Ruimin He

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Ruimin He ("RH") 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?

RH : I took my bachelor degree in Product Design from Raffles Design Institute, and then graduated with Master degree in Industrial Design from Swinburne University of Technology. At the beginning I just designed physical product. With increasing development of IoT technology, it brought me a challenge to design digital applications applied to physical product, like app and web design.

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

RH : When I was kid, I like to draw on blank paper. No matter it was a word or random drawing, I might take it as a good way to express my thought. Later, I found the technical drawing of architecture / product is pretty with logic and art. So that I want to be a designer to create something innovative and meaningful.

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

RH : I choose to become a designer myself.

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

RH : For now, I focus on product design, which is not only design for physical things and also design the application in sync.

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

RH : I am not design legend, still working towards to it. Do not stop critical thinking about good design. Work hard for dreams, think with logic, enjoy in the process.

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

RH : In my humble opinion, great designers is good at questioning, and have distinctive insight into the environment. Also, they must be empathetic and share the feeling via design, so that their design are meaningful and they can present their design well.

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

RH : "Ten principles for good design" can answer this question. Is the design understandable? Can it evoke people's feeling? I will evaluate a design with these two questions, and I also believe good design can evoke people's feeling or memory so that it can tell users the story behind itself.

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

RH : The value of good design is helping people solve the problems in life. For example, cleaner robot saves your time for house cleaning, and meditation app would brings a refresh mind and peaceful mood to you. So our life become friendly, cozier and better with these positive experiences

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

RH : I am interested in NFT recently.

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

RH : User experience is an important aspect to me. It can make the design useful and easier to user, and help me to share the meaning behind design to users in good way. And logic. It ensures the quality and stability, also is a sure way to achieve design.

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

RH : Zaha Hadid. She was one of successful women and architect. Her distinctive design style, streamline, brings different inspiration in my industrial design .

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

RH : Recently, I like bronze product design by Tom Dixon, what are good consumer design with well using of material and match the marketing. I also like the architecture by Zaha Hadid with her distinctive streamline style.

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

RH : I do not have significant greatest design yet. Maybe when I win a Gold A’Design Award I can answer it. However, I always say a great design must be timeless, brings long-last benefit to environment, and evoke people’s feeling easily.

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

RH : Do not stop questioning, observe more about the environment, and think with deeper insight

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

RH : A lawyer? A developer? Neither sounds suit me better than being designer.

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

RH : Design is not only for appearance, pretty or ugly, but also present its characteristic. It will go through from the looking, material, finished to the interaction with user. Moreover, it is an innovative method to help people to solve problem in the life.

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

RH : There are more than one person helped me. But I would like to say my parents are my biggest supporters.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

RH : My design degrees brought me multiple capacity and design thinking, which are my strong backup. Also I am good at communication so that I can present my design well, and related to people.

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

RH : I am still working hard to become a design master. So far my obstacle is my general design process.

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

RH : Present the thinking behind design fluently like telling a story, show the result clearly and make sense.

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

RH : An app for smart home.

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

RH : Boost my career and our business with clients.

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

RH : Professional, have good aesthetic insight, reliable.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

RH : Design would bring solution with new technology as purveyor.

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

RH : Currently I am redesigning an interaction system.

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

RH : Every project. I feel satisfied every time I present it and the design is accepted by clients.

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

RH : fair rewards.

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

RH : Design can be better with the development of technology. Design is a positive way to interpret new technologies, also technology supports design improved and achieved. Both side is challenge for designers.

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

RH : It depends on design needs, ranges from 2 weeks to one year.

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

RH : When I get a design briefing, I would like to consider "who would be the users" firstly. It brings distinct insights about multiple user groups, and give new thinking with potential users.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

RH : Good design is understandable.

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

RH : It cannot be separated because they are supplements each others.

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

RH : Design can be better with the development of technology. Design is a positive way to interpret new technologies, also technical supports make design improved and achieved. For example, 3D printing and CAD software help design production. Moreover, advanced algorithm is new manner to due diligence and initial prototype for design. Both side is challenge for designers.

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

RH : For UI design, I usually use Photoshop, Sketch and Lanhu. For industrial design, there is a series of professional software, like Solidworks and Keyshot.

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

RH : Optimal combination of color, materials and ambient supports design be more friendly.

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

RH : What does inspire you in this design?

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

RH : "Wow!" is my first reaction when I see a new great design or product. And then I will ask myself: what is the sparking sport? what the difference / benefit does the design bring?

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

RH : I am working with a team and I would like to work with someone who is proactive and like to juggle ideas.

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

RH : I have a chat group of designers that we often exchange our thinking and funny things.

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

RH : Art: A Brief History.

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

RH : I am not a master designer yet. Now I am developing my management skill and critical thinking.

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

RH : Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

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

RH : Thanks to the awards I had, I have the opportunity to let more people know me and my design.

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

RH : My favorite color is red, my favorite place is home. I like seafood and all season.

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

RH : Winning this award is the first thing I like to talk as a designer.

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

RH : Compliments in my design presentation from clients and people propalSolving a design problem always feels good. I motivate and get inspiration by walking with my dog in nature.

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

RH : Not really. When I was a little child, designer is one of my dreams because designer can create pretty things. By I grown up, I was dissatisfied just doing something pretty. I have ambition to be a great designer to do meaningful design.

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

RH : I focus on the present.

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

RH : Thank you for all the supports!