Interview with Camille Chung

Camille Chung ("CC") interviewed on Saturday, 7 June.

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

CC : I was educated in Chung Yuan Christian University in Taiwan, it was top 3 of interior architecture in academic schools in Taiwan. After graduated from school then ever since I have been working in interior design industry for 16years. Thanks to my first design firm Mandartrch to having me participating in W hotels Taipei project, I later had the chance to work for one of the most well known design firm The Ga Group, specialized in hospitality design. The head quarter is London, I joined the training program in Budapest office then working in Shanghai office for 3years collaborating with Kuala Lumpur office. There I had the most exciting and diversified experiences to work with all sorts of professionals. The clients that I have worked with were high-tech company BT, Media company Aegis, Hospitality group such as Starwood now become Marriott Hotels, InterContinental, Onyx hospitality group etc.

How did you become a designer?

CC : Since I was little, I always know I’m interested in arts and music, later choosing to be an interior designer was meeting the joints of living and earning due to our traditionally thinking : art can’t make you live. However it was proven wrong nowadays. Art has become living. Therefore being an interior designer was a natural path for me at that time among all the choices. After graduated from university, I continued working in interior design firms in Taiwan, Budapest, Shanghai then Singapore. The excitement and challenges of working with great designers and professionals from different industries drives me to stay in this industry and move further.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

CC : I usually get my hands on sketches when starting with a project to get some ideas, then move on imagery and mood board to gather inspiration, later would be modelling; this can be on computer or physical model, sometimes physical model can help you to study the form and scale and if it's with complicated angles.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

CC : It's a complex of emotions during the design process. The first emotion when getting a new project is excitement as it's a fresh start. During the process of developing design could be a mixture of nourves or stress as there could be some obstacles that you need to make amendmend or redesign, as well as there are promised timeline to the client. Finally when the design is approved or appreciated by the client, you would be happy or content again, especially when it's coming to the completion of a project.

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

CC : For me, I am quite an observant and a listener. The good thing about it is that I can think for the client, and make sure the design fits his need and requirement. However this could also be a down side if you care too much about how the client or the people would think of your design, then the creativity could be limited. Therefore I have learned that sometimes you need to divide the valuable opinion or suggestion and the ones not so important, that is to say, designers could also need to be responsible to let the client know what's the right direction to go, as client is not always on the right side. Making sure your client understand and see the value of your design is important.

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

CC : My design vision was broaden after working for The Ga group, Starbucks interior design and Unispace. There's mo limit in design industry and there are so much you can keep learning and growing. For me, I will like to make Devalo an international brand, to work with developer and end up with end users as detail as it can be extended to a living accessory.

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

CC : Be open minded to embrace the opportunities of learning new things and grow skills. Don’t be afraid of making mistake but learn from it. Be insightful. You can only be a better designer through observation in living. Finally like Job Steve said - Stay hungry, Stay foolish.

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

CC : Don’t be afraid to try something new or to present your own ideas. Embrace the opportunities of learning new things and grow skills. Don’t be afraid of making mistake but learn from it. Be insightful. You can only be a better designer through observation in living. Finally and most importantly, learn from the professionals.

What is your day to day look like?

CC : Before I start my working routine, I would do some exercise to get refreshing brain and mind, then I would review the things to be done and prioritise the major things. I usually browsing in the creative thinking in the morning and do boring or repeated non technical tasks in the afternoon.

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

CC : I usually get design updates through my social events and the design community. It's easier to get fresh news and new launched products in the design group, some is with the supplier group. Currently the major change is AI, how to make your design work more efficient ? How to make your work oustanding with AI mayne by the way presenting it is also the key point.

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

CC : A good designer can achieve what client wants, a great designer can provide more valuable design than what client's expectation. In my opinion, to make an excellence design, it means transcending people's expectation and providing value to it, in terms of the usage, the popularity, the actual market price, and additional to it, the fame. Some incredible design, people don't see its value at then but over time it could have been through its test and beyond measurement.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

CC : I think it's always a question. Everything can always push further. However within a designated timeline and budget, you just have to know you have done the best to it and ready to say that's my submission for my work. never the less, a good designer and great designer sometimes would challenge ourselves to push further, if we think of something better after submission, we would try to propose it to the client at "the right moment" to make sure it can be carried out.

What is your biggest design work?

CC : The Circadian Home. This is not my biggest project, however it was the first project that I had been through so much challenges mentally and physically: the covid-19, the traveling restriction, my pregnancy. Not far from the moment that I have signed up contract with the client, Covid-19 hit and I did not get the chance to visit the site once. Therefore I had to present and communicate with my client remotely. Later in constructional phase was the same restriction in deffernt areas, addition to it was my pregnancy, so i couldn't visit the work site due to two weeks quarantine policy on a return trip. Through this project, I have proven my capability on designing projects in different countries, it was base on my past experiences working for international companies that many coordination work being involved. The breakthrough on this project was also that due to health safety issues there are limits to work on site, therefore we had many pre-fabricated panels, millwork, fixed furniture being done in the factory. In this way, the site pollution is much reduced as well as the carbon foot prints by limiting travels. I can say I'm proud of what had been executed thoroughly and delicately in this project during that hard time. The outcome is worth it.

Who is your favourite designer?

CC : The Ga Group - Terry McGinnity. I have had the honor working with him on W Taipei and W Shanghai. He's methodology and philosophy of design, his working attitude toward people and client, his wisdom are all a living life example, he's a master of design that you can learn and get inspired from. I remember one time the client wants him to produce another version of basin to cost down after whole day 12hours meeting and workshop on site, everyone is tired, he's also tackling jet-lag.., he still patiently draw on sketch paper 1 to 1 and make a immediate solution for the client.

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

CC : I was born and raised in Taiwan, being an Asian makes me more want to visit western countries as the cultural differences. I like the mix of both sides, just like a fusion in a cuisine. Nowadays it is quite accessible to find information on the websites and medias about design styles, techniques, price etc. however to gain information is one thing and to achieve the level of work is another thing, so select and trust the professional is crucial at this society with overwhelming information. We need to be true to ourselves and stick to our professional judgement, don't easily lower your self esteem and the service rate to let the society and trend defining us.

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

CC : It's always about connection, but i believe if you deliver work in excellence you are able to gain more projects by referee. It's a different time and working model now in business, i believe in collaboration.

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

CC : I would be focusing on sustainable design, I think we have been taking so much from this earth from many perspectives we are not really repairing or saving anything. Thus to make sure we can really do the environmental friendly design and use the materials that can be reused, recycled, and educate your clients and your fellows are our responsibility as a professional.

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

CC : To be able to attend A'Design Award and actually getting one is my honer. I don't know how many competitors were out there but I'm glad that my work is not in vain, trying my best is the only way. I wish to be able to show the society that I'am ready for taking more, from design works to giving back to the society.

Camille Chung Profile