Fang Cheng Dong

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Fang Cheng Dong ("FCD") 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?

FCD : My major is industrial design, I finished the undergraduate study, got the bachelor's degree in Tianjin University of Technology, 2011.

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

FCD : I believe the gift that God gave to me, because He want to see a better world.

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

FCD : I chose to become a designer before I went to college, cause I want to create more and more beautiful things.

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

FCD : Before one years ago, I am a product designer, in the past 4years I designed kinds of products like Induction cooker, fridges, washing machine, air conditioner and so on. But now I become a car designer, working for GAC Group in China.

DL: What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?

FCD : Maintained a passion for life and love the world.

DL: What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?

FCD : In my opinion, the different thing is you design for goods or you design for people.

DL: What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?

FCD : Good design is to be used conveniently by different people, but none can feeling that it has been designed.

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

FCD : Good design give people a comfortable life and good mood, so we need it.

DL: What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?

FCD : I want to design something that is related to people's lives closely, because that's what's important to human beings.

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

FCD : A car, a wise creature, a friend. These three are the same thing.

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

FCD : To consider more about people's lives, think like a child, I must convince myself at first.

DL: Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?

FCD : Mr. Dieter Rams, the last time I invited by Braun as a guest juror for BraunPrize, I meet Mr. Dieter Rams in Braun and I know more deeply about his design philosophy.

DL: What are your favorite designs by other designers, why do you like them?

FCD : I like those things which are full of passion and good for our life. For example, Gogoro is beautiful and meaningful design for our life.

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

FCD : For now, I wish my greatest design is an intelligent car, it is still in process :)

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

FCD : Adhere to the faith, love the world！

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

FCD : Maybe a artist, maybe a engineer I think.

DL: How do you define design, what is design for you?

FCD : Design is an impulse, people want to achieve their goals, so they need design. Design is a tools for people to achieve their aims.

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

FCD : My family! My teacher!

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

FCD : The faith, I believe our world will become more and more better.

DL: What were the obstacles you faced before becoming a design master?

FCD : Knowledge and experience, I need to accumulate more of these things.

DL: How do you think designers should present their work?

FCD : To show a more realistic future for people.

DL: What’s your next design project, what should we expect from you in future?

FCD : It's should be a beautiful and intelligent car.

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

FCD : I want to be as great a designer as Mr.Dieter Rams.

DL: What people expect from an esteemed designer such as yourself?

FCD : A good design and easy to buy.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

FCD : Make full use of social resources and make people's life more and more conveniently.

DL: What are you currently working on that you are especially excited about?

FCD : To be a car designer and design a concept car for the future.

DL: Which design projects gave you the most satisfaction, why?

FCD : The Sliver-Touch refrigerator, cause I got the Golden A'design award.

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

FCD : Pay more attention to people's lives than commercial value.

DL: Where do you think the design field is headed next?

FCD : Customized design.

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

FCD : For concept project, maybe 3~5month. For production project, need one or two years.

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

FCD : Market research and think like a user.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

FCD : "I long so much to make beautiful things. But beautiful things require effort, disappointment and perseverance."-Vincent Willem van Gogh

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

FCD : They are affected to each other, it is difficult to separate clearly.

DL: What is the role of technology when you design?

FCD : It is an important thing, the technology support the design and development of the project.

DL: What kind of design software and equipment do you use in your work?

FCD : Rhino, Keyshot, Alias, Photoshop, AE, AI.

DL: What is the role of the color, materials and ambient in design?

FCD : To give the product a certain emotional.

DL: What do you wish people to ask about your design?

FCD : where I can buy it?

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

FCD : I will thinking about the design logic of this product at first.

DL: Who is your ideal design partner? Do you believe in co-design?

FCD : My sister is my ideal design partner. Yes, I believe so.

DL: Which people you interacted had the most influence on your design?

FCD : Those who have professional knowledge, they can put forward very deep views.

DL: Which books you read had the most effect on your design?

FCD : <A Fine Line>

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

FCD : Practice and thinking, more and more.

DL: Irrelative of time and space, who you would want to meet, talk and discuss with?

FCD : Mr. Dieter Rams

DL: How do you feel about all the awards and recognition you had, is it hard to be famous?

FCD : To be a famous designer is not important, to design a famous product is more important.

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

FCD : I like orange, I like Como and Italian food.

DL: Please tell us a little memoir, a funny thing you had experienced as a designer?

FCD : Traveling to Como and attend the A’ design award ceremony is a very wonderful experience for me.

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

FCD : Our world is beautiful and lovely, I should do my best to make it more and more better.

DL: When you were a little child, was it obvious that you would become a great designer?

FCD : I am not sure, it's been a long time I can't remember that.

DL: What do you think about future; what do you see will happen in thousand years from now?

FCD : It depends on the development of science and technology, but I think no matter how the world changes, human beings are the same.

DL: Please tell us anything you wish your fans to know about you, your design and anything else?

FCD : I am a designer, I working for my faith, I working for our world!