Interview with Shengzhe Shen

Shengzhe Shen ("SS") interviewed on Saturday, 21 May.

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

SS : I got a master's degree in architecture from the Central Academy of fine arts and have been working for 10 years. My clients include private owners, artists and property developers city investment company.

How did you become a designer?

SS : Maybe it's because I liked studying problems, being quiet, and being curious about all kinds of new things when I was a child. At the same time, it was influenced by the family in terms of aesthetics.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

SS : The core of design is the idea, and the sense of form is the final presentation of the idea. Any technology is a tool to solve problems and present a sense of form. It should not be the core of design.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

SS : Design work makes me feel complete and safe. Because design is a process of self consistent thinking. Finding appropriate rules can make design work by itself.

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

SS : Architectural design is an artistic creation after rational reasoning and analysis. The study of science and engineering makes me form the habit of rational thinking. The further study of the Academy of fine arts makes me have the ability of perceptual artistic modeling.

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

SS : Do every project in a down-to-earth manner. If possible, I want to design a small airport or high-speed railway station in a remote area.

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

SS : I think architects should be flexible, experience more and be able to transfer knowledge, and transform all kinds of information into the logic of design. A painting, a performance, a popular app and a cold knowledge can trigger the thinking of future design. Future contact owners also come from all walks of life. At the same time, with a large amount of information and more useless information, we should learn to think rationally. Design is the artistic processing after rational derivation. This is really important. Grasp the essence of the problem, find a main clue to promote the design, and then divergent thinking to collect the material and basis of the design.

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

SS : My teacher told, "Simple techniques, used to the extreme, are masterpieces".

What is your day to day look like?

SS : I have to work every day and get used to combing my thoughts before going to bed.

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

SS : Design trend is a false proposition, and good design has no effectiveness. Therefore, it is important to stick to your ideas and style

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

SS : Well design is to solve problems and reflect the formal beauty of the designer's personal tendency on the basis of a complete understanding of the user's intention and making full use of the existing conditions

How do you decide if your design is ready?

SS : When it is inappropriate to change a small part of a drawing because every detail is linked and every idea is advanced layer by layer.

What is your biggest design work?

SS : Focusing on the integration of local traditional culture and new contemporary art.

Who is your favourite designer?

SS : Peter Zumthor. His design is deep and focused.

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

SS : In fact, I am a musician with a certain audience. I think there are similarities between music and architecture creation. There are some simple rules and logic, but there are countless changes at the same time in these two fields. Therefore, different styles have been formed in the exploration of predecessors. I will also find ways to organize and shape architectural space by analyzing great classical music works or contemporary pop music works.

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

SS : I like a relaxed and open working atmosphere, just like a workshop or classroom. I respect the creative enthusiasm of each partner. My requirement for my work partner is to be a geek first, which is outstanding in the design process. The second is to understand what others are doing, have a full understanding of the whole work, and put forward unique opinions from their own field.

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

SS : My projects usually include in some remote villages and underdeveloped areas. My work will bring some contributions to the local economic development and the improvement of people's livelihood, retain and develop the local architectural culture and give people some self-identity. In this case, profitability is no longer the main purpose.

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

SS : Architect is not a profession widely understood by the public, which needs more opportunities to preach his ideas and show himself.

Shengzhe Shen Profile