Moon Jung Chang

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Moon Jung Chang ("MJC") 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?

MJC : I had my degrees from traditional design schools in New York City. My Bachelor of Fine Art Degree at Pratt Institute, School of Design, Fashion Design. MY Master of Fine Art Degree at Fashion Institute of Technology.

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

MJC : Firstly, I believes the fine art motivates art and design aesthetically, and then the functionality. I wished my ability of art to be more functional and useful, which can help people, and found out fashion design is one of the most valuable areas for human beings.

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

MJC : I wanted to become a painter because I have done fine art, especially paintings, for a long time. But, as I grew up, I realized I wish to design timeless artworks which can be used by people, so I decided to become a designer, instead of a painter.

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

MJC : I can design Fashion and apparel as well as product, from industrial design. I thought I love all the genre of designs but I realized I love fashion more, so nowadays, I only focus on fashion and garments design, which can be used as products too!

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

MJC : Young designers should experience as many as they can, challenge a lot, also fail a lot! They should not fear of failing, it would cause hesitation. Good design always comes from the creative and brave challenge!

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

MJC : Timeless designs and techniques, as well as the conceptions.

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

MJC : I think a really good design must satisfy people's senses and needs.

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

MJC : The value of good design can't be calculated, it is something transcends the time and place, and contains the value. Everyone needs a right to enjoy the value of designs to enhance the quality of life.

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

MJC : I want to design a fashionable space suit for NASA.

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

MJC : Experiences! I made and design many things, and know what are my strengths, and developed my aesthetic, style, and techniques. As a designer, we need our own strengths, it is the best ingredient of the design success.

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

MJC : Martin Margiela and Alexander McQueen

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

MJC : The greatest design is the design we can see the concept, process, and outcomes in pleasant ways. In design, everything is connected in details, there are no good design without the foundations.

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

MJC : I researched a lot, and made the knowledge into mine, which means I reinterpreted myself, and applied it into my design process. For example, Darwin's evolution theory, it said every life has a survival mechanism to survive, survival of the fittest. And I applied that idea into fashion and garments, what makes certain techniques survived and inherited till present days.

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

MJC : I would become a veterinarian or lawyer. The aptitude test I did in my high school, it suggested both lawyer or artist, which was a very opposite and rare result.

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

MJC : Design is life, we can't live without it.

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

MJC : I want to say thank you to my professors, who taught me to build strong foundations and also made me to grow more creative and stronger. Also many people and friends from industry, who support and trust me all the time!

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

MJC : High expectations and perfections on myself. I have to be very strict myself.

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

MJC : Due to my high standard, I challenged myself, didn't sleep, all days working and doing interns, and that let me to have a bad accident, and after that, I had PTSD and anxiety disorder, the fear of fashion. I had to deal and overcome that trauma to continue my fashion job.

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

MJC : Designers always must please visually first. Presentation also needs to be coincident with their aesthetic and concept, but always in edited and minimal ways, like a gallery space.

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

MJC : I am working on couture that can be worn at your walk, on street, even when walking your dogs! Couture that is functional and consumer friendly.

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

MJC : My goal is to design until I am 100 years old, which means I always being ahead of trend and time, never get old or retarded.

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

MJC : People want some new stimulus, experiences, and touch. That is the duty for designers to do, and also myself.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

MJC : Nowadays, due to the pandemic, we need many help from doctors and nurses. However, fashion also plays the important roles in human society, I wish to be helpful in a perspective of fashion designer and artist. That would be designers need to design something useful, but also visually pleased and inspired people to give an art energy in their life.

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

MJC : Designing a new collection excites me the most, it gives new life on my life, and excited to meet new babies.

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

MJC : The project I did with Cotton Incorporated, the outcome was great, I was awarded in that project, also got scholarship. But the reason why I picked is, it was the turning point of my design process, I felt I truly design it, also it was the time when I got a bad accident, and I was happy that I completed and submitted professionally.

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

MJC : I cannot expect what would happen because the world has been changed so much recently. But the sure thing is, there would be no seasons, trends, and also the limit of places.

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

MJC : It depends on the type of the project, minimum 3 hours to 6 months.

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

MJC : I classically research on the word, sometimes, the word brings you the magic.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

MJC : Be creative and make everything beautiful.

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

MJC : Both! Design and trends just happen naturally.

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

MJC : Technology is the most important role as a designer, especially nowadays, we cannot live without it.

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

MJC : Adobe Creative Clouds are my best friends. Months ago, I couldn't use my Adobe for 3 days, due to the errors, and my business almost shut down, I could not proceed anything. I realized the design software plays huge parts in our process.

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

MJC : Color, materials and ambient are the most values for design, they create the mood, trend, and atmosphere, they are everything. The Same jacket pattern with different colors and materials, it would be changed so differently. I value the time on my research to choose what color, materials, ambient to use in every season.

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

MJC : Dana Thomas' Gods And Kings made me excited to feel the life of geniuses in a fashion world.

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

MJC : Martin Margiela, I have a big curiosity of his hidden personality and beauty of creation. Yves Saint Laurent, I want to talk about his fashion life and french bulldogs.

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

MJC : I am too shy to get attentions, but many people love my designs, so I am very thankful. But I wish only attentions on my "work and design", not on my "personal" life.

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

MJC : My favorite color is black and pink. My favorite place is Soho, NYC. My favorite food is something spicy and also sweet. My favorite thing is my old polly pockets and cupid dolls. My favorite brand is Prada and MM6.

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

MJC : When I just graduate my bfa, I had a chance to shoot Schon Magazine editorial with a famous photographer, whom I saw from Vogue when I was a teenager. I was so excited to meet him and was so happy that he wanted to shoot my collection. On the shooting day, we said "hello", and he asked me, "where is the designer, Moon?" and I said "I am", and he said I look too young so he thought I was the intern of mine. We laughed together, and the shooting and outcome was amazing, and awarded many prizes.

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

MJC : I try to focus on my design whole day, when I take a break, I always go to a museum and gallery, but can't go recently due to covid. So, for my home motivation, I play with my french bulldog, Venus, and he motivates me a lot, because he is my muse and symbol of dualism.

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

MJC : When I was young, I just dreamed and made a goal to go to NYC to study fashion design, and when it was realized, I just worked hard to achieve the quality I want.

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

MJC : I am recently working on my second label, VENUS IN BLACK, please love and wear it a lot!