Yue Wai Yip, Tommy

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Yue Wai Yip, Tommy ("YWYT") 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?

YWYT : I'm graduated from Polytechnic University in Product analysis & engineering design.

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

YWYT : In my high school year, a teacher told me that I had a design talent

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

YWYT : I'm choose designer for work!

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

YWYT : I'm doing web, branding, motion graphic, product, illustration at the same time!

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

YWYT : More contact with new things, passionate in your love!

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

YWYT : Good designer is bright, great designers far-reaching impact！

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

YWYT : Good design can make people impression and energy and emotional.

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

YWYT : Good design can make people happy, function, feeling, life better! Thats why everyone need invest in good design.

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

YWYT : Impressive and unforgettable works.

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

YWYT : My dream product have many ideas, e.g. Lamp, house product, playful product...

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

YWYT : Focus, hard working and not afraid of lonely.

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

YWYT : Steve Jobs, Philippe Starck, their design creative and flexible and motional.

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

YWYT : I love industrial design, I really love mechanism, process and the change of society!

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

YWYT : My greatest design call "Woodjobber" is my first belong to their own creation

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

YWYT : Listen different people comment and suggestion, filter their message and improve.

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

YWYT : Japanese chef, because I love Japanese food

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

YWYT : I think 70% ideas is come form me.

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

YWYT : Super Sun, she is my most important people, without she, no today of me.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

YWYT : My story and my experience.

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

YWYT : Nobody believes my creation will be successful!

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

YWYT : Can share to different platform, place, and exhibition.

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

YWYT : I will created playful, functional, product for my next future.

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

YWYT : Let my family and friends know that I can go my way, do not worry about me.

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

YWYT : Often looking forward to their work

DL: How does design help create a better society?

YWYT : Kindness, love, emotion is indispensable of design elements

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

YWYT : I learning new things about digital skills, drawing skills ...

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

YWYT : Ha Ha, still haven't at this moment.

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

YWYT : Digital technology + Traditional industry + environmental consideration

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

YWYT : I think innovative is field is headed next.

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

YWYT : I take around half year to one year.

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

YWYT : I will hand sketch before do it in computer.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

YWYT : I don’t want other people to decide who I am. I want to decide that for myself.

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

YWYT : I think design sets the trends more than trends set the designs.

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

YWYT : Technology can express my ideas quickly.

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

YWYT : Adobe tools

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

YWYT : These items can make me more focus in my creative.

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

YWYT : I have no limit, because I have interest in every design projects

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

YWYT : Maybe in these 2-3 months.

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

YWYT : No any partner at this moment.

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

YWYT : When I fill sad they're support me, when I feel alone they will give me love.

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

YWYT : kenya hara! Designing Design

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

YWYT : keep to contact new things and share with my friends.

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

YWYT : Philippe Starck and kenya hara! I want to learn from them

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

YWYT : I can present my work to Europe, is what I have been looking forward to. I feel Happy and dream come ture.

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

YWYT : My favorite color is black, Japan is my love place, I really love Japanese food, I love summer, and love old branding e.g. BRAUN design

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

YWYT : I have one ideas is come from candy, when I present my ideas the customer also taste I give them candy. After my presentation they ask me my ideas is come from the candy? They told me unbelievable.

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

YWYT : When everyone feels that I can not be a designer, I keep trying to keep learning and try

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

YWYT : When I was a child, I was different from the average child, I like a person to create, painting, assembly model

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

YWYT : Everything will be simple, technology, the emotions between people will diminish

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

YWYT : I'm not only talent in illustration, My work include products, motion graphics, environmental, branding design...