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Interview with Khoi Tran Nguyen Bao |
Home > Designer Interviews > Khoi Tran Nguyen Bao |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Khoi Tran Nguyen Bao (KTNB) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Khoi Tran Nguyen Bao 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?
KTNB: I majored in Product Design major at Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture, Vietnam. Before that, I studied art at a college for a few years. I love to draw my thoughts on a blank page; the excitement and also challenge when creating something new that made me become a designer. I think that no career brings more real value to my life than designing.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
KTNB: At present, I do not own a company or a design studio. I am working full time for a big Vietnamese furniture brand.
FS: What is "design" for you?
KTNB: For me, "design" is the way to solve a problem.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
KTNB: I like product design most, especially designs that need their own personality.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
KTNB: There are a few projects I have designed that make me more satisfied than others, a white massage chair designed for the US market is an example. It has furturistic style. It received good feedback from manufacturer and customer.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
KTNB: It's an outdoor furniture collection I designed when I was a student. It gave me a first trip abroad, expanding my design mindset.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
KTNB: I love wood, glossy metal, eco- friendly materials...
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
KTNB: When I am optimistic.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
KTNB: Impressive first look, novel details and usability of the product .
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
KTNB: The excitement and a bit of a rush. I try to catch emotions as quickly as possible.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
KTNB: So very happy.
FS: What makes a design successful?
KTNB: The value it gives to life.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
KTNB: I consider first whether its appearance and functions are suitable for design purpose? Could it bring satisfaction to user?; and its commerciality.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
KTNB: Those are questions that must be given frequently: how to meet customer expectations for products, but the production process is limited in harm to the environment.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
KTNB: I think the "design field" is evolving in a way that is closer to the needs of people than ever before. It increasingly understand the psychology and problems of consumers. The future of design is smart products, more friendly to the environment.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
KTNB: It was 2 years ago at the international fair Vifa Home 2018 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Whether or not my next exhibition will happen depends on whether I can create good designs anymore.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
KTNB: They come from the interesting things I suddenly discovered in life. Reading, drawing, art research; having fun with everyone is how I feed my creativity. My sources of inspirations are curiosity, like to make things different.
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?
KTNB: My design style is aimed at modernity, keeping things as simple but efficient as possible. I like the quote "Less is more". Main characteristics of my style is to combine smooth and coherent lines, eliminating the extra details. My approach to design comes from observing contemporary problems in life and the market research.
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?
KTNB: I live in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. The heritage in my country is not in grandiose architecture or lavish festivals..that is a harmonious combination of cultures living together on an S-shaped territory. I want to incorporate those specific characteristics into meaningful designs. The pros during designing as a result of living in each country is that brings uniqueness to the work and the cons is that I can not leave those features intact, I have to adjust to fit the general design trend in the world.
FS: How do you work with companies?
KTNB: I work full time.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
KTNB: Let designers try their best, don't put too many restrictions in the beginning, do not too urge them. And most importantly, encourage them. I am not sure how can companies select a good designer, as long as good designers match their needs.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
KTNB: It is like the design process of other designers: Read carefully the design requirements, refer to the new design trends, express ideas by hand sketches or computer. Continuous exchange with customers and technicians, make prototype until the production process is formed and running.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
KTNB: I use furniture and decoration designed by myself at home. They're not perfect yet, but I love them: a lounge chair, bookshelf, a bench, working desk and a tea set.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
KTNB: I wake up at 4 a.m. to go to work. Busy goes with me until 4 p.m. A "ca phe da" (Vietnamese traditional coffee) cup on the sidewalk brings to me a little relaxtion after work then going back home to cook dinner. Before sleep, I spend my time on private projects, research or reading.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
KTNB: Hard working, listening and keep the optimism.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
KTNB: Positives: Have wide knowledge base from culture to technology, an interesting personality. Negative: Sometimes the work will follow into sleep.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
KTNB: That's the golden ratio application by my way.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
KTNB: Independent thinking and communication skills.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
KTNB: I use some software as Rhinoceros, Photoshop, Illustrator, Auto Cad..for work. I collect books about art and technology, sometimes they are sources of my inspiration.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
KTNB: I prioritize what can be done first.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
KTNB: It depends on the size of the project.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
KTNB: "Can I see it sooner?" (lol)
FS: What was your most important job experience?
KTNB: Every environment I work in, every project I get gives me different experiences, so it's hard to say which is the most important.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
KTNB: They are manufacturing businesses that need to buy external designs for their plans.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
KTNB: Product design. Because through each project, I learn more lots of knowledge from materials, technology..to human psychology.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
KTNB: I still work in furniture industry and expanding the design scope. The next is a new furniture collection that is reminiscent of Saigon old time.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
KTNB: In daily work, I work as team. For individual projects, I develope my designs myself.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
KTNB: Yes, I'm designing a furniture collection based on "Mekong" idea.
FS: How can people contact you?
KTNB: They can contact me by my email: khoitran5490@gmail.com. I thank for all attention.
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
KTNB: These questions are enough and OK.
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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