Jessica Zhengjia Hu

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Jessica Zhengjia Hu ("JZH") 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?

JZH : When I was a kid, my parents used to take me to various art events and exhibitions to cultivate my artistic culture and aesthetics. At the age of 7, my first art teacher in elementary school invited me to the school art group. Then she trained us for different art competitions. The door of art had opened up for me since then. I had always dreamed to work in the creative industry. However, I actually chose to study business and economics in college, because I realized that learning business and economics could help me understand the market and customer behaviors. I hoped to know people’s demands as well as their potential needs. After graduating from University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in economics, I moved on to study fashion design at Parsons in New York. From there, I learned how to work and think as a real designer. That was the real beginning of my design career.

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

JZH : Art is an important way for me to sense, experience and communicate to the world. And design is the method for me to think and discover potential possibilities for the future. I have always wanted to choose something that can always bring passion and motivation to my life. I am so glad that I have chosen a field I truly love as my career.

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

JZH : I made my own choice.

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

JZH : I am a fashion and product designer. For most of the time I work on fashion, graphic and product design. At the same time, I also keep learning, improving and challenging myself on some other design categories, especially those fields related to new technologies. My recent interests are some light industrial designs and 3D modeling projects. I love to work on different creative projects with ideas and inspirations from my daily life. I believe different design categories are somehow connected with each other. With the constant improvement of technology, we are now able to design things that can be useful and functional for multiple occasions in different scenarios.

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

JZH : We are in a rapidly innovating and evolving era. Remaining in the safety zone can no longer avoid being washed out by the new waves. As young designers, I believe we should walk in the front and become explorers and pioneers. We should not be afraid of difficulties and mistakes, because they can teach us important lessons and experience. Keep thinking, and forging ahead. Keep practicing and improving our capability and skills. Keep exploring the unknown potential. There are infinite possibilities in our mind, and design is a very powerful shovel.

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

JZH : When I was in college, my marketing professor once said, “Before the automobiles have been invented, if you ask a traveler what he wants, the answer may possibly be ‘a fast horse’.” Decades ago, people would not realize their demand of smartphones until the first one was launched and introduced to the market. I think a good designer knows how to fulfill the existing needs, and a great designer is someone who can foresee and fulfill the potential needs. In other words, a good designer gives people what they need, and a great designer tells people what they need.

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

JZH : I think a good design should be both functional and practical. And a really good design should be able to transmit its core concept and value clearly to its audience and user.

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

JZH : I believe good designs can make our life better by solving existing problems, increasing efficiency, as well as providing physically and mentally positive feelings to people.

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

JZH : I want to design products that can bring satisfaction and happiness to people who need them.

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

JZH : I want to design and present a 3D fashion runway online using 3D software.

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

JZH : Passion, courage, curiosity, and imagination.

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

JZH : My favorite fashion designer Alexander McQueen said, “You can only go forward by making mistake.” “As a designer, you’ve always got to push yourself forward, you’ve always got to keep up with the trends or make your own trends.” These quotes impress, inspire and motivate me all the time.

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

JZH : I am a big fan of Alexander McQueen. One of my favorite quotes from him said, “I think there is beauty in everything. What normal people would perceive as ugly, I can usually see something of beauty in it.” He liked using wild, fierce and savage ways to tell the stories. He was good at using exaggerated structures and crazy shapes to show the conflicts in humanity, race, religion, culture, society and nature. Therefore, his works were usually full of strong emotional strength and visual tension. As designers, it is not hard for us to find the beauty in our life. The key is how to use works to move the audience and users so they can feel and appreciate the things we wish to share with them.

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

JZH : I like the Spring & Summer 2019 womenswear collection of my brand Jessture a lot. It was my first collection presented on the runway of New York Fashion Week. The collection had many detachable structures such as pockets, lapels, belts and straps. All the pieces could mix and match with each other easily. Those creative funny details offered more freedom and flexibility to the wearers to express their own styles.

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

JZH : The industry is like a big mirror. We can the reflections of ourselves by looking at products and works from other designers. When I compare my design with works from the others, I can see my weakness and strength. Besides, sometimes asking comments and suggestions from the others can be a good way to improve as well.

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

JZH : Doing art or design related business, I guess. Anyway, it has to be something in the creative industry, either from the business side or from the creative side.

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

JZH : I believe design is a bridge connecting art and our daily life. It improves our living utility and happiness by transforming amazing thoughts and ideas into reality. By taking the advantage of experience and knowledge from the past, as well as the capability and potential from the present, we will be able to discover more of the beauty and infinite possibilities of the future.

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

JZH : My family is my biggest supporter. I am very grateful to my parents. I also have many supportive relatives and friends. I will not become an eligible designer without the knowledge and skills taught by my teachers, and I will not be who I am today without the experience I have learned from my previous companies.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

JZH : Supports from my family, relatives and friends. Knowledge and skills taught by my teachers. Influence and inspirations from other artists and designers. Curiosity, enthusiasm and passion in design. Courage to explore the unknown and determination to keep improving.

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

JZH : My father used to oppose my decision of becoming a designer. After I got my bachelor’s degree in economics, he wanted me to continue a master degree in business. He wanted me to work in the financial or business field, for those fields were relatively more familiar and stable in his traditional mind. However, I had been so clear and determined to pursue a design major and become a designer. Therefore, instead of applying for a business school, I applied for fashion design major in Parsons without informing my parents. Because of that, my father and I had countless arguments and fights during the years. Recalling those memories, I am gratified that my father has gradually accepted and approved my choices after seeing all the progress I have achieved in the design field. I want to thank myself for the courage, determination and persistence in the past few years, which have earned myself understanding and supportive parents today.

