Jien-An Lai

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Jien-An Lai ("JL") 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?

JL : 1999, Architecture, bachelor's, Shih Chien University, Taipei/Taiwan

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

JL : In the face of difficult problems, to build a stunning answer.

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

JL : Yes, I was forced, but all the forces that prevented me from becoming a designer, I was a born designer.

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

JL : Any type of space.

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

JL : They can become anything possible, but it should be true to yourself, not just like me.

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

JL : I do not know, but I think either good or great designers, they never feel that they are good enough or great enough.

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

JL : Through creation, the need is met, and the satisfaction is far beyond the user's expectations.

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

JL : It enables human beings to exist and develop in a more pleasant and efficient manner from the individual, the local group, or the whole.

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

JL : Make a good living design for my family.

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

JL : Always the next one.

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

JL : The whole heart treats the design of the moment more than anything else.

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

JL : Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe、The Whites 、Peter Eisenman(after The Whites) 、Zaha Hadid、Tadao Ando、Peter Zumthor.

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

JL : Barcelona Pavilion, free plan. Vitra fire station, free form. Bruder Klaus Field Chapel,Light, shape, texture, space becomes one.

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

JL : It hasn't happened yet, but I always think it's the next one.

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

JL : Love it and then sacrifice everything for it.

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

JL : Keep trying to be a designer.

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

JL : My clients,my team, my partners, my teachers, my families.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

JL : Keep loving it.

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

JL : Surviving in business rules.Besides, I don't think I'm a master.

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

JL : Look at your work honestly and question yourself.

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

JL : In addition to the need for survival, what should be put into the house to make a person's need for survival turn into a life?How do you put it in?So what does this container look like?

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

JL : Create a system that allows all talented designers to work together in a happy, effective, selfless way.

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

JL : Have a dedicated attitude.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

JL : The essence of design is to discover the problem and provide a tangible or invisible solution, which naturally leads to a harmonious society.

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

JL : A reaserch.In addition to the need for survival, what should be put into the house to make a person's need for survival turn into a life?How do you put it in?So what does this container look like?

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

JL : It hasn't happened yet, but I always think it's the next one.

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

JL : Realize the value of design and give more affirmation to consumer behavior.

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

JL : Artificial intelligence (A.I.).

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

JL : It takes about 60 working days to draw from conceptual design to construction drawing

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

JL : The site plan.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

JL : There is no.

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

JL : Both are, like chicken and eggs.

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

JL : Communication tools, communication let oneself with oneself, let oneself to communicate with others, as an extension of the body, the realistic condition, abstract ideas into a visual visible form, make oneself can examine result, as a basis for the modification or recognition, also used as an effective medium to convey ideas to others.

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

JL : Color, texture is directly affect the elements of psychological feeling, but in many cases the choice of materials need to meet the physical function of rationality, but all this should be coordinated under a concept into an organic whole.

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

JL : How do you think about that?

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

JL : Just as I'm wondering what to do with this life.

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

JL : I believe that the co-design, but so far I haven't met the perfect design partners together, I also will continue to try, might have to make a change from the work or business model.

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

JL : My design team members, Ming-Hsia Hsu, Jing-Ling Han, Tsun-Yun Lin.

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

JL : The encyclopedia of animals that was read in childhood, and many comic books.

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

JL : There was no particular development, just because it was my only interest.

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

JL : Leonardo Da Vinci

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

JL : I think for any effort and talented designers to fame is not the problem, the key is how to get a chance to use their talents, and can continue for a long time in the business environment.

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

JL : Blue, the city with busy people, shrimp and mango, late winter, artificial or natural space, AMC

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

JL : When I was a novice designers, once I finished a few space design according to customer requirements, when I proposed to the customer, the customer is attracted to another design, a design cannot meet the demand of him, but it provides another way to satisfy the greater purpose, chose this design, the client rejected my design, that I felt extremely frustrated, but give me a great revelation, the requirements of the design for depends on designers to explore out to clients, customers usually cannot be aware of their real needs.

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

JL : Discover problems, seek new ideas, and offer a unique solution.

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

JL : Absolutely, I were a paranoid child, only art activities could aroused my interest, of course, I also have a pair of paranoid parents, in addition to any activities other than art they all wanted me to be interested.

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

JL : Design service users and the environment should be completely different from now, even human existence also degenerate into another form, the survival of the environment should also be extended to other planets already, gravity, sunlight is not the same as the earth, the current design of products, buildings are no longer applicable.

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

JL : I'm a man, straight, obsessed with design.