Interview with ALICE XI ZONG

ALICE XI ZONG ("AXZ") interviewed on Sunday, 23 June.

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

AXZ : As a graphic designer, I have been in the industry for more than 7 years. I got my BFA degree and majored in graphic design at Nanjing Arts Institute, China, and Master degree of Arts at RIT, upstate New York. After graduation I went to New York City and started working as a designer. I am working as a graphic designer at Apple Inc. I have worked in some great companies before, such as Tom Ford International, J.P.Morgan & Co., Ann Inc, Loreal Group, Ralph Lauren Corporation. With AIGA member and member of China Designers Association, I am focusing on Graphic design, Digital design and Branding, Typography, Packaging, Web and App Design.

How did you become a designer?

AXZ : Growing up I always wanted to become a designer. I started by learning illustration, then I discovered myself really into graphic design. After graduate from Nanjing Arts Institute, I came to the U.S. and get my Master degree in Arts at RIT. As a graphic designer, I was influenced by the great Italian designer Massimo Vignelli. Vignelli worked in a wide variety of areas, including interior design, environmental design, package design, graphic design, furniture design, and product design. Vignelli's designs were famous for following a minimal aesthetic and a narrow range of typefaces that Vignelli considered to be perfect in their genre, including Akzidenz-Grotesk, Bodoni, Helvetica, Garamond No. 3 and Century Expanded. Massimo Vignelli used to be one of the professors at Rochester Institute Technology at the Vignelli Center at RIT. As a grad student of RIT, I am very honored to studied lots of his projects. He is always the influence and the inspiration of my work.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

AXZ : I am passionate about design, present and support creative concepts. Proficient with Adobe Creative Creative Suite. I worked in a very systematic and diligent manner and proved to be an independent thinker, a faster learner, and a great team-worker. As a designer, I am dedicated to developing designs and branding with a conviction to quality. Adobe Creative Suite is my favorite tool, especially Adobe InDesign and Illustrator. I also use Sketch and Corel Painter. When I am working on videos I use After Effect and Photoshop, LightRoom, etc.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

AXZ : When I am designing I am usually in the flow. And I always feel very delightful and excited when I am designing.

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

AXZ : I focus more on the aesthetic and function of my design.

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

AXZ : My future plan is to become a fill package designer - not only a visual designer but also working on codling and web developing. My dream project: I would love to create a branding design for my future design studio.

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

AXZ : Be passionate, and be patient. Some design projects could be going pretty fast and smooth. Sometimes a great design project could be challenging and would take lots of amounts of research and learning, it would take longer to make it a nice design. It is always great to keep a passion for design and being patient. Practice makes perfect in design.

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

AXZ : Keep practicing, always get inspired, and always thinking about the future of design. It is such a great experience expressing our creativity as designers. Good designs make our future life so much better. However, being a designer will work in a constantly changing field, the finish line is always moving so we will need to constantly learn and improving.

What is your day to day look like?

AXZ : My day usually starts with a nice cup of coffee. I usually read my favorite of book in the morning and take photos of my cat. When I am feeling very inspired, I would start designing right away with my cat around.

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

AXZ : Being a designer in the industry for more than 7 years, It was great that I have formed my own design style, I will also follow with my own style. However, I will keep my eyes open and always checking and learning the trading designs as I always get inspired by awesome designs times by times. I would also think about the future of design.

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

AXZ : A successful design is clear, timeless and efficient.

What is your biggest design work?

AXZ : I would say my greatest design project so far is the Chinese-papercutting Typeface design. The most unique aspect of this Chinese paper-cutting Typeface design is the idea to mix the very traditional Chinese patterns and elements into the 26 letters. It’s a fusion of my culture and root with my experience. As a Chinese designer, I am always thinking about my culture, I also love my experience to work and study here in the U.S.

Who is your favourite designer?

AXZ : My favorite designer is the Italian designer Massimo Vignelli. I lived in New York for 4 years, walking by and seeing the wayfinding design on the street every day in NYC, the incredible design makes me realize how a great design would approve people’s lives.

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

AXZ : I was born and raised in China before I came to the U.S. After graduation from the grad shool, I lived in New York City for 3 years and I am now living in California, working at Apple.Inc as a designer. There's so much art impact from living in both cities. I love the dynamic cultural heritage of both cities and got a lot of inspiration from all the nice design and arts all over the place. I think great design would definitely affect people’s life and make lives better. Living in the city full of great arts and design will make people see the bright future of the society and lives.

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

AXZ : I am passionate about design, present and support creative concepts. Proficient with Adobe Creative Creative Suite. I worked in a very systematic and diligent manner and proved to be an independent thinker, a faster learner, and a great team-worker. As a designer, I am dedicated to developing designs and branding with a conviction to quality.

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

AXZ : As a graphic designer in the industry for more than 7 years, there are plenty of experience of contributions to society. I especially love to do poster design for non-profit organizations. I have done branding design for “House Society of Rabbits” and “Scottsville Veterinary Adoptions”. Working with all the cute dogs and cats are the most satisfaction to me. As a graphic designer, I feel proud and happy that we could contribute to society in the design way.

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

AXZ : There are lots of positive experiences during attending the A' Design Award. I would say the most positive experience is the challenge of this project, which is to keep the authenticity of the traditional Chinese paper-cutting and visually pleasant while combing with the 26 letters as a typeface set. During the process, I also learned to make the traditional paper-cutting and hand drew & translate each exquisite element patterns into digital patterns, which is a fun challenge to my experience.

ALICE XI ZONG Profile