Interview with Yunhua Cheng

Yunhua Cheng ("YC") interviewed on Thursday, 16 May.

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

YC : I have been designing jewelry for 13 years now. I used to work as a jewelry designer for Chow Tai Fook, the largest jewelry company in China. The experience of working there has made me grow a lot。

How did you become a designer?

YC : I completed a 4-year undergraduate program in furniture and interior design at Jiangxi Normal University. Following graduation, I serendipitously entered the jewelry industry and embarked on my career as a jewelry designer.I think designer is a very interesting profession, which attracts me step by step. When I see excellent design works, I will hope that I can create such excellent works.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

YC : I think the theme is the most important, everything should be centered around the theme, I will do some research around the theme, and in the initial design, I prefer to use hand painting rather than computer, and after the design is completed, we will use computer rendering.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

YC : When I am inspired, I am often very excited, because I suddenly have a lot of good ideas, but when I draw on the drawings, I often feel that I cannot meet my requirements or the process is limited and I feel distressed. At this time, I need to constantly optimize, and when countless overturns and starts again, I will feel very good and happy, and you will get a sense of accomplishment when the final product is finished.

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

YC : I have a wide range of hobbies. In my spare time, I like photography. I also studied fashion design。

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

YC : I have registered a brand called "Jie Jing Jewelry", I hope I can design this brand well, and run it well, so that more people know it.

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

YC : First of all, I like the profession of design, and then I work hard to do it, accumulate experience, learn the craft, and broaden my horizon.

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

YC : Design is the same, and learning more about design in other industries may be a way to create inspiration

What is your day to day look like?

YC : In the morning, I usually read a book or draw for a while to calm down, and then I will start today's work. I like drawing by hand the most, I think drawing is a happy thing.

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

YC : I tend to stick to my own personal style and develop my own family of products. If I want to follow the trend, then I will study the trend first, and then find a breakthrough to do design。

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

YC : I think the market is the criterion to test the commercial design, because after all, the design has to sell money, if no one pays, then the value of the design will not be reflected，So good design must be people are willing to pay。

How do you decide if your design is ready?

YC : The design is completed step by step, when I finish drawing, I will put it for a few days, and then review it again to see if it is still as good as I thought at that time, if it is not, then I may cancel it, and I will improve it step by step in the following rendering, the same goes for the process of production, and constantly adjust it.

What is your biggest design work?

YC : I think it may be the design of the project, according to the direction proposed by myself, and finally preserved in the continuous cycle of building and knocking down.I think it may be the design of the project, according to the direction proposed by myself, and finally preserved in the continuous cycle of building and knocking down. For example, in the series of "Road" I am doing now, I need to think about what material I need to use to fit this series in the initial design, then I thought of Opal, and then I found a small egg noodle Opal to design, because the oval Opal is very similar to pebbles, and I also feel satisfied with the final design effect.

Who is your favourite designer?

YC : I think there are so many designers I like, I love Jar's design, its work combines art, craft, design and business。

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

YC : I live in Shenzhen now, but I also like Shanghai very much. Shanghai is not only modern but also charming. The design there is both commercial and artistic, while Shenzhen will be more commercial and modern with a slightly lighter sense of art. I love music, it can bring your emotions and let you change the mood of the design. There is design everywhere in our life, without design there would be no city today。

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

YC : At the moment I am working alone and I would like to have an operating partner so I can have more time to work on my own product. A good designer should be all-around, understand design, understand products, understand customer psychology, grasp their own brand tone.

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

YC : For customers, in addition to products, we may also provide knowledge about jewelry science, so that customers have a deep understanding of jewelry. We can provide job opportunities for new designers after we grow up in the later stage, and we are also doing some public welfare.

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

YC : First of all, competition is an opportunity to prove one's ability. Participating in the competition is not only a chance to prove oneself, but also a very good opportunity to do one's own work. Winning the prize is actually an exposure to oneself and the product, so I think designers should try to participate in design competitions。

Yunhua Cheng Profile