Interview with Yao Wu

Yao Wu ("YW") interviewed on Saturday, 17 March.

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

YW : I started my first job in 2005, when I was in a very famous electronics company in Shenzhen.It turns out that Mr. MOMOTA and professor YANGJUNSHUN, the design director of the Japanese Panasonic electric appliance, are my teachers. They have a great influence on my design now.Later in some research institutions engaged in design work, but now the center of gravity gradually turned to school teaching and promoting the development of the design industry.I think it is more meaningful to transform from a single product design service to one design of the whole society.

How did you become a designer?

YW : I think design itself is a very meaningful thing, which requires innovation. Innovation is the way to promote social progress, and it can also satisfy people's higher pursuit of a better life. So, at the time when I was in college chose the industrial design this major, like my teacher just said to me influence is big, now at work or in life, they all have influence on me, let me think can do more meaningful things.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

YW : when I was just work like all use the computer to complete the related tasks and assignments, but Mr MOMOTA always oppose I use the computer too much, he thought that computers can be very good expression effect, but will limit imagination, the computer is just a tool. So even though I use a lot of computers now, I still use sketching in the design stage.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

YW : Innovation is a very attractive thing.Very attractive, of course, also very challenging, the style of what I do is usually not the same, I think the product is first practical, as the artist is concerned about their own imagination and feelings.It is time to give full consideration to the needs of the users.This is a different place.Sometimes I think of late at night.I was so excited when I had a sudden inspiration that I could hardly sleep.I think the vast majority of designers have this feeling?

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

YW : I think the reason why I am in the design of today, with their own experience is very related, in the early years of industrial design in China is the major arts, and then there is a comprehensive subject.I am a liberal arts student, but I am studying industrial design in science and engineering, I am an art student, and then the teacher is a mechanical expert in China.In China, it's called SIBUXIANG, which means nothing, but I think it's good now. There are students who often think I'm a mechanical teacher, I think.This is not the direction of the current industrial design: resource integration and innovative design.

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

YW : As we all know, industrial design in all the design, is a more difficult professional, need materials, technology, structure, computer engineering, economics, psychology and so on.So more than 10 years of design experience is just the basis for an industrial designer.I was a member of the REDDOT club in '2014, but my award-winning work is not yet produced, and, of course, there are a lot of new works, and I hope they all find partners.Can become the product that everybody uses.

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

YW : As I said, learning product design, the most important thing is to insist that you have to accumulate new knowledge, know new techniques, master new materials, and of course, fashion.

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

YW : There is an old saying in China: there is no learning, which means that we can't stop learning new knowledge. I think this is what we all need to follow. I am now a district design consultant.So I am also constantly calling for and supporting innovative youth and friends, and I want to do more for our design industry.

What is your day to day look like?

YW : I think the biggest problem with designers is that time is not enough, yes, I am very busy, in general I will find something, or think about some interesting design, which is not entrusted by the enterprise.It is my own spontaneous, I call it "active design.".

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

YW : In all industrial design, trends and fashion knowledge, and more to consider the practicality of the product, of course, we will pay attention to the trend of the world's popular style, which is also very interesting.Sometimes it affects your thinking about the future.

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

YW : Good product design is certainly for the service, design is not like an artist, China's famous industrial design educator Liu Guan said: art is concerned about the wave of the rainbow,And designers are concerned about the rise in sea level.I think good design should be green because it serves the future of human life.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

YW : In Wenzhou business college (WZBC), we will educate students in this way, design is not to be completed at one time, it takes a lot of effort, maybe not once, maybe not twice.It may take three or five times to complete.I personally emphasize the students' process, and I think that many good ideas and ideas are accumulated and you have to work one step at a time.

What is your biggest design work?

YW : When I was studying in Beijing, I visited the national museum and saw a very interesting gift from a Brazilian leader who gave it to our country.I'd like to make a transformation of this handicraft, and I'll be in touch with Mr. YE XIAO PENG, who is a famous sculpture expert, and we have good cooperation.Finally, we designed a vase.This is very interesting.

Who is your favourite designer?

YW : Now the excellent designers are very many, but can do business perfectly I think it should be IKEA's design team.Very simple, very practical, very green, in fact, from a certain point of view, I think the Nordic design and the design of China have the same, I have done some of these research.

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

YW : I was born in Zhejiang province, is a fast economic development area, but I graduated from the university in Xi'an, so I think in the design of the enlightenment, Xi'an has a great influence on me.Including later I went to Beijing to study, the Chinese media university has a great influence on me.I feel that the ideas of different historical and cultural backgrounds are mingled with each other, and will bring a steady stream of inspiration.

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

YW : In China, designers are very busy, because the current industry is still relatively low level, the good design did not get the value reflected.Many designers need to do a lot of work to have a good income, we need to change, so I have been calling to respect the designer, to respect intellectual property.I'm also part-time as a government consultant, so I'm not only doing design work, but also giving advice to the government's policies.

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

YW : I often talk to my friends about how to make the design better, how to attract more design students to join the design team, because the society needs to design, through design, the society has the future.In 2017 years, with the support of the government, we set up the Wenzhou industrial design association, hoping to provide a platform for young designers.

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

YW : To participate in international design competition, you can let yourself know more friends, you can find a better design, you can learn more design methods.It also allows designers to communicate with designers around the world.This is very good.Hope the design contest is getting better and better.

Yao Wu Profile