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Interview with Iutian Tsai |
Home > Designer Interviews > Iutian Tsai |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Iutian Tsai (IT) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Iutian Tsai 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?
IT: Since I was a child, I found art interesting, at least more interesting than the things taught in school. Later, I discovered that no matter how natural beauty is simulated, it is impossible to replicate the movement contained in a real scene. It turns out that what moved me was the energy I felt in it, it was nature. The abundant energy that touches me is not pure form, so I concentrate on experiencing and feeling those energies that move me, and transform the energy that I feel into a visible form. This is something I am very interested in. Becoming an artist in the eyes of others provides the opportunity to produce large-scale works and share them with more people.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
IT: It has been nearly 20 years since my studio was first established. In the early days, I worked in various media and my projects ranged from graphic design to interior space design. In the past six years, I focused more on public art, and on resolving the psychological challenge of a harmonious interaction between people and the environment.
FS: What is "design" for you?
IT: I think it is to simplify a complicated problem, removing unnecessary clutter, highlighting the most important parts, and inspiring people to reflect.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
IT: I'm very interested in projects where people can change their established ideas through design.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
IT: My work: “Flow With the Spirit of Water” Overall my artworks have a transformative function. I set out to alter the negative charge of an environment by introducing cradles of positive energetic vibrations through the balance, harmony and flow of my sculptures. Often community environments are polluted by the inter- and intrapersonal dissonances of their inhabitants which results in visible and invisible chaos in the surroundings. The unconscious effect of this disorder is that inhabitants regress into restlessness. This habitual and cyclical agitation influences body, mind and spirit. My series of work, “Flow with the spirit of water”, aim to guide, groom, purify and strengthen the positive “chi” of a space, focusing on pleasant and peaceful outcomes. With a subtle shift in their environment, the public is then guided towards a balance between their inner and external realities, and are allowed to rest there.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
IT: LOGO , CIS.（Company Identify system）
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
IT: Natural material, and handmade craft.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
IT: Mornings and evenings inspire me the most. I take a walk in the forest and observe the changing of light, temperature, smell, sound and etc...
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
IT: What problem must be solved? How can it be resolved? Is it instructive?
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
IT: I feel a sense of flow.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
IT: I feel love.
FS: What makes a design successful?
IT: When it solves important problems, solves it beautifully, and if at the same time it can be enlightening.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
IT: I will consider whether this design inspire people and the environment or not.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
IT: To find important problems, solve them beautifully, and at the same time enlighten people to pay attention and to love.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
IT: I think the future of the design field is to continue to highlight important issues in life, make complex life simple, and make people focus on a better life.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
IT: 2020 ART Taipei Oct.23~26 Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall 1 No.5, Sec. 5, Xinyi Rd., Xinyi Dist., Taipei City 110, Taiwan In 2021 I will take part in MAISON & OBJET in Paris, France.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
IT: I feel relaxed in nature and easily inspired by the energy of nature, therefore my creativity is more focused on the transformation of energy.
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?
IT: I explore the various forms of nature's energy, penetrate the inner energy of outer appearances, and bring intangible forms to the fore.
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?
IT: Since I live in Taiwan, Chinese philosophy has had a great impact on me, especially in lao zi , zhuang zi and Buddhist culture. I majored in Chinese brush painting in university, so I had absorbed the aesthetics of Chinese art works. The material of my sculptures is stainless steel. My works combine western form and east spirit.
FS: How do you work with companies?
IT: It depends on the case how I cooperate with different companies.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
IT: It is important to reach a consensus thorough communication, to determine what problem must be solved. How will it be resolved? Will it be instructive? Also, all parties must try to collaborate on the case..
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
IT: First I try to understand the key or problem to be dealt with, then clarify how to present it, try to consider it from multiple angles, and simulate the effect of the finished product.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
IT: Computer, table, chair, bed, lamp.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
IT: I will meditate once I get up, and I spend time companying with my kids. If I have time, I will take a walk to the forest nearby my house or to the old town in order to look for ideas.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
IT: Feel the moving energy in life, find out which problems you want to solve, make complex life simple, and help people focus on a better life.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
IT: The positive of being a designer is the opportunity to change the world, the negative is the possibility of not being able to achieve it.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
IT: Focus on solving important problems, solving it beautifully, and at the same time aim to inspire.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
IT: The ability to feel 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.?
IT: The tools I use the most is pencils and paper. The only book I leave on the desk is diamond sutra.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
IT: I am the type who can focus very easily. I don’t have problems about managing time.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
IT: It depends on the client.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
IT: How much does it cost?
FS: What was your most important job experience?
IT: Community empowerment. I strongly felt the connection between people and the earth at that time. This kind of life experience will help us to find the roots of lives.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
IT: Construction companies, entrepreneurs, and the government.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
IT: Public art works. Public art works are bigger scale than other art forms. As I am thinking the aesthetic, I also have to consider how the works interact with the environment. There are many challenges to involve in creating public art works.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
IT: Through my energy art, more people will notice the connection between natural energy and humanity, it will change people’s views on life, and hopefully change the world for the better.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
IT: I complete the sketches, then the team executes the finished product.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
IT: My team members and I are making a series of art furniture with the theme The Energy of Formosa, and it is arranged to be exhibited in Paris. I look forward to your response and hope you will like it.
FS: How can people contact you?
IT: my E-mail: iutianqa@gmail.com
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
IT: 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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