Fabio Su

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Fabio Su ("FS") 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?

FS : I like to draw since childhood, enthusiasm for painting and have strong feeling of natural beauty. Observing nature changed grain, color, temperature, and variation of light-shadow by season is what I like.when I am going into drawing. I always neglect surrounding and I know one day I will become a designer because it is my dream.

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

FS : A great design can make people’s life more comfortable and convenient. Using the design methods to express our thought and concept. This is my aim and goal.

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

FS : I like to design and brainstorming since childhood. My dream is becoming a designer.

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

FS : For me, design is like breathing. All the inspiration given by nature, every streak and light-shadow in nature is so beautiful and free. This is the best design!

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

FS : Keep taking challenges and never restrict yourself. The most important is having enthusiasm.In addition to make the effort, traveling is a good way to experience different country’s cultures and learn how to use an open minding way to think and design.

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

FS : To me, an excellent design is a great opus and the excellent designer not only has great design ability but also has the responsibility for society and open- minding to everything.

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

FS : A great design is a combination of great concept and techniques. but an extraordinary design must add the soul to make the design have vitality.

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

FS : For all design, the basic part is practical use, function, and coordination. You can not make a good design without any of this.

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

FS : If I have time, I want to design the house which can be combinated easily and quickly for the people in the war and poor.

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

FS : I wish one day I could design a faith center such as, temple and church.

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

FS : My secret material is from nature, without heavy process. Such as, logs, fair-faces concrete, and steel. I often refer different region of design. For example, floriculture, plane, stage, traditional culture, and industry design. Creativity comes from different kind of design, I very like to combine traditional techniques with modern design and expect to pass on the traditional techniques to the latest opus.

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

FS : I like the designs which have temperature, full of creativity and culture materials. Such as, the opus from Antoni Gaudi. The design full of his respect to nature and amazing industrial arts technology. His design is perfectly combining industrial arts and nature which has great influence of architecture and design concept. He once said:straight belongs to human and curve belongs to god. Learning from nature is the summit of designers.

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

FS : Except Gaudi’s opus, my favorite artist is Carlos Páez Vilaro form Paraguay. He combines the art and life style to his design. He is the best representative for multiple styles.

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

FS : The best design for me is the Corner Paradise which is located in the noisy city. The unit design brings the leisure atmosphere into the house. Adding with the excellent private space make it become my best design.

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

FS : Keep taking challenges and never restrict yourself. The most important is having enthusiasm.

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

FS : If I am not a designer, I will choose to be an artist.

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

FS : For me, design is like breathing. All the inspiration given by nature, every streak and light-shadow in nature is so beautiful and free. This is the best design!

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

FS : The concept of design, the using of software, knowledge of materials, and ability of negotiations.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

FS : To listen the sound of mountain and sea. Focus on the dialogs talked by people.

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

FS : I faced the confidence problems between customers and I. Can’t express my design concept completely to both customers and workmen.

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

FS : It’s a great opportunity for designer to show their opus. Designers can show their design concept an even communicate with people by exhibit their opus.

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

FS : Because of the growing environment, I have the ability to combine east and west culture. I plan to let west world understand more about east graceful and latest world understand the aesthetics about west culture.

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

FS : As a designer, in addition to overcome the challenges. The most important goal is to fulfill the social responsibility. Try to make our society progress due to my design.

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

FS : I think people’s expectation for a great designer is not only to make great opus but also make the society progress though the design.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

FS : A great designer has heavy duties of society and environment. An excellent technique can treat nature well and a great idea is the best social education.

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

FS : I have a guesthouse on the mountain tea garden. It is a place where hard to arrive and source shortage. I want to use the concept of container and missy house. Design the guesthouse on the tea garden makes it like the sea hotel. With high-low level which bases on the topography. I believe it will become an excellent opus.

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

FS : I am satisfying of several dining area design cases. Each of them has different style and the best part is to see the guests with smile and satisfy on their face.

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

FS : I hope to see not only the new design concept and technique but also more care about the nature and traditional culture protecting.

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

FS : Nowadays, science and technology become more and more flourishing and everything change so fast. This phenomenon makes design difficult to predict. I believe design will include all domains in the future and brand a new type of design.

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

FS : About one month to two years. It depend on the design scale.

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

FS : When I got a new case. First of all, I will design it bases on the practical requirements and local culture.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

FS : To listen the sound of mountain and sea. Focus on the dialogs talked by people.

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

FS : I believe the design will lead to trend no matter in any industry and this is what makes the classical opus show up.

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

FS : Technologies in today are necessary tools for design. The latest software and technic make the development of design more widely.

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

FS : Software such as, Cad, SketchUp, Lumion and SUPodium. Hardware such as, computer, measuring tools, tool box and magazines. Inspiration comes from everywhere such as, products in the market, cloud and mountain. Everything can be the source of creativity.

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

FS : Regardless of color, materials and environment has the irreplaceable role. Color can bring the different mood, material’s grain shows different tactile sensation and temperature and the great environment make opus vivid and lifelike.

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

FS : I am looking forward to people who can inquiry about my design concept and how I use it.

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

FS : When I see a great opus. In addition to admire it, I will think about whether I have the abilities to design such a great opus.

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

FS : I have my own team. Base on my idea and my team realize it.

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

FS : Carlos Páez Vilaro from Paraguay is the one who influence me the most. As an artist and designer, he perfectly makes aesthetics in harmony with nature. This is also my goal.

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

FS : This is Gaudi, Pablo Picasso’s portfolio and the greatest Analects of Confucius. All of these books have influencing me a lot.

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

FS : Design is a lengthy and lonely road. I often facing challenges and painfulness. This experience makes me grow up, it is a necessary course which every design should have. The bitter process leads to the sweet fruits.

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

FS : I want to have conversation with Gaudi and Pablo Picasso.

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

FS : I always focus on the design cases. All of the awards and praises are self-affirmation so it’s not important to become famous to me.

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

FS : My favorite color is gray because it looks stable. I like Alishan mountain in my country because It always makes me like home. I like the Chinese food the most. I like the autumn’s peaceful. My favorite stuff is the watch from Panerai.

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

FS : I still remember that when I design my house, we have a lot of arguments with my parents due to the different concept. I make a lot of efforts to communicate with them and finally design a dream house for everyone.

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

FS : As a designer, I need to face different challenges every day. I always encourage myself to overcome the challenges and set the target for every design case.

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

FS : I like to draw and dream unrestrained since I was a child. It’s the seed for interior designer.

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

FS : I believe future’s design is diversified and we will see an AI world in the future.

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

FS : I hope my fans can feel the ambience to my design. It is not a specific form so you need to feel the space like having a great talk to it.