Designer Interview

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Interview with Wong Hok Pan, Sam at Tuesday 15th of April 2014

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?
WHPS: I am graduated from BA(Hons) in Design (Industrial & Product Design) from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, School of Design 2013. My aspiration is not become a designer when i was a child. I have no clear direction what should i study after i graduated in high school. With many reasons, finally i study a higher diploma in product innovation & technology from POLYU for two years. Within this two years i find that i start to get interested in design as it is different from other subject, it has no fixed answer. After two years, i successfully go in degree program BA(Hons) in Design (Industrial & Product Design) from POLYU and studied three years. I grow up a lot on thinking , communication skills, visualization skills, form language handling ,etc. Most importent is it is the first sterp for me to understand how to be a designer that can contribute to the society.

FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
WHPS: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design PolyU has been an important hub of design education and research for Hong Kong since 1964. Providing design education from undergraduate to postgraduate levels, the School is ranked the first in Asia among the top 25 in the world by Business Insider. Its Master of Design (Design Strategies) program was rated by the BusinessWeek among the world’s best “design thinking programs PolyU Design’s specialisms include advertising, environment and interior design, product design, communication design, interactive and digital media. Programs are offered at higher diploma, bachelor, master, and PhD levels. Research has been a cornerstone of PolyU Design, which tops productivity in academic journals in Asia according to a preliminary study led by TU Delft and PolyU. The year of 2013 sets a major milestone in the development of PolyU Design as its relocation to the Jockey Club Innovation Tower which fosters multi-disciplinary studies and collaboration. The building is Hong Kong’s first permanent architecture designed by Pritzker Prize award winner Zaha Hadid. Famous designers who graduated from PolyU Design include Raman Hui (Animation), Vivienne Tam (Fashion), and Lee Chi Wing (Product and Branding), among others.

I am working in GAA design farm now,which is founded by Giovanni Alessi Anghini. I am glad that i have chance to cooperate with him.

FS: What is "design" for you?
WHPS: Design is everything and everywhere.

FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
WHPS: I like to get in touch with different kinds of project,no matter it is product,visual commuication, media ,etc. Once it is realted to creative and design, i am happy to try on it.


FS: When do you feel the most creative?
WHPS: At night

FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
WHPS: Story telling

FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
WHPS: Happy

FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
WHPS: Exciting

FS: What makes a design successful?
WHPS: A great story, good form language and solve the problem in a smart way.

FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
WHPS: I would consider does it able to solve the problem in a good way first.

FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
WHPS: There is no golden rule in design. Rules would just fix designer mindset.

FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
WHPS: Skills is not the most important point for a designer but curious is. Curious makes designer grow and step in front of others.

FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
WHPS: Brain

FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
WHPS: It depends on what kind of object it is, a good design desire whole year development,even more.

FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
WHPS: What is this?

FS: What was your most important job experience?
WHPS: Every job is an important experience for me since each of them helps me grow in different aspect. I think the job that i am doing is the most importent job experience since i can get in touch with different kinds of product to design.

FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
WHPS: I like the design work that can bring some message to people. I believe that design can shape people's mind if the designer can express their story and language within a product or a work. When i see my own design can change how people thinking in a good or better way, it is the satisfaction for me to be a designer.

FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
WHPS: I wish to create my own studio and brand in the future.However, in this moment i have to learn more in order to build a solid base for me to make my dream come true.

FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
WHPS: For the awarded project,I develop the ShiftClips with my project tutor Rémi Leclerc, he gave a lot of useful suggestion on the form, interface design ,story of the project,etc. We coopeate well to create ShiftClips unique DNA.

FS: How can people contact you?
WHPS: email : samwongdesignhk@gmail.com

FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
WHPS: Designer designs a better life

FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.

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