Jie Yang

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Jie Yang ("JY") 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?

JY : I am in Shenzhen, China. This is the design capital of China. Now we are more and more recognized. I graduated from the Chinese Academy of Art, but I am particularly interested in international design concepts and art, so I also read a lot of books.

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

JY : I began to study fine arts at the age of five, such as sketch, watercolor, oil painting and so on. In fact, I was very naughty when I was a child. My parents didn't have time to look after me, so they sent me to the holiday art class and let the art teacher take care of me. Then found that i have a special sensitivity to art, and then I never give up my art study until I finish my studies and enter the social work. It is logical that i become a designer. I think my most suitable job is design, which will bring me endless happiness and satisfaction. I love design very much.

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

JY : This is a happy and correct choice in my life.

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

JY : I like emotional design, I hope my design can make people happy or sad tears, touching people's hearts.

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

JY : Study hard and live conscientiously

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

JY : It's like two people: one is beautiful, and the other will come into your heart.

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

JY : To understand and understand the design you want to do, I see excellent design will say: "I see this design, I am particularly happy."

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

JY : Good design can make everyone like it and sell the product better, so that's why everyone is willing to invest in good design.

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

JY : I will design a poster to convey peace, and I will design a poster for people suffering from war, so that they can live hopefully.

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

JY : Creation with International Designers

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

JY : Find design inspiration in life and integrate design into life.

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

JY : Mr. Traut and Mr. Jin Diqiang

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

JY : They like the design that is full of vitality, and I like it too, because it gives you the power to move up freely.

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

JY : My greatest design is the tea packaging for my father, because it represents my love for my father.

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

JY : I will share my design results with them and they will be very happy to hear about it.

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

JY : I don't know, because I haven't thought about it, I think I was born for design.

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

JY : The core of the design is to facilitate people's lives and bring people the enjoyment of beauty, I have been doing so.

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

JY : My wife, she is not only my teacher, but also my supporter. I love her very much. Without her, there would be no achievement for me today.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

JY : I want to create more beauty for people's lives.

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

JY : It takes a long time and rich experience to become a master of design. The word "give up" is the biggest obstacle.

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

JY : Let the public judge

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

JY : The next design project is China's agricultural products, because I want to bring them better sales through excellent design.

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

JY : Be recognized and appreciated by everyone.

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

JY : Hope to help them do more good design, so that the product sales better.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

JY : Let design convey positive energy information, so that people can achieve a better understanding.

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

JY : Designing every project is something that excites me.

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

JY : I am most willing to help the design of vulnerable groups, because I hope they live a better life.

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

JY : I hope more collisions and exchanges between Eastern and Western cultures.

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

JY : I think it should be designed to make people's life more convenient.

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

JY : Depending on the design project, it is difficult to have specific time.

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

JY : I will first communicate with the project side in depth, find the entry point, and then start other work.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

JY : Kindness, integrity and perseverance

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

JY : Design determines trends

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

JY : Technology is just the expression of design ideas.

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

JY : CDR, AI, PS, etc., Apple Computer or DELL

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

JY : What kind of environment decides what kind of color and material we use; for example, in a solemn environment, we need to use stable color and thick material, while in an amusement park, we should use bright color and fashionable and creative material.

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

JY : What is the final impact of this design?

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

JY : My thoughts will immediately enter the scene of the author's creation, and I will feel that I am on the scene.

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

JY : My ideal design partner, hope is knowledgeable, not necessarily understand design. I Believe

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

JY : I like to talk to entrepreneurs, they will tell us their difficulties, we can better reflect on how our design helps them. I also like to talk with my colleagues and learn more about the different opinions of my major.

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

JY : Traut's Position

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

JY : I keep learning and trying different ways of life, because I think good design must come from life.

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

JY : I want to talk to Van Gogh, not about design, of course, but about his greatest insight into life.

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

JY : Thank A'Design very much for giving me this honor. I think it's too difficult to be famous because the competition is too big. Everyone wants to be famous.

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

JY : I appreciate all kinds of colors, like quiet places, like Chinese food, like spring and autumn, more like sports brands.

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

JY : When I first came out to work, I had no working experience. I remember designing an image poster for a children's wear brand, which should be pasted on the wall. When it was printed out, it was found that it was several times larger than that wall, because the size problem was simply ignored. It impressed me deeply.

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

JY : Take the design work as your own pleasure.

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

JY : I never thought I could be a great designer. When I was a kid, I was naughty and thought I was a person who nobody dared to hire.

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

JY : Full of hope for the future, a thousand years later, do not know whether the design industry still exists? In fact, they are all unknown. I like the unknown, because it represents infinite possibilities.

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

JY : I hope they understand that there are more wonderful stories behind good design.