Wing Keung Wong

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Wing Keung Wong ("WKW") 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: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?

WKW : I love wearing wristwatch that I can't leave home without wearing one on my wrist. I always want to wear my own design, and the urge keeps growing and growing until one day I decided to make this happen. This is how I started designing wristwatch.

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

WKW : This happened naturally.

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

WKW : I mainly design wristwatch. I had designed some eye-wears as my hobby and would really love to design toys and games.

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

WKW : Think like a child, dream like a child.

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

WKW : A good designer follows best design principles and rules. A great designer has his/her own design principles and rules, as well as his/her own style.

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

WKW : A good design is like a story book. It has something to tell you.

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

WKW : A good design tells story like no story book does. You could actually tap into the designer's thought when emerging into the design. I don't think one "should invest" in good design, as pursuing good design is a natural urge of human-being. No one on earth will go for a bad design.

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

WKW : A self-sustaining social system which everyone has a chance to progress. No one will be leftover.

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

WKW : Add-on movement for ordinary wristwatch. (design is completed, now at the R&D stage) Table scale location system for automated figures. (concept has been proven, lack of funding to realize)

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

WKW : Never grow up.

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

WKW : Japan comics/animations Movies Andy Warhol Harry Winston Kaventsmann

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

WKW : Too many! To name a few, Kaventsmann watch's design is so tough and masculine, yet simple. IC Berlin's innovation about eye-wear's design. Secret wood's ring where there is a mini world in each ring.

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

WKW : Add-on movement for ordinary wristwatch. Can't talk much about it yet, as it is not released yet.

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

WKW : Never stop inputting. Read, watch, think, dream. Once there are enough "data" in your brain, insight will started to emerge.

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

WKW : Programmer. But it is also a sort of designer.

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

WKW : Design is a way to tell others regarding your thoughts about something, without using words.

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

WKW : Not having sufficient resources.

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

WKW : Add-on movement for ordinary wristwatch.

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

WKW : Having a design/product that will influence people's life in a good way.

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

WKW : A view/way that have never been thought of before.

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

WKW : Add-on movement for ordinary wristwatch.

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

WKW : From a couple hours to a couple years.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

WKW : Never grow up.

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

WKW : It depends on countless factors. Economy, culture, incidents, etc. Some designs just popup naturally and become trends. Same on the contrary.

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

WKW : Significantly reduced the complexity and time taken when designing. It also provides a much wider choice of ingredients for using in a design.

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

WKW : Pen and paper. Inkscape (2d vector software) Fusion 360 (3d software)

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

WKW : The designer's thoughts when he/she was designing.

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

WKW : I work solely, but I do believe in co-design, just not suitable for me.

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

WKW : Frankly, comics.

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

WKW : Albert Einstein, Buddha, Carl Gustav Jung, Edgar Cayce.

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

WKW : Some of my designs are indeed coming straightly from my dreams.

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

WKW : When I were a kid, people around me think I am going to be an artist instead. I had my first group Chinese drawing exhibition when I was 11.