HUAWEI DAI
LEGENDARY INTERVIEW
Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer HuaWei Dai ("HD") 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?
HD : Chongqing Jianzhu University, Shanghai Tongji University
DL: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?
HD : I hope that beauty and architecture will be integrated to serve the society.
DL: Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?
HD : My ideal is a designer.
DL: What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?
HD : I hope to design a classic building
DL: What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?
HD : Observing and thinking, focusing on persistence
DL: What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?
HD : Not reaching the designer is more authoritative
DL: What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?
HD : I think that we can consider the problem from the perspective of the user and make a good design that can be recognized by most people.
DL: What is the value of good design? Why should everyone invest in good design?
HD : First of all, there should be commercial value, and good design can create commercial value.
DL: What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?
HD : I will find a piece of land and design a house for myself. It is energy-saving and environmentally friendly, has an innovative design, and has ecological crop closures.
DL: What is the dream project you haven’t yet had time to realize?
HD : Building an island
DL: What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?
HD : Learning, thinking, persistence
DL: Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?
HD : Le Corbusier
DL: What are your favorite designs by other designers, why do you like them?
HD : Aunt Bell. I think the exquisite machinery is worthy of praise.
DL: What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?
HD : I still don't think I have a great design.
DL: How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?
HD : I like technology programs and learn a lot of non-professional knowledge, which is very helpful for design.
DL: If you hadn’t become a designer, what would you have done?
HD : I might be a chef.
DL: How do you define design, what is design for you?
HD : First propose the idea, then think of ways to solve and implement.
DL: Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?
HD : I think it should be my partner.
DL: What helped you to become a great designer?
HD : The pursuit of beauty and art, and persistence.
DL: What were the obstacles you faced before becoming a design master?
HD : Tight work, not too much time to think.
DL: How do you think designers should present their work?
HD : Let design integrate into life and everyone can be in it.
DL: What’s your next design project, what should we expect from you in future?
HD : A hotel in the mountains, I hope to be recognized again.
DL: What’s your ultimate goal as a designer?
HD : Most people like my design.
DL: What people expect from an esteemed designer such as yourself?
HD : do not know
DL: How does design help create a better society?
HD : Good design can raise the public's awareness of beauty.
DL: Which design projects gave you the most satisfaction, why?
HD : Not yet, some designs look back and think they can do better.
DL: What would you like to see changed in design industry in the coming years?
HD : I hope more people will join the design industry so that I can see more and better designs.
DL: Where do you think the design field is headed next?
HD : Technology increases efficiency and saves more time, and design tends to increase people's awareness of beauty.
DL: How long does it take you to finalize a design project?
HD : Minutes or days
DL: When you have a new design project, where do you start?
HD : Starting from the plane
DL: What is your life motto as a designer?
HD : Thought is unbounded
DL: Do you think design sets the trends or trends set the designs?
HD : Design determines trends
DL: What is the role of technology when you design?
HD : Technical solutions can not be realized but can be thought of
DL: What kind of design software and equipment do you use in your work?
HD : Pencil, electronic board、Autocad、photoshop
DL: What is the role of the color, materials and ambient in design?
HD : Color is the strongest hint in the human heart, and the material determines the temperature of the design. The environment is used as a background to check whether the design is reasonable.
DL: What do you wish people to ask about your design?
HD : I hope people like my design.
DL: When you see a new great design or product what comes into your mind?
HD : I will feel that I should continue to learn.
DL: Who is your ideal design partner? Do you believe in co-design?
HD : I think it is a user, and priority communication is also a cooperative design.
DL: Which books you read had the most effect on your design?
HD : I think it is travel, which has increased my understanding of the world.
DL: How did you develop your skills as a master designer?
HD : Communicate with others
DL: Irrelative of time and space, who you would want to meet, talk and discuss with?
HD : Communicate with yourself in the past and in the future.
DL: How do you feel about all the awards and recognition you had, is it hard to be famous?
HD : Design takes a lot of hard work and luck
DL: What is your favorite color, place, food, season, thing and brand?
HD : Like red, watching the sunset in Florence in spring
DL: Please tell us a little memoir, a funny thing you had experienced as a designer?
HD : In order to design the bathroom once, I want to know the structure of the female bathroom, and bought a ticket to enter the female bathroom. Of course, in the absence of anyone.
DL: What makes your day great as a designer, how do you motivate yourself?
HD : When there is no other interference, one thinks, I often say to myself! To be a great designer.
DL: When you were a little child, was it obvious that you would become a great designer?
HD : I never thought about it, I just painted robots like Transformers from childhood.
DL: What do you think about future; what do you see will happen in thousand years from now?
HD : After the advancement of science and technology, people may live longer, long sighs are too short, and time is not. Who knows?
DL: Please tell us anything you wish your fans to know about you, your design and anything else?
HD : No more. Thank you!
