Interview with VOATT Design Studio

VOATT Design Studio ("VDS") interviewed on Friday, 24 May.

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

VDS : We are a new design team and have been in business for about 4 years. Our clients respect our profession and each case has a wonderful experience.

How did you become a designer?

VDS : I think urban planning, architectural design, and space design are all fascinating subjects. Extremely challenging but also full of sensibility and art, it will be implemented in every case. I have absolute self-confidence in color and space. Usually, my creative inspiration is from the movie scene. For me, the most influential designer is Kelly Hoppen.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

VDS : I think the first step in designing is to understand the client's needs, including the their ergonomics, habits, beliefs. Simulate the authenticity by planning and scenes of the plan with the aid of digital technology. Finally, make a lot of physical model to feel the real space composition and construction details. For a new project plan, I will first provide the creation of the overall space, and then do research and analysis.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

VDS : When I start creating a new project, I always feel excited and expecting. In the process, I often feel the difficulties of frustration and how to choose a better construction method. But at the moment of completion, from the moment I see the happy appearance of the client, my heart will only full of emotion.

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

VDS : When I was a child, I liked reading, listening to music, painting and model making, and film producing. I believe that these interests are the main factors that make me a designer. I have developed the ability to observe and think, and the sensitivity to materials from these interests. And I believe that with a keen observation ability, it can bring better space for users.

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

VDS : Whenever I finish a case, I always feel that I have learned a lot of new things, which makes me grow stronger and become a better designer. I hope I can break the limitation and provide clients with the best materials and quality space in every design. And my dream design case is the home of the astronauts.

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

VDS : Cultivate the ability to observe things and continue to learn new knowledge and technology. My first design teacher once told me that "There is no answer to the design, but you can find the most appropriate answer in the constant experiment.". My own growth experience is through a lot of reading and taking photos and editing movies and finding out the relevance and possibilities.

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

VDS : Constantly learn about unknown things and maintain a keen observation of the environment. Don't stop designing because of failure or frustration. Try to find the most suitable material and construction method and present an aesthetic space structure. There is no absolute answer to the design, but there is a best way to do the design.

What is your day to day look like?

VDS : In fact, I only sleep for five hours a day, the rest of the time I'm always designing. But I always arrange travel during the holidays, because I can always learn more new things and experiences during the trip.

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

VDS : Our company name is "VOATT DESIGN", which means Visual, Olfactory, Auditory, Taste and Touch. We believe that good design is associated with our senses. We hope to create a space that combines senses by the composition of different materials and the combination of natural elements. "Let design become a part of life" is our core concept.

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

VDS : Good design is based on the cooperation and trust between the designer and the client and the construction team. Every moment requires the professional ability and dedication of everyone, so when the teamwork is in good cooperation, good design will be presented.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

VDS : There is no absolutely complete design for me. In other words, every design seems to be more perfect after being used, but this is also the most fascinating part of the creative process, isn't it?

What is your biggest design work?

VDS : We are most proud of using modelling to study the possibilities of space. Some people think that we have spent too much time making models, but I think this is the best way to find a good design. We are designing a new office recently, it is a small building, old but charming. We continue to make models only for the division of the structure and visual proportion of the facade. We actually enjoy the process of finding answers in the creation.

Who is your favourite designer?

VDS : I really like Kelly Hoppen, his control of space proportion and material is very fascinating and confident. If I had the chance, I would like to meet the architect Peter Zumthor, who always combines architecture with the most natural materials and creates simple and meaningful spaces.

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

VDS : We are young designers from Taiwan. The culture of Taiwan is open and diverse. We are happy to learn new knowledge and materials from all over the world. Therefore, we also actively participate in important competitions and events in various countries and learn about outstanding designers and works from all over the world.

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

VDS : We are a team of designers. Although my partner and I always have our ideas and viewpoint in the process of creation, but we will always find the favorite design as the work. We believe that the advantage of having a partner is that you can observe more subtle things and combine different suggestions to present a more perfect design.

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

VDS : We provide the best advice for people who need our profession, and we hope to bring people a better life through our designs. We expect to present our designs in every corner of the city in the future.

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

VDS : When we participated in A' Design Award, we met designers from all over the world and saw every outstanding design work. This is a very good experience and award, and we hope that we can participate in this competition every year in the future.

VOATT Design Studio Profile