Designer Interview

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Interview with Zhao Yan at Thursday 7th of July 2016

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?
ZY: Yan Zhao graduated form Luxun Academy of Fine Arts in 2012，and she holds a master’s degree in industrial design.After then, she became a teacher at Luxun Academy of Fine Arts, she is a industrial designer，too.

FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
ZY: The predecessor of Luxun Academy of Fine Arts (LAFA) was the Yanan-based Luxun Arts College (LAC) founded,in 1938,by the pioneering generation of Chinese Revolutionaries including Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai.Now,LAFA has under its operation two campuses in the City of Shenyang and the City of Dalian respectively,it’s one of the eight most important Academy of Fine Arts in China.The Shenyang campus is home to 12 departments,inclulding the areas as arts、art design and humanities etc.LAFA has turned out,through the years,a great number of art talents,by it’s special modes.The students are welcomed both by the communities they serve and by the professional entities.

FS: What is "design" for you?
ZY: Design is a tool to make life simple.

FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
ZY: Household Products that make life full of fun.

FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
ZY: Alpaca Children‘s chair，because it increases communication and interaction in adult and child.

FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
ZY: Household Products , just like clock and aquarium.

FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
ZY: The wood, because it has an innate affinity.

FS: When do you feel the most creative?
ZY: When discuss design with my design team.

FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
ZY: Multi-purpose, recyclable.

FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
ZY: Pleasure and enthusiasm.

FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
ZY: A sense of accomplishment and pride

FS: What makes a design successful?
ZY: Let others resonate

FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
ZY: Makes you want to have it.

FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
ZY: Put design into life.

FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
ZY: Everyone could participate in the design and creation.

FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
ZY: At Luxun Academy of Fine Arts in 2012.

FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
ZY: The inspiration and sources of inspirations are from my favorite in everyday life.

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?
ZY: Simple form，Multifunction，Easy to use

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?
ZY: I live in China，many works of mine have Chinese traditional elements and wisdom.

FS: How do you work with companies?
ZY: I share the ideas with the companies, and do research and development of the product together.

FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
ZY: I think the head of the company shoud respect the suggestions of the designers.

FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
ZY: Discover problems and then solve them.

FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
ZY: M favorite design items inclouding KAMA, 90 Degree, 3 Faces, Harbor and silk road.

FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
ZY: Giving lectures to students, and do some design work by myself.

FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
ZY: If you think it is a good design, please contine and believe in it.

FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
ZY: No

FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
ZY: Design with subtraction

FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
ZY: Social Responsibility

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

FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
ZY: I use one month to do research, and then start sketch and model, using software to see the effect of the design, it would take about two monthes.

FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
ZY: about 3 monthes

FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
ZY: Could you design a logo for me

FS: What was your most important job experience?
ZY: Constantly update myself

FS: Who are some of your clients?
ZY: Sany Co., Ltd. China

FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
ZY: Innovation and creation

FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
ZY: To be a good teacher and a good designer.

FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
ZY: I work with my workteam

FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
ZY: Yes, I have some works-in-progress design items with Sany company.

FS: How can people contact you?
ZY: zzhaoyann@163.com

FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
ZY: No, thanks

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

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