Ronghao Jin

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Ronghao Jin ("RJ") 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?

RJ : I graduated from Industry Design, in the past 10 years of design career I made design for graphic design, industrial design, interactive design and other design areas. Cross-domain design help me to thinking from different views

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

RJ : I want to use my design to make the world a better place.

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

RJ : To be a designer is my dream, I really love it.

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

RJ : I'm a crossover designer, working in graphic design, industrial design and interactive design. I plan to make more industrial design in future, to make some objects.

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

RJ : They should broaden their views and explore the outside world often, to know about the nature of human and their daily life.

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

RJ : A good designer make good-looking design, a great designer make design to change people's life and even the human being society.

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

RJ : A good design can understand the users, the scenarios and even the times. I evaluate the design on the basis of insightful elements.

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

RJ : A good design can be a simple, direct and powerful tool, which helps people save time, energy and protect environment.

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

RJ : I wish to make more design with great value for the society. For instance, help the poor and disabled people to live better life.

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

RJ : To design a chair

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

RJ : Spend 3 times deeply thinking time, comparing with designing time.

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

RJ : Naoto Fukasawa and Kenya Hara

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

RJ : The CD player designed by Naoto Fukasawa, a simple design full with emotion. Emotion is the highest level of design.

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

RJ : Waterwheel washing machine (reddot award 2013: Best of the Best) The design helps some under developed areas people wash clothing, even don't have stable electricity

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

RJ : More thinking, more practice and more patience.

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

RJ : I’m not sure, but if so, I must be regretful.

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

RJ : Design is a key to a better life.

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

RJ : My wife Jacqueline. She has a good design taste and sensitive product feeling, although her job is not relative. She always supports me and helps me make this achievement.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

RJ : I don't want only design some good-looking things, I hope my design can help users get a better experience in daily life, and make the world better.

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

RJ : Not everyone can understand and accept you design thinking, I need to deliberate it and keep it as a basic principle.

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

RJ : Show the thinking process instead of design sketch.

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

RJ : We’re designing a mobile payment app, and plan to bring convenient payment way for Indonesian people. Of course, we wish take part in A’ award design next time.

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

RJ : I hope more people and family will use my design and will like them. I wish my design will improve their life.

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

RJ : To design something can really help them.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

RJ : The process of designing is the one to consider the users, environment and society, whose aim is to build a better world.

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

RJ : We’re designing a mobile payment app, and will make special adjustment to help monochromat and blind person use it easily.

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

RJ : Waterwheel washing machine (reddot award 2003: Best of the Best), the design combined orient culture and west modern technology, helping under develop areas have a washing clothing way by nature power

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

RJ : Protect intellectual property, and more respect to the design and designer.

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

RJ : Over the past thousand years, the design is more about the visual aspect. Maybe the following trend should be about other senses.

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

RJ : From 1 day to 1 year, I’m generous with my time for the good design.

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

RJ : From users, background of the project and business model and etc.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

RJ : Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication

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

RJ : Mostly, design sets the trends, as a great design will create a new life style.

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

RJ : A tool to realize your thinking.

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

RJ : Macbook，sketch adobe … tool is not the most important factor.

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

RJ : Help users process the necessary information.

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

RJ : If the design can help me solve the problem.

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

RJ : What’s the scenario of the product, and how does the people use it?

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

RJ : Yes, I do. There’re different types of designers, they can cooperate with each other to be inspired from time to time.

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

RJ : My post-graduated Prof. Huang Tao, gives me a new view of design. He also received a golden prize in this year’s A' design award.

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

RJ : A history of modern design by Shouzhi Wang

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

RJ : Deliberate practice

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

RJ : Steve Jobs, talk something about product design

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

RJ : To get recognition is one of the happiest thing for the designer.

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

RJ : My favorite color is white, grey and red; the place is Barcelona; the food is Hunan cuisine; the season is autumn and the brand is IKEA.

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

RJ : Haha, I had modified a design for 7 times, and the final decision was back to the first one.

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

RJ : Every time, when I realize design is a way to build a better life, I get a lot motivation.

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

RJ : Yes, when I was in elementary school, I was obsessed with a software to design some interesting things. Years later, I knew the software was named Photoshop.

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

RJ : The future is about innovation from all aspects, technology, biology, medicine, of course, design. The world must be more diversified.

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

RJ : Let’s explore the world and share creative ideas together.