Xinyi Liu

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Xinyi Liu ("XL") 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?

XL : I graduated from Fashion Institute of Technology jewelry design major. But I actually started my jewelry career in 2011. I was selling handmade jewelry online, basically some cold connection and wired jewelry, all handmade by me. And then I realized I wanted to become a jewelry professional so I stopped the business for a while and went to New York for school.

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

XL : I've always wanted to do something more creative, and a designer is the right fit.

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

XL : I chose to start my jewelry business and chose to go to school all because I wanted to be a jewelry designer.

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

XL : I design jewelry. But in the future if I have a chance, I want to try toy design.

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

XL : A good designer is serving for the clients or maybe her or himself. A great designer will have tribute to the world or the society. Like Leon Ming Pei, he was a great designer.

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

XL : A really good design to me would be something I enjoy wearing and also loved by the clients.

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

XL : A good design is not only has its beauty but also to make the world better.

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

XL : I would design a ring for my mom. She hasn't been wearing any ring since many years ago, I would like to design an emerald ring for her.

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

XL : My inspirations are mostly from nature and architectures. I do respect architects like Leon Ming Pei and Zaha Hadid, and also some great illustrators on instagram.

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

XL : I love some jewelry that Maurice Galli did for Harry Winston. He was a great designer and it was a great honor to be his students.

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

XL : I think the greatest one always comes next.

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

XL : Keep learning and keep practicing my skills.

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

XL : I've always wanted to be a writer when I was a teenager. It is also a job that creates things. Writers create stories and I create jewelry.

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

XL : Design is something that you make from 0 to unlimited.

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

XL : My parents and my professors.

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

XL : My next project is my new collection. It is a collection of geometrical forms of jewelry.

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

XL : I want to expand my business and invest and help more jewelry designers.

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

XL : My clients always come to me because they trust me. They can expect me being responsible and also making them satisfied.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

XL : A lot of things we have now only has their functions, people don't consider how they look like, but designers can change that.

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

XL : My new collection. It's going to be very different from what I have done before.

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

XL : A ring I designed. I used a diamond from my father's ring and redesigned, it was simple, but I applied special texture on that so it looked very unique. I wear it everyday.

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

XL : Depends on the project, some take weeks and some can take up to months.

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

XL : I start from searching references online.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

XL : Be a perfectionist.

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

XL : Unfortunately jewelry is related to fashion industry, so it gets affected by the trend a lot. But there are some traditional jewelry styles are classic.

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

XL : Mechanical drafting. I couldn't know if a design is doable until I finish mechanical drawing.

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

XL : Photoshop and CAD.

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

XL : In my work, I use a lot of gemstones. The natural colors are essential.

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

XL : Anything. I hope they like my designs.

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

XL : How did this designer come up with this idea? I want to meet him/her!

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

XL : I haven't done co-design yet but I would like to try. I don't know if I'll believe till I tried.

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

XL : Some of my professors from school.

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

XL : Monet. If I could speak French.

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

XL : Yellow and green. Thailand and Japan. Summer. Things are too many, my backpack, laced-up shoed and so on. Also there are too many good brands to share with such as MUJI, Diptyque.

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

XL : I talk to customers a lot. Good comments on my design would make my day.

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

XL : I don't know if it was obvious but I remember doing handmade things such as embroideries with my grandma and I just loved it.

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

XL : That's too far away to consider.