Iun Lung Lu

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Iun Lung Lu ("ILL") for their original perspective and innovative approach to design as well as their creative lifestyle, we are very pleased to share our interview with our distinguished readers.

DL: Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?

ILL : I have an education background solely in industrial mechanism. I stumbled upon interior design, fell in love with it ever since, I read and learned about it from as many sources as I could, and eventually became a designer.

DL: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?

ILL : I've always been interested in space arrangement. My first project was rearranging and re-decorating a room in my home. From there I started learning about design by myself, and eventually became a designer.

DL: Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?

ILL : I chose to become one out of passion and interest.

DL: What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?

ILL : My company does minimalistic home designs, commercial spaces designs for the most part with some installation art design. I'd like to do more projects where I could design the whole building from scratch, that way there's less limitations and restraints on expression of creativity.

DL: What is the value of good design? Why should everyone invest in good design?

ILL : Beauty, comfort, improves life quality, just to name a few of the values. And for above reasons, I believe people should invest in good design.

DL: What is the dream project you haven’t yet had time to realize?

ILL : I've been wanting to design and build my own coffee shop.

DL: What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?

ILL : Passion, constant learning of innovative perspectives, invest in what can expand your horizon.

DL: What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?

ILL : I've designed a mansion, using style that's completely different from that of the local market. While the local market tends to use more extravagant decor, shiny objects to announce their wealth and existence, the mansion I designed was minimalistic but spells humble elegance with high-end taste.

DL: How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?

ILL : Constant learning, see more, travel more if they can. Pay attention to details in everyday life, observe what could be improved in an environment, and apply what you've learned into your projects.

DL: If you hadn’t become a designer, what would you have done?

ILL : Possibly a chef.

DL: Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?

ILL : My wife, without her my company would not have been established.

DL: What’s your ultimate goal as a designer?

ILL : Create and promote a different kind of style to people in Taiwan.

DL: What would you like to see changed in design industry in the coming years?

ILL : I hope design can be out of modularly created, I'd like to see designers try out different designing styles, bring more change to buildings in Taiwan.

DL: How long does it take you to finalize a design project?

ILL : Usually at least a year from start to finish.

DL: When you have a new design project, where do you start?

ILL : I start from understanding the client's need, their living habits, their likes and dislikes, in order for me to design a perfect space for them.

DL: Do you think design sets the trends or trends set the designs?

ILL : Design sets the trends.

DL: When you see a new great design or product what comes into your mind?

ILL : I start thinking about how can I and what about them can I apply to my own design, if there's a concept I haven't explored, a new idea I didn't think of, how can I incorporate it into my own design?

DL: How did you develop your skills as a master designer?

ILL : Besides learning from observing, I also learn from my mistakes.

DL: What is your favorite color, place, food, season, thing and brand?

ILL : I'm very fond of Italy, its culture, and definitely its wonderful food.

DL: What makes your day great as a designer, how do you motivate yourself?

ILL : When clients accept my designing style it always puts me in a good mood, my style is not the most common in the local market, so I'm glad every time a new client accepts it, I feel like that brings Taiwan a little closer to having a more diverse and vibrant idea of design each time.