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Interview with Ran Zhou |
Home > Designer Interviews > Ran Zhou |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Ran Zhou (RZ) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Ran Zhou 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?
RZ: I completed a bachelor's degree in industrial design at Northeastern University, where I learned the basic knowledge and required skills of industrial design, and carried out some conceptual project design, mainly focusing on product design in the field of medical health. My yearning for designers stems from my expectation for a better society. I think designers have meaning and ability to conceive and create a better society and life. This is my motivation to study hard in design. I started to study design from the university, understand design, and slowly cultivate my interest in design. Until now, I still continue to understand and love this cause.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
RZ: I come from the industrial design studio of Northeastern University. We are engaged in product design related work. In particular, we also understand the design of large instruments, such as traditional machine tools.
FS: What is "design" for you?
RZ: Design is to solve the problem, to find a win-win point between the user experience, technical feasibility and commercial profit.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
RZ: I like works that have a sense of social responsibility, earnestly understand the problems encountered by society, and put forward creative ideas.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
RZ: I like Naoto Fukasawa. Diet Rams thinks about design. They try to understand what people really need and express them plainly.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
RZ: I am still studying for a master's degree and haven't started working yet
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
RZ: I really like the translucent silicone material, it has a strong plasticity in vision and touch.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
RZ: Before the deadline.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
RZ: The innovation of the design and whether it really solves the problem.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
RZ: Different periods of time will have different emotions, happy, excited, troubled, sad.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
RZ: Of course it was very, very happy and moved
FS: What makes a design successful?
RZ: Sensitive user insight, accurate grasp of the market, and in-depth understanding of emerging technologies.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
RZ: Whether the problem is really solved, and whether the way to solve the problem is simple.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
RZ: Designers should strive to express their understanding of society and the environment with their own designs, and should even try to improve it.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
RZ: I can't clearly see the future of design. But I think the future of design will include more possibilities.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
RZ: In China, it is my bachelor's degree design exhibition, and the next time has not been determined
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
RZ: It mainly comes from communication with users and communication with them. I often watch new projects made by designers, and also listen to some designer lectures. My inspiration often comes from users of the products I design. I like to proceed with my design based on their habits and needs.
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?
RZ: My design is simple, clean, and often carries macro social issues. I like to start with a big social problem, find one or two key pain points, and optimize it.
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?
RZ: I came to Germany last year to study, but most of the time I was in China. China's long history and culture give me more design possibilities, but the disadvantage is that China's industrial product design history is not long.
FS: How do you work with companies?
RZ: I am studying for graduate school and have not yet started work.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
RZ: I am studying for graduate school and have not yet started work.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
RZ: My design usually takes a long time to investigate and understand what problem I want to solve. Then there is the way of brainstorming, choose one or two to experiment. Then through continuous experiments to improve their own plans, and finally determine the final plan.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
RZ: Computer, mobile phone, ipad,
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
RZ: During the day, I usually go to classes, complete homework and projects, and at night I often do some design skills training and call my girlfriend.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
RZ: I'm sorry, I can't give any advice because I am still a young designer.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
RZ: The designer's job is a socially responsible job, but sometimes there is a lot of pressure.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
RZ: Be critical of your own design
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
RZ: Ability to observe, understand and express.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
RZ: Mainly 2d, 3d, and rendering software.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
RZ: Focus, do only one thing at a time, and list the things to do.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
RZ: 3-6 months, but the late correction has been continuous.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
RZ: Can this solution really solve the problem? Is he really effective?
FS: What was your most important job experience?
RZ: It is a pity that I have not officially entered the work. But soon, I will have work experience.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
RZ: I do n’t have any customers yet and I ’m still creating conceptual products.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
RZ: I like the design of medical products the most. On the one hand, because these products have great significance, they can save people's lives. On the other hand, these products are often completely rational. They are indeed based on the market, users, and technology.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
RZ: I will complete graduate studies at the Kiel School of Design and Art in Germany.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
RZ: Both cases
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
RZ: I am currently designing a mask. Viruses around the world make masks very important. I hope to improve the breathing conditions when wearing masks.
FS: How can people contact you?
RZ: My email is zhouran1996@gmail.com My Insgram is ran Z.
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
RZ: No,thanks.
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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