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Interview with Rui Ma |
Home > Designer Interviews > Rui Ma |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Rui Ma (RM) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Rui Ma 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?
RM: I started drawing and painting when I was five. I have always wanted to be an artist and designer. Sometimes I wish to be a fashion designer or a film director.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
RM: With an MFA degree in design, I focus on graphic design, art direction, branding, illustration, digital design, print design, and experiential design, etc. I also have a passion for photography and fashion. My work incorporates bold, dynamic typography and illustration, along with energetic colors. I started my career in New York City and decided to move to Los Angeles years ago, I gained years of design experience in both cities. I have created work for a variety of clients including Google, Apple, Shopify, Facebook, Sundance Film Festival, PepsiCo, Stella Artois, and many more. My work is featured on Creative Boom, Print Magazine, IdN World, Mindsparkle Magazine, and World Brand Design Society, We And The Color, Design & Paper, etc.
FS: What is "design" for you?
RM: Design changes people‘s life, especially when it with technology. And design helps solve problems and change the world.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
RM: Branding, Typography, and Illustration.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
RM: The award-winning design "Eight Ways to Protect Biodiversity" posters. This is a series of poster designs created to raise the awareness of conserving biodiversity and encourage everyone to protect our world and environment.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
RM: I like prints, I think print will never die. A lot of great designs can only be seen by print technology, like 3D books and paper art. Of course, nowadays I’d say digital platforms are important as well, like social media. I get inspired from the internet every day.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
RM: It could happen at any time. Maybe it’s when I watch a movie, listen to a song, or talk to a friend.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
RM: Ideation and details.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
RM: Energetic.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
RM: Glad and proud.
FS: What makes a design successful?
RM: Innovation, uniqueness, and details.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
RM: Ideation and aesthetic.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
RM: Create aesthetic designs, help solve problems and change the world.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
RM: The future of design is relying on people and technology.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
RM: It was during Oct 18-Nov 1, 2021, in Istanbul, Turkey.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
RM: To me, sometimes life is an experience of learning. I learn from people and things, so I get a lot of inspiration from daily life, sometimes it is a song, sometimes it is a movie or a book, or a conversation with a friend, or even an emotion or a dream. I always write it down when a thought comes to my mind, even sometimes it is random, but later this random thought could become a contribution to my next work/project.
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?
RM: I don’t think I have a certain style because I don’t want to limit mycreativitywhenIdesign, but I like dynamic and colorful designs that would make people happy when they see it, of course, the design with meaningful and functional thoughts behind it at the same time. I like to follow trends but not follow trends. It is always good to learn what good design and art are in the latest trends but it is also really important to keep my work different and unique.
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?
RM: I live in Los Angeles, California. I like how the art design culture is mixed here in the US. I always get inspired by designs from different culture.
FS: How do you work with companies?
RM: I like working independently but also as a team player.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
RM: Be honest to let the designers know what exact work you are looking for from them. Let them know when you appreciate their work.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
RM: I like to get inspired and brainstorm first before executing the work. Have a deep level of understanding of the problem I am solving and define the best solution.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
RM: Apple laptop, iPhone, iPad, Wacom Tablet, Dyson Hair Dryer.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
RM: A morning coffee and get inspired from life.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
RM: Get inspired, work hard, stay curious.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
RM: The belief of being a designer could help people and the world always makes me positive. Negatives might be sometimes it is hard to balance work and life. And the balance of life and work is really important for being creative.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
RM: Never right align type.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
RM: Think before design.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
RM: Adobe Creative Suite. I like get inspiration from the internet, such as Behance, Designspiration, Pinterest etc.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
RM: Create a plan on how many hours I put on searching inspirations and crafting the design. Be focused and be efficient.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
RM: It varies, it can be a day or months.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
RM: “ Can I see your work?” :)
FS: What was your most important job experience?
RM: When I started my career in NYC, I worked with a lot of very talented and creative people. The experience taught me a lot. That was the most valuable work experience I had.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
RM: Google, Facebook, Apple, Sundance Film Festival, Shopify, Netflix, The North Face, PepsiCo, Stella Artois, SBE Entertainment Group, Patron, YAHOO! Sports, etc.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
RM: Designs that have a great concept and make me think about it for a second time.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
RM: My future plan is always to create good designs. Helping brands, companies, people, and the world through visual design is always the goal.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
RM: I like working independently but also with other team members like creative directors, copywriters, and strategists, etc.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
RM: I have been creating a series of digital illustrations based on my daily life.
FS: How can people contact you?
RM: My website, ruimadesign.com
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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