Interview with Chris Chen

Chris Chen ("CC") interviewed on Tuesday, 18 October.

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

CC : By looking back of my design life, I realized that I have been in design field for more than half of my life. I started my professional training as an interior design student in Taiwan since I was 15. Continuing my BFA degree in environmental design department, Parsons New York and completed my Master of Architecture Degree from Columbia University. Been interned in Rafael Vinoly’s office during my Columbia year and started my first job in Pei Partnership Architects, participated Suzhou Museum during my practice in PPA. After moving back to Asia, I participated different scale of architectural projects, i.e. office and residential building in china for 5 years and also be a college lecturer for 3 years during my practice. In 2009, I started my own fashion brand “OPUS” and interior design firm “Paradox Studio” in 2009. OPUS Shop is our debut work and had gained some attention over the world which had bring me into another interesting ride of my life.

How did you become a designer?

CC : When I was a kid, my father always brought back some mini furniture sets as gift when he travel aboard. I love to play with them and tried out all different kind of layout. Therefore, when I reach the point to make a decision for my future, it didn’t take me too long to choose this profession.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

CC : For me, as an interior designer, realized what client need is the first thing to start the project. Then I will analyze the project from all different aspects whatever related to it. After scanning and analyzing all the materials, there will be a few design solutions been given out to client. That’s the base I start the design, from that, digital 3D modeling and detail shop drawings all help to enrich the design. Discussion with construction team is also a great help and an important step to bring the design come to reality.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

CC : Frankly, I enjoy every phase of design, i.e. the first encounter, struggle to find inspiration or the time when it completed. But the most fulfilling moment is when find out a perfect design solution after not giving up trying.

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

CC : I think the detail-observing ability really helps me on my design practice. It first brought me to gather many possibility of design, then help me to refine the design by pick out the problems for improvement.

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

CC : It really is a good question, most of my recent projects are interior or furniture works. I wish I have more opportunity to participate the project that engage with large group of people and make more contribution to society.

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

CC : I don’t particularly have advice for young designers, I believe every adventure in their career is the necessary nutrition, which will benefit themselves in the particular moment of their life.

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

CC : One thing I have learned along the way and always try to keep in mind is to keep yourself in good condition. With clear mind and healthy body, we will have more chance to be inspired and decreased the chance for making wrong decision. And of course this advice could also apply on everything in life.

What is your day to day look like?

CC : Like most of the designers, my day usually starts with a good coffee and a hot shower to fresh up the mind and body. Start with people I work with then back for my own work. Job-site and desk-work intertwined which is a good pattern for a Gemini mind like me, keeps me feeling alive.

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

CC : I think it’s important to be aware the trend because it reflects our culture at the time and helps to connect to people’s life. But we also need to maintain the core value of our design. Once the central value of own design is firmed, those trend will become a helpful force to sharpen our design.

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

CC : A good design is a good solution to solve problem with rational evaluation and aesthetic skill.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

CC : For me to define whether the design is completed, is based on the relationship between user and the design object. When the user’s status and need is changed, design could be altered or elevated into another stage, a continuous evolving life form.

What is your biggest design work?

CC : My personally favorite project is “OPUS Shop”, the debut work of Paradox Studio. The pure joy of developing a simple idea into diverse space with straight forward execution, really was a satisfying experience for me. And yet this simple idea has gone far to reach people’s mind, speak the story, that really touches me. The Shop was merely 10 sqm, a former garage space. How to solve the limitation of small space, creates different theme walls to fulfill different display purpose, yet those 3 walls together forms an illusional effect to broaden the shop space. This joyful design adventure truly is the memorable experience of my life.

Who is your favourite designer?

CC : Zaha hadid is my favorite architect. She was dare to reach far and determined enough to bring her visionary idea into reality. Make it happened and for people to see and experience her vision.

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

CC : I think my crossing-culture education and profession experience has made a big impact as who I am now. I don’t particularly feel I was limited within the city I am living in. My world is embedded with all different culture factors. When I was working on the drawing, I often turn on the radio from all over the world, creating the virtual space matrix audibly. Music is the perfume of the space, transform and transport people instantly.

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

CC : Our Studio is started by me and my partner who is also an architect. Our firm wish to focus on both architectural and interior design aspects. Therefore, we wish our coworkers focus on not only design or decoration level, but to look further into the relationship of people and space.

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

CC : Sharing professional and life experience with youngster, wish there are more opportunity to join design communities and gather more design force for making bigger contribution to the world.

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

CC : We really have a great experience participating A’ Design Award. From the beginning as filing the application, each questions has brought us to review our project from all aspects, make us to rethink design process. And when we have questions regarding to the apply process, all the questions were speedily responded with kindness. Furthermore, we are really amazed to see our works had been exposed on all different kind of media in different countries, which had brought us to been seen by people that we never have chance to be encountered with. And the media exposure span is surprising long, we were so happily to receive media notification even 9 month after winning the award. The great A’design award experience had brought us back whenever we have a great project wanted to share with the world. Because we know A’design will be the great platform for us to share the work and help us to reach further. Thank you, A’design.

Chris Chen Profile