Bryan Leung

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Bryan Leung ("BL") 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?

BL : I have a bachelor’s degree in industrial design.

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

BL : I really enjoy devising strategies and will observe everything in life. To make dreams come true, I went on the path of becoming a designer. So far, I have enjoyed every minute of it.

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

BL : I choose to become a designer.

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

BL : I enjoy design strategies the most. In addition, I love people-related things because they enable you to find different possibilities and development potentials.

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

BL : The ability to empathize and see the nature of things.

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

BL : I consider whether the design is accurately and appropriately executed as well as the uniqueness of the design concept

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

BL : Even for people who come from the same background, they may still be able to find new possibilities and opportunities through different designs. Good designs facilitate competitiveness and developments.

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

BL : I would design outstanding items that have lost their popularity for people I would like to thank.

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

BL : My favorite design is juicy salif by Philippe Starck. His strategic success, rather than functional success, has truly impressed me.

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

BL : I have developed the habit of looking at things from different perspectives and experiencing, soaking in everything that life has to offer.

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

BL : I think design entails strategies and arrangements, in which all factors are presented and utilized in the most appropriate manner. In addition, design may be described as a manifestation of thoughts and ideas.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

BL : All the life experiences that I have had and the people I have acquainted myself with have made me the designer I am today.

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

BL : They should consider more than just the visual parts of the designs; that is, they should take into account the atmospheres as well as “stories” of the designs.

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

BL : My future design projects will include producing designs that meet people’s daily life needs as well as things that they can “experience” repetitively and in detail.

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

BL : My ultimate goal as a designer is to transform Taiwan’s OEM technologies into a luxury brand.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

BL : Design helps create a better society by allowing people to enjoy their daily lives and enabling smoother and friendlier interactions between people.

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

BL : I am currently working on using the most appropriate method to find the optimal strategy, and then perfectly implementing such a strategy.

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

BL : Memento, because it was a design that I created to show my appreciation to the person I wanted to thank.

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

BL : I would like to see designs being used in different industries and that people paying attention to their design experiences.

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

BL : It really depends on the size of the design project. In general, the more time that I have, the better the design products become.

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

BL : I start by having an in-depth understanding of the design project and soaking in the experience.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

BL : Experience is opportunity.

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

BL : I think that both hold true.

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

BL : Technology helped me elevate my ideas and product texture to a higher level and, most importantly, it allowed an ice-cold material to evoke a sense of warmth.

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

BL : Colors, materials, and ambient offer an experience to the five senses and serve as a link between stories.

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

BL : I wish them to ask me questions that even I myself have not thought about.

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

BL : I think about how everyone can be immersed in that deep and satisfying experience.

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

BL : My ideal design partners are those who have a thorough understanding of different design techniques and those who have an interest in business strategies. I believe that a good team will bring out better designs.

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

BL : Change by Design: How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation byTim Brown

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

BL : I develop my skills as a designer by constantly picking other people’s brains, by thinking from a variety of perspectives, and by sharpening my perceptiveness.

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

BL : My favorite color is Red. I love a study room where I can exercise or think quietly. I like the air in the fall.

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

BL : I tell myself that there will always be thinking methods or contexts that have never been introduced, and that new experiences will always be a possibility.

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

BL : I found out that I would become a designer when I realized that I kept thinking from different perspectives and coming up with ideas that nobody else thought of.

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

BL : I think people will pay more attention to thinking, and that realizing those thoughts will become much easier. In addition, ideas that are not being valued now will be realized in the future.