to create a design that appeals to the members of society or positively impacts them.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
EH: My sources of inspiration include sports cars, speed boats, and other vehicle concepts, as well as certain animals and old industrial technology.
FS: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
EH: My design style largely works with sharp lines and angles, which derive from my interest in math and geometry. I feel that they give a design definition where natural lines can blur with the surroundings, and that allows the design to stand out.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
EH: I begin with sketches in my sketchbook, and begin finalizing the shape and structure that I want. Then I transfer to Sketchup and create the final structure, altering the design to fit any constraints or problems that I may encounter. Finally, I check over my design and make sure it is technically sound and think of the problems that may occur with the design, and attempt to remedy those.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
EH: Though I am also a young designer, I've gained valuable experience from this competition. Though there have been many who have disregarded my design as too conservative, my award serves as a reminder to listen to yourself and follow your dreams.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
EH: Function over form. Never sacrifice a product's function to achieve a good looking product.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
EH: Imagination and visualization are two of the most important skills. Imagination allows a designer to see a new angle to an old problem and make their unique contribution. Visualization allows a designer to see their design in 3D space and see where problems could occur as well as seeing the whole picture.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
EH: I use Google Sketchup, Rhino, Solidworks, and Keyshot renderer.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
EH: I usually allocate an hour or two a day to just imagining and sketching ideas
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
EH: It depends on the complexity of the design. For jewelry that doesn't have many technical features, 1-2 weeks is plenty of time to finish the design. For something more complicated like a watch, it can take anywhere from a month to 3 months.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
EH: I plan to take a few of my designs to large-scale production and sell them, as well as getting publicity from this competition.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
EH: I develop my designs myself, but sometimes I get input or inspiration from my friends and mentors.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
EH: I am currently trying to design a watch that displays the time by means of two magnetic "carriages" that take the place of hands, altering the way one reads the time.
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A’ Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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