Interview with Chenglong Tao

Chenglong Tao ("CT") interviewed on Tuesday, 18 December.

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

CT : It has been 14 years since I graduated from college to design. Because the city where I live is small, the companies I work for are naturally small. The specialty of my student days was painting, which made it natural to embark on the road of design after graduation.

How did you become a designer?

CT : Because of my hobbies, I started designing just for work, and no one pointed. I rely on my own art foundation, thinking about some new ideas to improve myself in my spare time, and then slowly became an interest. I like to drum up some ideas, not Limited to graphic design and typography, I have tried to design jewelry and small fashion goods since this year, and I have also won many honors.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

CT : Sketching, altering and perfecting sketches on paper; computer open vector software to complete the design of refined flat graphics; if it is a product, jewelry project, finally need to use 3D software to continue modeling and rendering on the previous process; as for the physical model, Preferred 3D printing.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

CT : When I first started preparing, it was the most difficult, that is, the sketch stage. There will be many possibilities for the same project. I will draw three sketches, one of which will be finished into finished products; after the sketch is completed and perfected on the computer. These two times are the most exciting. The results are recognized for satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. These need to be 100% serious in each step of the creation of the work, to be strict with their own requirements.

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

CT : I think it is the foundation of art, because many paintings are not good. After they are engaged in graphic design, their design ability is also bad. Sketch is the basis of modeling ability and the premise of original ability after design. Color sketching is also in design. Great help, because with this premise, at least the design works are very comfortable in color.

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

CT : By the end of next year, I can achieve my milestones: continue to win prizes, produce more good works, join the Graphic Design Association of Shenzhen and the Jewelry Designers Association.

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

CT : There are a lot of people who work on design but don't like the design itself. What they pay more attention to is: How much does this project or work make? For this group of people, many of them have to give up and change their careers without any improvement after working for a few years or less; therefore, the material rewards obtained depend on your own hard power in the industry. Every designer's growth path should be different. New designers should learn their good side, but don't just imitate others and know how to think.

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

CT : Any design industry is a test of mental work. It is no harm to take a good look at the outstanding works published by others in the free time, but it is best not to do too many imitations or even plagiarism (the results of works created by others are by his own If you do this often, you will lose your creativity. If you encounter bottlenecks, don't worry. It may be that there is a lack of knowledge in somewhere or somewhere. Please seek breakthroughs in other concerns. In fact, any design has a bottleneck, but the level of height that everyone has reached is different.

What is your day to day look like?

CT : My work is very easy, because I don't go to work, the schedule is very casual, in addition to doing some plane and product design, I will get up and exercise in front of the computer for a long time (do some aerobics, such as cycling and running)

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

CT : The trend has a good side and a bad side. The follow-up trend can make it easier to meet the current customer needs, but the trend is constantly changing. After a few years, the things that are done today are displayed, no one appreciates it. Because it was not popular at that time; therefore, in addition to doing business things that follow the trend on a daily basis, individuals also do innovative works that are not influenced by trends, and strive to create a group for a long time. Works that stand the test.

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

CT : This design concept can be directly translated into a product that is listed, and the function of the product is targeted to solve the problem. The visual design can also be achieved under the premise of not affecting the function of the product.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

CT : Everything is difficult to get started. First, you have to think a lot of ideas, then draw sketches (you can understand them), and you can record some creative ideas. Then you can select and merge these sketch ideas on paper and make them on the computer. The production process will also encounter some imperfections, and make improvements while slowly making improvements.

What is your biggest design work?

CT : I started out as a graphic designer and did some layout work. I started to study font design in the past three years, and this year I started to do some design for daily use products and jewelry, and I have achieved initial results and honors.

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

CT : It should be Shenzhen, because it is the design capital of China, where all kinds of design talents come together, designers are easy to communicate, and there are many design exhibitions every year. I am now in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu. The designer's vision and technology in this area are relatively backward. The lack of talents can't be changed for a long time. Because of this, I chose to stay in this small city. Good design requires someone to take the lead in setting an example, and it depends on each designer's own synchronization efforts.

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

CT : A' design award, the initial review is free, reducing the risk of blind submission, nominations of more than 6 points, because it is the first time to participate in this kind of competition, after submitting, the initial evaluation of the e-mail reminds which places do not meet the requirements Need to improve, for example: the background can not be black, the display posters of the font works can not appear large-scale text layout, after learning the opinions of the judges, understand the specifications of such competitions.It is very important to participate in the design competition. I myself have progressed in various competitions.

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