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Interview with Fangyong Xie |
Home > Designer Interviews > Fangyong Xie |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Fangyong Xie (FX) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Fangyong Xie 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?
FX: I’ve been studying art for 8 years. In the middle school I took over the design of various posters and blackboards. My career as a designer starts from 3D drawing. I have never thought of being a designer before.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
FX: Based in Shanghai, China, HD International Design is an interior practice with more than a decade of experiences in the industry. The firm offers customized design service for top villas, boutique apartments, and restaurants. It has gained reputation by the high-quality design service. HD is the abbreviation of Hong Dian, Hong means spring water and Dian means drops, which implies continuous inspiration.
FS: What is "design" for you?
FX: For interior design, design is to solve problems, especially the design of villas. Each client has completely different needs. And there are contradictions between various room types and needs. So, solving problems and integrating art is the most important thing for design. For me, design is to realize the owner's dream of home.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
FX: I like works that are emotional and close to life. In terms of style, I like to combine traditional Chinese elements with modern design techniques.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
FX: I like the work of Tadao Ando, who is in line with the humble and elegant temperament of the Orientals.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
FX: We mainly design private house, and occasionally do commercial space design. The first commercial design is an urban renovation project in Shanghai, which is a creative office space transformed from an old factory building.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
FX: I like wood very much, especially traditional carpenter techniques such as Chinese traditional tenon and mortise, and I like pinterest in which I can find a lot of inspiration.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
FX: When it is quiet at night, I feel the most creative.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
FX: The first is functionality and rationality, and the second is aesthetics.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
FX: When design, my emotion is generally a process from meditation to anxiety and then meditation, which is ultimately a pleasant process.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
FX: If I meet with supportive Party A and complete the work with me, I feel very lucky and happy; however, if I meet Party A who does not support my ideas, the whole process may be very painful. Anyway, when the project is completed, I always feel happy.
FS: What makes a design successful?
FX: Four factors make a design successful. They are excellent environment, excellent party A, excellent design ideas and excellent construction team.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
FX: I will consider the following aspects: reasonable function, cultural integration, beautiful space, comfortable lighting, perfect details and symbiosis with the environment.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
FX: I think designers’ responsibilities include designing a good work which brings happiness to users, paying attention to healthy living environment, advocating urban renewal and reducing waste in reconstruction.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
FX: The design of private houses in China evolves from luxury to minimalism to deconstruction. The aesthetics of Chinese consumers are changing. Future designs should be more and more superficial.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
FX: I often visit some international exhibitions, such as Milan Design Week, Cologne Exhibition, High Point Exhibition, etc.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
FX: My inspiration comes from the usual experience and a lot of learning from the design ideas of the predecessors and masters. Constant traveling, perception, and thinking are important ways to maintain creativity.
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?
FX: My design features oriental temperament, because of my preference on traditional Chinese culture. This style has some main features: it is oriental charm combined with modern techniques and new materials, at the same time it is harmonious, and everything is very integrated. I really like to use the method of unifying the first contrast the second, and I also like the techniques of displaying, borrowing scenery, and winding paths.
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?
FX: I live in Shanghai. Chinese culture and Chinese architecture have a great influence on me, and even the Shanghai style culture has a very deep influence on me. The influence of the living environment on people from a young age is deep in the bone, affecting human temperament and thinking.
FS: How do you work with companies?
FX: I am one of the founders of HD Design, and I am mainly responsible for design management in the company.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
FX: I think the relationship between the company and designer is a bit like the relationship between the law firm and the lawyer. The company is only a platform, and the designer is the most critical. Choosing a designer mainly depends on his learning and work experience, as well as whether the values are similar to the company.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
FX: My design process mainly includes communicating and understanding the needs, transformation plan, style determination, creative design and construction drawings.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
FX: My favorite design items at home are partition, stairs, bar, long table and lamps.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
FX: In my typical day, I get up, communicate with my assistant on work, go to the construction site or building materials market, and go home at night to think about project plan.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
FX: I have four suggestions: 1. Follow a good teacher and enter a good platform; 2. Have a respect for the profession of designer and client’s trust; 3. Life and experience are design teachers, so a good designer must be good at observation and summary; 4 All good projects come from inspiration to constant scrutiny, and a good designer must strive for excellence.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
FX: The positive side is that when a work I design win the recognition from the owner, I have a sense of accomplishment. The negative side is that I have sacrificed a lot of time to spend with my family.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
FX: Function is the first.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
FX: The ability to discover beauty and find inspiration and regularity.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
FX: I used IPAD, pencil, 3DMAX, CAD and SketchUp.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
FX: I deal with office affairs in the morning, go to the construction site in the afternoon to find inspiration, and think about plans at night. I’m calmer at night.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
FX: It takes more than 6 months.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
FX: How much is the design cost per square meter?
FS: What was your most important job experience?
FX: My most important job experience is in Xiao Shi Design.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
FX: Because my clients are villa’s owner, I can’t tell you the name for privacy.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
FX: I like works with Chinese temperament because I love Chinese culture.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
FX: My future goal is to make our team better, cultivate more excellent talents, and give them opportunities. There are several villas in the future.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
FX: I work as a team.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
FX: Because my designs are villas, I can’t tell you too much of the design details for privacy.
FS: How can people contact you?
FX: You can contact me by my email 252719401@qq.com.
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
FX: Not any more, all I want to share with you has been covered by the questions above.
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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