Interview with Hang Chen

Hang Chen ("HC") interviewed on Wednesday, 14 June.

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

HC : I’m a national registered urban and rural planner, landscape engineer, and outstanding interior designer in Guangdong Province, China. In my past design work, I have served as the project leader of Turenscape, the creative design director of SWPD, and the planning and design director of Shenzhen Kaichuang Architectural Design Co., Ltd. My clients include Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone of Shenzhen, Poly Development Holding Group Co., Ltd., Handan Fuxing City and Transportation Construction Investment Co., and Qiubei County Xingyu Urbanisation Investment and Development Co., etc.

How did you become a designer?

HC : In the beginning, I only studied the subject of design because I did. In the process of practice afterwards, I gradually realized that I could make a great contribution to the development of society and the improvement of people's quality of life through design. So, with continuous persistence and efforts, I became a professional designer.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

HC : I’m dedicated to the fields of urban and rural planning, architecture, landscape and interior design, applying core strategies of project planning, landscape optimization, architectural shaping and operational support, aiming to create an ideal living environment. At the same time, based on the value of “smart construction”, my designs follow the laws of regional development and aim at maximizing comprehensive value. Based on specific commissions and local conditions, I explore how to fully develop and utilize each piece of land to maximize the value of the project under the trend of urban and rural development, using various design techniques such as ecological design, cultural design and innovative design.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

HC : I think my emotions are excitement and happiness, especially when a good idea arises.

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

HC : I think outstanding imagination, decision-making ability and execution ability are the outstanding qualities of a successful designer. Imagination determines whether creative ideas can be generated to solve problems, decision-making ability determines whether correct judgment can be made, and execution ability determines whether things can produce results. Then, you may also need some supporting partners, and the client is one of the partners.

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

HC : Next, I want to design various types of urban design such as waterfront cities, mountainous cities, and plain cities. From the perspective of overall urban planning, I will comprehensively design the city-architecture-landscape to create an ideal living environment.

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

HC : Enthusiasm, Persistence and Learning.

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

HC : Combine your own work with your ideals, and truly use your own design skills to solve the comprehensive problems you face, instead of dealing with design with templated thinking and copy-and-paste working methods.

What is your day to day look like?

HC : Reading design news in the morning and then start works to keep myself abreast of current events. During the working day, if I have time, I like to admire and analyze good designs.

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

HC : I keep up with latest design trends from Design News. I think good design is always the next one, so I am always updating my knowledge horizon to deal with diversified works, instead of staying in the past success.

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

HC : The standard I judge a good design is that it creatively solves the corresponding problems, such as being suitable for users, creating social value, having an impact on promoting social development, and having a beautiful and fashionable appearance.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

HC : When I am moved by my design, I will think that it is ready. A design that can't even impress myself, how can it impress others.

What is your biggest design work?

HC : My biggest design work is City Fields Complex Functional Urban Area. I started from the original value of the city, respecting the characteristics of itself, and integrated the elements of mountain, water and fields into the urban design of the high-speed railway station area, creating a charming place where people can intuitively perceive the characteristics of the city as soon as they come out of the high-speed railway station. Some people only see the city in terms of monetary value, but I tried to make them understand the value of the city from multiple perspectives, such as ecology, economy, culture and urban vitality, and finally got the approval. It is a monumental and comprehensive project, and I will continue to improve myself to maximize the comprehensive value of the design practice with "smart construction" as the guide.

Who is your favourite designer?

HC : There are many predecessors worth learning from, so I won't give examples one by one.

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

HC : I am currently working in Shenzhen, China. Shenzhen is one of the creative cities in the world, and design has largely influenced the city's construction and people's lives. It can be said that the development of Shenzhen is inseparable from design. At the same time, Shenzhen is a very open city, willing to accept new ideas and try new methods. To a certain extent, this has led me to develop a style of keeping up with design trends and constantly updating myself, so that I can make better designs.

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

HC : I work with multiple partners. When choosing a business partner, I look for consistency of values, pursuit of design and yearning for a better life. In our working culture, it is most important to take smart construction as the value orientation and carry out the design practice of maximizing comprehensive value.

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

HC : I conduct unpaid design research on some interesting urban or social topics, so as to make the city better and better.

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

HC : I think participating in the A’ Design Award has the benefits of enhancing vision, highlighting design viewpoints and increasing influence. This will have a positive impact on future design careers. For example, " Designer of the Day " is a platform to express yourself.

Hang Chen Profile