Interview with Yen, Pei-Yu

Yen, Pei-Yu ("YP") interviewed on Wednesday, 6 May.

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

YP : I started my journey as an interior designer when I was still a teenager – I studied interior designing since high school. After I finished my undergraduate training, I worked in Joe Shih Architects for six years, where I learnt about how to manage complicated construction projects. In 2012, I established my own studio with my partner, providing service in commercial and residential interior design.

How did you become a designer?

YP : As far as I can recall, it was a photo about interior design that gave the thought that ‘I hope I can design my home one day’. This idea then made me decide to become an interior designer.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

YP : I think to create a good design, one has to first consider the user’s needs and preferences as well as the spatial constraints. I always begin my design by visiting the space I am commissioned and also conducting several in-depth discussion with my client to understand their preferences and expectation. I will then bring the concepts I got from the initial visiting and discussion into the design, and have another round of discussion with my client after the 3D sketch is created.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

YP : I think it all goes back to the user when we talk about design. This applies to interior design as well. I like to throw some crazy ideas when chatting with my clients so that I can get a better idea about what they truly want. After I have sufficient understanding about their expectation and preferences, I will then create a tentative design based on the information for my clients. The start of the designing process always brings some anxiety to me - will my ideas look nice and meet the user’s expectation? But once I begin drawing down my idea on the paper, I usually can finish the whole drafting quickly. I always feel exuberant when the first draft is done.

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

YP : I’ve been working in the interior design industry for 15 years. My goal is always the same, that is, I hope that one day I can have my team and have my work recognized by the international community.

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

YP : It’s important to enhance the skills one has already possessed, but it’s also vital to challenge oneself by taking up tasks one is less good at. Also, getting more life experience and travelling are both highly beneficial.

What is your day to day look like?

YP : I begin my day by reading and yoga. After the breakfast, I will be in the company to organise tasks I am going to do in the day. During the afternoon, I may be in the site to check the progress of the project with the workers and see if there’s anything that needs to be changed. After all of these, I will go jogging and update the progress of all of the ongoing projects. I usually end my day by chatting with my families.

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

YP : I think there’s no short-cut in the area of design – one has to keep learning from all sorts of channel. There is always a trend, and it’s fine to be part of the trend, but one has to be careful not to become a drifter.

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

YP : A good design pleases its user.

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

YP : I live in Koahsiung, Taiwan. This is a beautiful harbor city. There’s less than one kilometer from our studio to the Weiwuying National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts. This proximity allows me to enjoy world-class performance easily. The subtleties exhibited in the performance often become a source of inspiration for me. I didn’t realise that art performance can bring such a huge influence on people until this Center was established.

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

YP : My partner and I set up Tetto Studio in 2012. We provide our clients with a holistic design consultation and service – my partner offers his insight in web development, helping the client build a stylish virtual space in this ever-growing virtual world, whereas I am responsible for realizing the client’s idea in this real world. Currently I am the only one who’d responsible for the interior design sector. Although sometimes I’d be overwhelmed by the amount of the work, I am very proud that I always manage to handle all the communication and planning beautifully and create a great design for my clients. I do have an ideal of setting up a team, but I think it’s more important to find a partner who shares the same set of values and who can become friends. The synergy created by this sort of relationship, I believe, will be stronger.

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

YP : I would be very interested in designing a shelter for stray dogs if I have the chance. I hope they can have a home to live in, not a cage to be locked up.

Yen, Pei-Yu Profile