Interview with Tong Xu

Tong Xu ("TX") interviewed on Tuesday, 21 May.

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

TX : I am an architect by profession and have been engaged in architectural and interior/exterior environmental design for thirty years. My career has spanned across real estate development companies, construction groups, architectural design institutes, design firms, and decoration companies. The rich professional experience and role transitions have allowed me to naturally adopt a client-oriented approach and consider problems from the client's perspective. This has enabled me not only to delve deeply into designs that align with the clients' operational thinking but also to stay one step ahead, earning the trust of numerous clients. Many of these clients have become my close friends. One of my most well-known works from my younger days was designing thirty-five Starbucks coffee shops when they entered China. Even today, the headquarters in Seattle considers these stores as some of their best-designed outlets during that period.

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

TX : a. It is essential to follow through the implementation process of your design work, as it can lead to significant improvement in terms of technical craftsmanship, understanding, and confidence. Remember that you cannot evade design responsibility for any unsuccessful implementation. b. The design process is a struggle within yourself; any excessive description or forced association that deviates from the leading design concept should be firmly discarded, no matter how brilliant the creativity may be. c. Designers should allocate time to observe the world and engage in cultural exchanges; traveling and reading are equally important. New media forms cannot replace your firsthand experiences because those belong to others. Only by experiencing things personally can they become your own, allowing you to speak in your own language rather than someone else's - something your clients will notice.

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

TX : My understanding of design is that, in essence, design serves operations and is a packaging tool for operations. Good design creates things that belong to customers, including operators and consumers. Many designers are simply expressing their own self-awareness, with a constant logic no matter what project they are working on. This approach to design has strong limitations. I pursue the diversification of design logic, lower my ego, and prioritize means over ends.