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Interview with Bin Liu |
Home > Designer Interviews > Bin Liu |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Bin Liu (BL) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Bin Liu 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 had studied art systematically when I was an environmental art design major in university. In my early years of working, I followed several internationally renowned interior designers who had influenced me a lot. The one who had influenced me the most is a Taiwanese designer Zhou Yi. I am deeply influenced by both his design works and the attitude towards design. Designer is just a job for me at first. As time went by, I started to love this profession. I find that designer is a very interesting profession, because I can realize my idea in a short time. When I have a new idea, it only takes a few months to turn it into reality, which is very interesting. I didn't want to be a designer at the beginning, but after working as a designer, I fell in love with this profession.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
BL: Lude Design is a professional design company with a history of 15 years. In the early years, we mainly focused on restaurant design. In the recent decade, our company mainly designed for health clubs in China. The company advocates the design concept of advancing with the times, so innovation is our main pursuit.
FS: What is "design" for you?
BL: In my opinion, design is a process of excavating potential customers and showing ideals and pursuits for client. What I designed are all commercial space, so helping clients achieve profitability is one of my most important focuses. Therefore, in addition to designing a beautiful and practical space, I also assist clients in making strategies to help them achieve profitable goals. This is where Lude Design is different from many other design companies.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
BL: I like all the challenging projects.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
BL: Fuchun Resort in Hangzhou is one of my favorite designs. It is low-key, peaceful, quiet but full of content. It has been tested by the market for nearly 20 years. Even visited now, it will still give visitors a very comfortable experience.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
BL: The first project I designed is Nanana Spa Club, which is located in Hangzhou, China. It is still there now and it seems never outdated.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
BL: I like some natural materials, such as stone and wood, because they always give people a very friendly and natural feeling.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
BL: I usually feel the most creative in the early morning or evening.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
BL: It is layout plan and lighting design.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
BL: When designing, I will imagine myself walking into this space and feeling everything around me in this space, including forms, materials, lights, etc.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
BL: Every time I go to the final acceptance of the design works, I am always grateful for clients’ recognition, and thankful for all the hard-working workers. With the completion of each design work, I can always be friends with the clients and the workers, which is the part I like the most.
FS: What makes a design successful?
BL: The client's recognition of design and one hundred percent of hard work are the core elements of a successful design.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
BL: I think that a good design must first be beautiful and comfortable for users. Regarding commercial space, profitability is also a very important aspect.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
BL: I think designers have a responsibility to design more positive works for the society, and do more designs that are full of love for society and humanistic care. Designers also have the responsibility to design more environmentally friendly projects, which are full of good intentions for the future.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
BL: Only when there is a change in social needs will there be a design. Future design is also a process of constantly inspiring and meeting people's needs.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
BL: I rarely participate in exhibitions.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
BL: Many things in life can inspire me, such as a picture, or a trip. So, all I have to do is living a serious life and feeling life attentively.
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: I will describe my design as modern Zen style. Zen always give people a peaceful and comfortable feeling, which is a major design orientation in health clubs. I prefer to design my space with some decorative materials from nature, such as stone, wood, water and plants. At the same time, in my design, I tend to weaken the design of the top surface and the ground. They only need to have the basic functions. However, I emphasize more the design of wall, because I wish the users can feel the beauty of space in a more natural and peaceful state, without looking up or down.
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: I live in the ancient, beautiful and wealthy city, Hangzhou, China. Hangzhou is a beautiful and rich city with more than 1,000 years of cultural history. The humanistic history has deeply influenced my design. I believe that people are more likely to produce beautiful ideas in a beautiful environment, so I am very happy that I live in such a beautiful city.
FS: How do you work with companies?
BL: The company does not have too many requirements for me in design. As long as the client is satisfied with my design, the company will be very satisfied. This is also a kind of cooperation state that I prefer.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
BL: I think freedom is the most important prerequisite for cooperation. It is only under such prerequisites that it is easier for designers to design some excellent works. I think the difference between people is not very big, the biggest difference comes from the training afterwards. Therefore, it is better to cultivate some excellent designers than keeping selecting some excellent designers.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
BL: I have been engaged in design work for almost 20 years and completed bout 600 projects. In general, this is a happy process full of gains.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
BL: They are chair, bookcase, kettle, shoes and wine bottle.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
BL: I often get up at 6 o'clock and do exercise for an hour at the riverside, then I send my child to school, and go to work at 8 o'clock. In the working time, I mainly deal with various construction problems of projects and communicate with colleagues on design issues. I go home from work at 6 p.m.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
BL: I want to tell young designers that design is a cumulative process. What’s more, design is not only about imagination, it requires us to love life and observe everything around us carefully to design a good work.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
BL: First of all, design is a very hard process, which requires repeated consideration and modification. At the same time, design is also a process of service. We not only serve our clients, but also the end users of space. Therefore, designing is a very complicated job, which requires a lot of professional knowledge and needs to deal with a variety of personnel and materials. On the other hand, it is also a challenging and rewarding process.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
BL: My most important golden rules in design are reasonable function, proper use of materials and accurate lighting atmosphere.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
BL: One of the most important skills for a designer is to practice a pair of eyes that distinguish between beauty and ugliness.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
BL: In the early year, I used many tools, but very few tools are used now. A computer and a mobile phone are enough.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
BL: With a good inspiration, I start from the most complicated and difficult part. Without a good inspiration, I start from the most basic and simple part. This enable me completing the design as quickly and best as possible.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
BL: It takes four to six months.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
BL: The most frequently asked question is: how much does your design cost per square?
FS: What was your most important job experience?
BL: Designing Nanana Spa Club is the most important design experience in my professional life. Through the design of this project, I have the opportunity to encounter the health club industry. It is this project that makes me well known in China.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
BL: Some of my clients are Gold Feet Bay, Nanana, ZBJ Healthy Foot, Jiangnan Story and Shizudao.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
BL: I enjoy concise but not simple design. Because such a design allows people to return to the most essential pursuit of life, and it can leave the maximum blank space for people to imagine and fill.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
BL: Affected by the epidemic this year, the majority of industries have been severely affected. I hope that I can design some works that are more convenient and in line with the needs of the times. I have new works almost every month. When the new works come out, I will share them with you.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
BL: In my company, I’m responsible for creativity and coordination. Some basic drawing work is done by the team.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
BL: I am designing for a SPA brand called Saina Spa located in Wuhan. I value and cherish this design opportunity very much.
FS: How can people contact you?
BL: People can contact me by our website www.ludezs.com
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
BL: At last, I would like to say that I am very grateful for the recognition of A design award this time. I am also very grateful for every colleague and friend who paid for Gold Feet Bay project. thank you! At the same time, I also hope that the friendly Italian people will soon get out of the epidemic and return to happy life! Looking forward to a trip to Italy!
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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