Interview with Li Jiuzhou

Li Jiuzhou ("LJ") interviewed on Sunday, 15 May.

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

LJ : Design can serve the whole country and combine culture with products, which makes the national culture easier to be inherited and accepted.

How did you become a designer?

LJ : My father made me have a great interest in art. My dream since childhood is to be engaged in art work like my father. I studied oil painting, sculpture, sketch and printmaking. After I really grow up, I like to combine art with design. I think design should serve the people，so that people can be happier in the process of using products through vision, touch and usage method.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

LJ : I like original designs with native culture and emotion, because only such designs are truly plump.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

LJ : My design style is changeable. It changes according to the application mode and the style of the design object. Just like water, it can enter into containers of various shapes.

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

LJ : I was inspired by four elders. My father is a very talented stage art designer and film art master. He can think of many advanced ideas that others can't think of. My father guided me to the road of art design. My university tutor Professor Tan Ping is a famous Chinese artist and educator. He built a bridge between design and art. I learned how to create from Professor Tan. My graduate tutor Professor Wu Xuefu taught me how to cross boundary boldly, and he made me more confident to move from graphic design to product design. My life mentor, Mr. Han Zidian, is a successful entrepreneur. He participated in the two most important changes in my growth, which made me step into the orthodox study of art and gradually made achievements in the hundred battles.

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

LJ : I am a designer, serving customers. I want to make a contribution to the improvement of my national brand in the future.

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

LJ : To design for an industry, it is necessary to know everything about the industry in depth, so as to have a good design.

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

LJ : Accept new knowledge and culture, have rich knowledge reserves of history and culture, and design with your heart. People-oriented design.

What is your day to day look like?

LJ : Reading, music, sports, painting

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

LJ : Read more books about aesthetics, history and psychology, and pay attention to all kinds of excellent works, so as to open your eyes.

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

LJ : Design is to serve mankind after all. People-oriented design is a good design.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

LJ : Design has its own characteristics, and the elements in this design are accurately expressed.

What is your biggest design work?

LJ : My most significant design work should be the design of 18 bookstores in Beijing Airport Terminal, China. Different locations, different styles and different functions should be just right.

Who is your favourite designer?

LJ : Kenya Hara

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

LJ : I like Xi 'an, China best. Our country's culture influences my design, because culture is immersed in my artistic genes. I'm in Beijing, doing design. An excellent design is necessary for social progress, because an excellent design will affect people's lives and their understanding of the culture in the design.

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

LJ : It is very easy to work with me, because I will accept and guide different ideas. Now I work alone and with partners. When I choose business partners, I focus on communication. Only with good communication can good design works appear. My corporate culture is that design should be people-oriented.

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

LJ : As a designer, you must give back to the society. I have also done many charitable projects with design, some charitable foundation projects, university library projects, and designs for national activities, all of which are free.

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

LJ : Winning this award inspired me to design more wonderful works.

Li Jiuzhou Profile