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Interview with Benny Leung |
Home > Designer Interviews > Benny Leung |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Benny Leung (BL) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Benny Leung 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?
BL: I actually studied computer animation and started my career at an animation studio 16 years ago in Hong Kong. Throughout my work experience, I've encounter different style/types of design which open my eyes to different possibilities. It strives me to design and communicate using a multimedia platform. I have always wanted to be involved with arts and design because I'm always interested to find different creative ways to communicate a message, or a story to others.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
BL: BLCH. is a creative studio that believes in telling a good story. BLCH is committed to originality, quality, and compelling a great story. Each story is fuel from original ideas that change each word and image for the perfect creative solution. We believe stories can take us everywhere from backwards, forwards, and happenings during the present time while transporting us through many different places and situations we might never dream of. We as the storytellers create an atmosphere in which anything is possible. This special energy enables us to visualise and express the many different ideas that create the strong and inspirational relationship between the good companies with their customers.
FS: What is "design" for you?
BL: A creative way of using our different senses to communicate with others.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
BL: I like to be involved with multimedia works where you can try to use different types of format to communicate the story.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
BL: I don't have one yet.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
BL: A walkcycle animation of 3 different types of shoes for a TVC.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
BL: A computer
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
BL: between 4 am - 8 am
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
BL: Trying to get the overall framework and then work into the details.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
BL: energized and anxious to see how every little process adds to the final result.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
BL: tired.
FS: What makes a design successful?
BL: if you can connect with a person.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
BL: Does it communicate with me personally first.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
BL: within your power, try to improve on something and/or it creates a small conversation
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
BL: I think it is evolving into being more multimedia. More designers will acquire different skills and trying to combine them into their work.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
BL: Never held one. Will want to have one in the near future.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
BL: Just trying to pay attention to everything around me.
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?
BL: Try to be minimal but still expressive because there is so many things going on in the world. Our attention span is very little. So if we keep a minimalistic style, it might actually stand out and be more expressive.
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?
BL: Hong Kong & Canada. I think this combination gives me a balance of both world and can explore the difference of culture in both.
FS: How do you work with companies?
BL: For commercial works: Get their briefs / let it sink it / develop an idea and give them a first draft / We telling them why we did this and have their comments / 2nd draft / comments / final product
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
BL: Give a designer time to explore. A company can select a good designer by seeing if they have a voice (something they want to express) or a unique angle in their work.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
BL: 1) Try to procrastinate for a little bit in the beginning to get different ideas flowing2) Write the ideas that sticks longer down on paper.3) Initial exploration on the feasibility of each idea4) Move with the concept that feels the best5) Do it.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
BL: Macbook Pro / Pen & Paper / Animation Survival Kit (book) / deck of cards / tablet
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
BL: Wake up / breakfast (Sometimes) / work / take a walking break / work a little bit more / then occasional HH with frds
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
BL: Don't be afraid in doing more at the beginning. They are all great experience that will make you grow faster.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
BL: Positive - you can use your creativity to create something nice and share an angle.Negative - finding clients that allow you to actually be a designer.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
BL: Just do it. Visualize the idea.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
BL: storytelling
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
BL: Adobe Suite, Macbook Pro, internet, a walk
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
BL: Keep telling yourself that you need a break in order to have a fresh mind to continue.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
BL: It varies. can be a day or can be weeks.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
BL: Can you help me design something for free.
FS: What was your most important job experience?
BL: Working at a studio called Sillything. They gave me the freedom to explore, learn and try new things.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
BL: Pernod Ricard, JOYCE, Lane Crawford, Puma, HKTDC, etc.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
BL: I like looking at posters & video to see how people can share the same information using a still frame or a bunch of moving frames
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
BL: Trying to work more on personal projects and create an exhibition
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
BL: Different projects have different setup. But for me it is always good to spend some time to work on some stuff on your own first and then share it with a team to collaborate.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
BL: Not at this moment
FS: How can people contact you?
BL: benny@blch.co
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
BL: No
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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