Interview with Hsin Ting Weng

Hsin Ting Weng ("HTW") interviewed on Saturday, 31 March.

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?

HTW : Ris Interior Design Co., Ltd. was established at Taichung city, Taiwan, in 2013. A group of design manias pursues timeless elegance and coexistence with nature in interior space. The company dedicates to both classic and contemporary solution on every project, aiming on long-term progress and sustainable connection with fashion, culture, society. Award: 2016-2017 A'design Silver Award Winner Interior Space and Exhibition Design Category, 2016-2017 TINTA Bronze Award for Interior Renovation, 2016-2017 TINTA Winner Award for Interior Decoration Taiwan Interior New Talent Award

How did you become a designer?

HTW : When studying, the Department is the visual communication design, everthing about design are very interested in the work after understanding the space is particularly interested in the changes, and then the way to space design development until now.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

HTW : Perhaps because it is not in the college period is to study space design, so the design of the technology are derived from the real work of practical experience, there is no limited style

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

HTW : At the beginning of design, enjoy the imagination of the most imaginative;In the process of realization, trembling and repeatedly thinking about whether it can make the design more perfect;How many times have completed the project, often see the finished product, are filled with moving!

What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?

HTW : Maybe is visual communication design background, so I would think the design to do each face, to see finer, and then combined into space. Observation of color is also more sensitive, furniture, fabric is also more than as usuall have changed.

What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?

HTW : I imagine a project that is not confined by the realm of time and presents the balance of the form, function and quality of life through various materials and details.

What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?

HTW : Interior design is a difficult road, because there are too many things to consider, professional, continuous learning is necessary, but the skills to communicate with client, how to express the imagination of the design, also always necessary skills.

You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?

HTW : For up and coming designers, i would suggest them not to just conform to what customers demand but to focus on what you, as a designer, want. Also, every time when their customers ask for revision, they could see it as a chance to learn instead of seeing it as an obstruction. In this way, things will get better.

What is your day to day look like?

HTW : The designer's job is design life, a lot of reading about design, the food pendulum plate, natural of flowers and grasses design, the life of aesthetics everywhere. have been very accustomed to work in the life, so although not at work, as long as you can see a very good design, will be immediately brain thinking, feel very happy.

How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?

HTW : A large part of the trend of design is to follow the material, as new materials can provide better construction quality.The style should not be limited by the material, should be thoroughly understand the material above the material, in order to show the design style of self.

How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?

HTW : In addition to all the designs that cater to customers’s requirements in terms of functionality, habits, experience, and visual impact, it should also keep the details and qualities to achieve the appropriate balance and harmony among all the elements of that space.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

HTW : After making sure that we make a design that has met the customer’s need, fit their lifestyles, solved the possible user problems, I would go through the whole process of design again and make confirmation with customers, ensuring every detail is on the right tack.

What is your biggest design work?

HTW : So far, the pride of my design is “transformation of the materials”- which transforms rigid steel into soft and linear shape through complicated procedures.

Who is your favourite designer?

HTW : Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is my favorite.I appreciate and agree with his famous idea “Less is More”. My own interpretation of it is that decoration is not completely unacceptable but it has to be used with meaning and propose.

Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?

HTW : From my perspective, the cultures of a city combine lifestyles in different communities, and those cultures also reflects the habits and attitudes toward our life. Every element of a society seems like a circle, connecting and affecting each other. For Example, my country, Taiwan, has the multicultural backgrounds, such as cultural influences from colonial days, various religious faiths, and foreign workers from different countries. Based on those backgrounds, I’d naturally like to experience and absorb the elements from these different cultures, and then blend them into my design , as a way to share more energy and more pluralistic lifestyle with people. Whether it is traveling to the different cities around the world, communicating with people from different fields, or even feeling the tiny things from daily life, all of them could drive me to consider how to improve or design the space or environment that can contribute to a better living.

Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?

HTW : I’d like to have a partner who has a sense of motivation and responsibility so he/she knows what has to be done and strives to be the best.

What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?

HTW : With regard to the social contributions, it reminds me of the winner of Pulitzer Architecture Prize this year - B.V.Doshi (Indian architect). His design practice of taking human beings as the essential is not just evoking resonance but also deeply affecting the modern societies. As for me, so far although I do not have that strong impact on others I would do my best with limited conditions and focus on better living to practice my design. Meanwhile, I would find the appropriate balance of the natural environment, society and the financial conditions.

What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?

HTW : A design is an international competition, but for me it is more than that. To certain extent it is a platform for sharing experiences and culture. Also, this is a great event in which we compete with the top interior designers from around the world ,and this encourages me to challenge myself.

Hsin Ting Weng Profile