Wu Gang

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Wu Gang ("WG") 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?

WG : I got my Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture, in Tongji University, and Master in Architecture, Technical University of Karlsruhe, Germany. Work experience: 1994 Architect in Architecture Department, Siemens Real Estate Management Co.,Ltd. Munich, Germany, Head designer and project leader of Asian projects,1997 Partner in WSP Architects and Engineers Munich, Germany,1999 Principal Designer and General Manager in WSP Beijing, China. The works and papers of me have been widely published in various professional magazines and public media and exhibited in Dutch Design Week 2008, Architectural Biennial in Beijing 2004, China Modern Construction Exhibition in Duesseldorf, Germany 2003 and WA Chinese Architecture Award in Beijing 2002. Under my leadership, WSP ARCHITECTS has been awarded the title "Most Valuable Design Institute of China 2008-2009". I am the member of AA Asia, and I am also elected as one of the Ten Greatest Architects in China" in 2005, and one of the "100 Most Influential Chinese Architects" in 2004. I serve as associate professor at the Department of Architecture of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and the visiting professor of the architecture department in NanJing University and Southeast University.

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

WG : It was definitely my freewill, being a designer is like a dream come true and to give me possibility to create more dreams.

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

WG : A good design will make contributions to the whole human society and of course everyone should invest in it.

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

WG : Well….I never think about it, maybe I was born to be a designer and it was meant to be.

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

WG : Design is like putting everything together in one thing, you get what you see, you hear and what you think about together as a whole to make a little world for everyone to enjoy.

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

WG : There shouldn’t be any limitation or rules about it, every designer has a unique way to present their own work.

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

WG : It depends on the project.

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

WG : Either works, trends might set the design as some designers might willingly follow what is popular at the moment. However, a good design could also set the trend as a good design type should be spread.