Interview with Vincent Hsieh

Vincent Hsieh ("VH") interviewed on Sunday, 15 May.

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

VH : Since I starting work, mostly engaged in residential interior design. I began to design commercial spaces five years ago. My boss was from the United States, where the culture is very different from that of Taiwan, years of experience working with my American boss inspires me a lot of original ideas.

How did you become a designer?

VH : Having strong feeling in aesthetic in space, I hope I can be a designer and create amazing works. Yes, I've been attracted to anything that has to do with aesthetic in my life since high school, especially architecture and interior design.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

VH : The use of materials and the recreation of space. I was inspired by accumulated experience in life. When interacting with clients, you will naturally feel the aura presented by them. It’s amazing. I have no idea when I start having this ability, to naturally capture the material and atmosphere suitable for my clients. Surprisingly, I have the same feeling when choosing building materials, I also feel that the materials are also interacting with me their preferred way to be presented.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

VH : When encountering composition in design: A finished product that combines different elements and shapes to take on a new look, it always amazes me every time.

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

VH : Having strong feeling in aesthetic in space, I hope I can be a designer and create amazing works. Yes, I've been attracted to anything that has to do with aesthetic in my life since high school, especially architecture and interior design.

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

VH : Our plan is to expand our company's business scope to include architectural and visual design, to achieve complete brand building, which help to develop a complete talent cultivation mechanism within the company. Our next step is talent development and cultivation.

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

VH : Start every design process by thinking and observing.

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

VH : be careful and patient, willing to listen, patiently communicate, and willing to try.

What is your day to day look like?

VH : Think > decision making > empty myself > go to bed. Design is indeed a very time-consuming work, so it can only be integrated into life.

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

VH : My most commonly used platform is Pinterest. Design trends is very minor when compare with the coordination of material and space attributes, the control of shaping proportion, and the uniqueness of design style.

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

VH : The coordination of material and space attributes, the control of shaping proportion, and the uniqueness of design style.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

VH : I want users to feel happy and relaxed when they enter the space I create. If there is a little surprise, it would be even better. I always know the design is ready by reading the face of the user when looking at the design.

What is your biggest design work?

VH : I think it's on the way.

Who is your favourite designer?

VH : Architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Fallingwater is a house designed by the architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935 in the Laurel Highlands of southwest Pennsylvania, about 70 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. It is built partly over a waterfall. I admire the architect’s passion in the importance of interpenetrating exterior and interior spaces and the strong emphasis placed on harmony between man and nature. The boulders and trees of the original terrain are still preserved inside the building. From the appearance of the house, the interior design to all furnitures and even tablewares, all completed by the architect - incredible comprehensive design ability.

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

VH : I live in Taiwan. Our cultural heritage not so affected to nowadays interior design. The salary ratio of construction personnel in the field of interior design in Taiwan is not that high, while the technology is very professional, therefore, most of the design ideas has the opportunity to be implemented, which is a good thing for both designers and owners. However, because of this, most designs rely too much on construction workers, and resources of furniture and hardware accessories supply will be relatively lacking.

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

VH : 3 elements makes a design successful: Attentive, patient, persistent. Attentive: Carefully attending to every detail; Patient: Think patiently and deal with everything that feels impossible; Persistent: Stick to the first two elements on every aspect.

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

VH : Designer is responsible to create order in chaos while inspire imagination in an aesthetic way. Without design and designers, the world would be monotonous and out of order. 


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

VH : The positives are we need to be curious about a lot of things, especially the everlasting passion and execution; the negatives is that being everlasting positive can sometimes be tiring

Vincent Hsieh Profile