Janny Ji

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Janny Ji ("JJ") 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?

JJ : I studied illustration as an undergraduate at the Rhode Island School of Design and later studied graphic design as a graduate student at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

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

JJ : The idea that graphic designers tell stories through a wide range of forms, mediums and experiences and ultimately influence people in different ways motivates me to design. I became a graphic designer because it is a discipline that is similar as painting but not as personal as painting is.

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

JJ : I studied finance during my freshman year and was asked to become a banker, later I changed my major and decided to become a designer.

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

JJ : I am interested in working on projects that relates to literature and poetry.

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

JJ : A good design is conceptually strong and visually groundbreaking.

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

JJ : Good design inspires people, shares ideas, raise questions and makes an impact on the society.

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

JJ : I am excited to working on an exhibition project.

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

JJ : As a learner who is pretty new to the field, I think there is no such way to define success, but rather it is worthwhile to keep trying and failing.

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

JJ : Massimo Vignelli, Paula Scher.

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

JJ : During my journey of studying graphic design, I figured that I grow through asking questions, exploring the unfamiliar, failing and iterating.

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

JJ : I would become a painter.

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

JJ : To me, design is a process of storytelling, translating one thing into another by using various methods in order to communicate an idea or concept to a broader audience.

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

JJ : Two of my biggest supporters are my mentor Fred Lynch and Jennifer Cole Phillips.

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

JJ : I think besides sharing thinkings and visual executions, it is also valuable for designers to share the process behind their decision-making.

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

JJ : I am working on some personal projects that relates to Hanzi. I'm excited to share with the community in the near future.

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

JJ : My ultimate goal as a designer is to have my own studio and collaborate with other talented designers.

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

JJ : I enjoyed working on projects that have a concentration on typography. Because it's challenging and fun to think of visual solutions that use language to structure stories and narratives.

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

JJ : It depends on the project. Some projects only take very short amount of time whereas some projects take time for iterations.

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

JJ : I start with brainstorming, writing down ideas in words on my notebook. I tend to not draw or create visuals at the beginning stage of each project.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

JJ : “God is in the details” – Mies van der Rohe

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

JJ : I think design set trends.

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

JJ : I enjoy exploring with different technologies, some are familiar and some are very unfamiliar.

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

JJ : Adobe Creative Suite, Processing

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

JJ : When I see a new great design or product, I am interested in the idea behind the execution and the journey that leads to the execution.

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

JJ : My ideal design partner is someone who is motivated, talented and smart. I do believe in co-design.

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

JJ : My mentor Ellen Lupton, Jennifer Cole Phillips and Abbott Miller.

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

JJ : Looking Closer: Critical Writings on Graphic Design, Thinking With Type.

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

JJ : I would want to meet with Massimo Vignelli.

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

JJ : My favorite color is orange, favorite place is my studio, favorite food is almond, favorite brand is Muji.

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

JJ : I motivate myself by learning from interesting ideas and inspiring projects.

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

JJ : I was interested in art the most among other subjects.