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Interview with Xianou Ni |
Home > Designer Interviews > Xianou Ni |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Xianou Ni (XN) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Xianou Ni 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?
XN: I studied in Industrial design in BA and MA in China Academy .later after teaching in an university I decided to go abroad to study more about Art and Design.I studied my ND course in jewellery and MA course in school of jewellery ,BCU,UK from 2004 to 2007. After my graduation, i was an artist-in-residence in London MET and also set up my workshop in Harton Garden ,London.now I am teaching and continue my workshop in Hangzhou China. I like art and design both as these keep your soul happyness and freedom all the time. Through this way you can share your wisdom and passion with other people from the world , which make me feel happy.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
XN: I set up my workshp in 2007 ,with my name :Michelle Ni. In one way I make my art work by myself and produce some limited edition works . on anther way I design some work and manufatured , sell my work in Design store and jewellery galleries.
FS: What is "design" for you?
XN: For me . Design is a way to tell how you think about the life style should be. In design process you can pick up any fresh idea from your experance ,which excited you, make more thinking for the furture.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
XN: about spacial design,such as vessel, sculpture, clothes, jewellery.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
XN: a lots. such as Alessi design, droog design,philippe Starck design lemon press,etc.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
XN: electric iron
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
XN: metal.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
XN: anytime could be, aslong as you feel relax .
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
XN: interest nature
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
XN: free , relaxed,concentrate
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
XN: happy,exciting
FS: What makes a design successful?
XN: persist in an idea and keep trying.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
XN: form ,quality.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
XN: environmental awareness and Morel value through the work.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
XN: diversified and hommization. the future deign worls be more individual.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
XN: 2017 Beijing International Jewellery Art Exhibition,China.Schmuck,Munich
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
XN: my inspiration is from Deconstrucion Achitecture. I feel more and more freely by this way ,with deconstructing more traditional chinese elements,daily objects.
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?
XN: simple and complicated.in deconstruction idea, reinterpreting the structure, my work talk about the relationship between material and technology to express my purpose of creation.
FS: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
XN: I live in Hangzhou,where I am teaching in China Academy of Arts.yes,I get lots of inspiration from my culture.You cant get very flesh information about the art and design current in the world and you cant slip the leash from the old culture if you live in the country and never go out for a look.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
XN: Most time I always keep a sketch book and iphone with me . I could get any idea everywhere,on the train ,in hotel or in restaraunt ,i take photos and draw out on my sketch.From the sketch, I try to make 3d model with metal(sometime with copper sometime with silver directly),during making ,I try to find out which is the best material, form, technique for the design ,somtime keep remaking until I feel everything is in right place in the piece.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
XN: you need focus on your design career if you want to be a good designer,even though it is hard to carry on because lots of people round you would not undersand your work that you need enough confidence , try the best to show your talent ,it may takes long time, five years,ten years even more.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
XN: you can keep an eye to the daily life , sensitive to the beauty and function.your soul always young when you are a designer. on another side, your thinking should be individuality that sometime you need keep lonly.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
XN: eunique
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
XN: sketch, making skill,good comunication with your customers.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
XN: sketch book,camera, phone.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
XN: you could design anytime or anywhere, so I always like go out for traveling ,meet with friends ,then when i feel ready to manage my time to make my design in my workshop.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
XN: sometime ten days,sometime one month.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
XN: inspiration
FS: What was your most important job experience?
XN: used to be a product designer.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
XN: hign educationed people, artist,designer.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
XN: I like to design and make table ware as it relates space, relates the form and the function, and i relates the metal making skill,which is a challenge to me.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
XN: I carry on my current jewellery design and go further with my design philosophy.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
XN: I with my assitant.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
XN: currently I design jewellery with chinese element into the modern style.
FS: How can people contact you?
XN: wechat ,QQ
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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