Yi-AN Hung

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Yi-AN Hung ("YH") 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?

YH : master degree of interior design from Taiwan.

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

YH : I love beautiful things and simple design.

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

YH : I guess I somehow choose to be one.

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

YH : interior, product, furniture, exhibition...

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

YH : work hard, work smart, open to new idea

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

YH : open minded, willing to accept new idea and changes.

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

YH : simple, clean, and solve the critical problems.

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

YH : good design bring a quality life style to our built environment.

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

YH : I would design for children and for busy city people who have lots of storage problems.

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

YH : I never think about a dream project, but I tend to focus on every project I work on.

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

YH : passion, inspiration, idea.

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

YH : I look at so many project in different perspective, and do not have a particular design master I get inspired from.

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

YH : No particular project I love, I try to look at them in all different perspective.

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

YH : simple, functional, clear idea design.

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

YH : look at more good project and practice more.

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

YH : is a profession that improve our quality of life.

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

YH : my family, colleague, and students

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

YH : passionate and keep practicing.

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

YH : quality design project, good client.

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

YH : of course, designer should present their work in most of time, visually and verbally.

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

YH : we are working on a forest exhibition hall in China.

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

YH : keep working on interesting project.

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

YH : I do not know what they expect, you should ask them...

DL: How does design help create a better society?

YH : good design always improve our society or remind people to care about our environmental in different way.

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

YH : a exhibition hall in China

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

YH : a penthouse project in Taiwan and A chair project, because they are all small project with simple idea, but win a lots of attention.

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

YH : A more technology will applied on design process and how technology will impact our living world.

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

YH : I guess with more modern technology impact on how we use the space and how we interact with the space.

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

YH : It all depend on different project.

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

YH : looks at the site, and client's need, local culture, functionality, and what might be the big idea....

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

YH : simple make good design.

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

YH : design set the trends.

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

YH : help the process of design and make it more presentable.

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

YH : SU, adobe, autodesk.

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

YH : great impact to how user experience the space.

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

YH : the idea behind each design? thinking process

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

YH : what's the big idea?

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

YH : my husband, yes I believe so.

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

YH : my colleague, my students, family.

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

YH : too many, hard to mention just one.

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

YH : I do not consider myself as master designer, just do what I like.

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

YH : no one, just to be with family more.

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

YH : yes, very hard and it is a lots of work to do.

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

YH : nature woods texture, Taipei city, white color, autumn....

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

YH : my student call me angle teacher.

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

YH : to be able to participate more interesting project.

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

YH : not sure what I am going to be when I was small.

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

YH : who knows, end of the world....?

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

YH : do I have fans? hahaah