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

JZH : A good storyteller knows how to make a strong statement. We need to show the essence of our designs clearly in the presentations. Show the audience and customers the strength of the designs, and tell them how these designs may benefit their life.

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

JZH : I am trying to design new fashion collections using 3D tools. With the leading 3D technology these years, many brands and companies have started to present their products with virtual characters in their campaign. Hopefully I will be able to present my fashion collections on really true to life fiction characters and launch my 3D fashion runway shows online in the future.

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

JZH : Keep moving and getting ahead of myself. Keep practicing and improving my skills. Keep exploring new fields. Always on my way of becoming a more comprehensive designer who will be able to bring happiness to people and make contributions to the world.

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

JZH : Use the power of design to solve some existing problems and issues. Share beautiful things and thought, and bring welfare to people’s life.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

JZH : By solving existing problems, reducing conflicts, increasing social efficiency and improving our happiness and wellbeing.

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

JZH : I am practicing and trying to design garments using a very efficient and powerful 3D software called “Marvelous Designer”.

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

JZH : I have just finished a 3D virtual project of submarine detector. It is my biggest satisfaction for now because it is my first time to complete a 3D scene for a mechanical model. I get more satisfied each time when I make a new progress in design.

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

JZH : I am looking forward to more opportunities for new designers, more diversity in thoughts and styles, as well as more methods and platforms for designers to present and share their works to the world. I wish there could be less conflicts and unfairness, and I hope the world of art can always be filled with love and peace.

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

JZH : It is glad to see the design field has become more diverse and inclusive these years. Rapidly developing science and technology have given us more flexibility in forms, methods, and platforms. In the future, I think “Metaverse” concept may become more popular and we may expect more relevant art and design works appear in different fields. Another trending technology is the Artificial Intelligence. I have seen art works created by AI robots on the news. Those AI robots were surprisingly creative and productive. They might become strong competitors of human being not only in producing and manufacturing but also in creative industry. The good thing is this pressure of competition can transform into motivation that urges us to keep thinking, improving and moving forward.

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

JZH : In general, it takes couple weeks to design a fashion collection, couple days to make a graphic work or a 3D model. It takes much longer for motional projects. Designing time varies a lot for different projects though.

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

JZH : Make a “moodboard” or a “mind map”.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

JZH : Nothing is impossible.

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

JZH : It could be both, but mostly I agree that an initial design comes before a trend. Usually there will be someone who comes up with a new idea first. When this new idea is achieved and being recognized, it starts a new trend. As the trend gets more popular, more new designs will pop up accordingly.

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

JZH : Technologies, especially computer technologies are very efficient and powerful tools. I use 3D software to do product and packaging designs. And I will use 3D printing to mock up my samples. In fact, 3D technology has been applied in various fields these years including industrial, product, packaging, architectural, interior and even fashion apparels and accessories designs. Technology is a powerful booster for design.

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

JZH : I use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to do fashion and graphic design. I use C4D and Solidworks for product and packaging design. Sometimes I may use Maya for some motional projects.

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

JZH : If comparing a design to a human, the materials are the cells and tissues, the color is the personality and ambient will be the living environment which affects the mind and behaviors.

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

JZH : “Where can we buy it?”

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

JZH : What are the skills and techniques that make it so special?

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

JZH : Although I prefer working alone by myself, I do have collaborations sometimes. I believe a co-design project can work well if all the fellow designers agree on a unified goal and the division of work is clear enough to everyone.

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

JZH : My professors at Parsons.

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

JZH : “My Dear Bomb” by Yohji Yamamoto. “Critical Fashion Practice-From Westwood to van Beirendonck” by Adam Geczy and Vicki Karaminas. “Method of Brand Design” by Shi Xu.

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

JZH : Never stop learning and practicing. The more I practice the more sophisticated I become.

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

JZH : I wish to discuss art with Vincent Van Gogh and discuss fashion with Alexander McQueen.

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

JZH : It is never easy to be famous. Fame usually comes along with a lot of pressure. I never see myself as a famous person though. The awards and achievements I have got are just transcripts of my works. They help me perceive where I was and how well I have done.

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

JZH : I prefer neutral colors. I like staying at home and do my own stuff. My favorite food varies depending on my mood and appetite of the day. I like summer because I like wearing t-shirts. I like fall because we can enjoy the most colorful nature of a year. I cannot pick a favorite brand though, there are too many choices. My preferences are changing over time.

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

JZH : I was mistaken for a model at the backstage of a fashion week because I looked taller than my models. The staff even asked me to attend the runway rehearsal on time.

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

JZH : Being a designer, my sensitivity allows me to catch fragments of inspirations easily from my daily life. These inspirations light up my passion for design. Curiosity about the unknown motivates me to think and create. It keeps the freshness and excitement in my life.

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

JZH : I joined many art competitions and won many prizes when I was a child. But I guess my parents, teachers and most people around me might only consider art as one of my hobbies at the time.

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

JZH : Maybe there will a cyberpunk world. Or maybe humans have moved to another planet in space like the movie “Interstellar”.

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

JZH : For me, design is not just a job for living. It is a career and a dream that I wish to pursue for my entire life.