HAN LIU

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer HAN LIU ("HL") 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?

HL : I finished my bachelor's degree in the industrial design area, but I put a lot of time into the visual design and engineering field too. Then I finished my master's degree in computer engineering, to improve the mind of design.

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

HL : Although I am focusing on my PhD research in the engineering area, becoming a combination designer is still my unchangeable dream.

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

HL : I choose to become a designer.

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

HL : Industrial product and visual design are my areas. I am always focusing on combination designs.

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

HL : Keep learning and do not give up ever.

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

HL : Well, a good designer could provide a satisfying design for their clients. But a great designer could make their clients following the designer’s method.

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

HL : The combination of aesthetics and functions could be a practical approach to evaluate a design.

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

HL : Good designs change your lifestyle and bring a positive effect on the mood to us.

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

HL : I prefer the new-tech engineering product such as turbo engine of transportation, which is related to my current PhD research.

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

HL : Space transportation product.

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

HL : Based on my PhD research, the new design method is the unique approach of combination.

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

HL : Antoni Gaudí

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

HL : My favourite designs are Chinese antiques designed and made by artists thousands of years ago.

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

HL : The new generation turbo engine product, TREx. In this project, the fluid dynamics and mathematic were utilized in the profile design and so on.

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

HL : I always trying to rich the integration of knowledge, keep the perseverance to success, perseverance, and determinate to face and overcome difficulties.

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

HL : I think maybe I am learning how to become a designer.

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

HL : Design is an irreplaceable approach to improve the quality of lifestyle. It drives people to a place where we can enjoy the combination of art and science.

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

HL : My teachers and supervisors.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

HL : I think the more significant points are: the integration of knowledge, the courage to cross boundaries, the perseverance to success, perseverance, and determination to face and overcome difficulties.

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

HL : The design logic and research ability.

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

HL : The reasonable combination of science and art could be considered more during the whole design process.

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

HL : A new micro engine used in UAV.

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

HL : To make every little piece of our life interesting.

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

HL : A new possibility to find new happiness.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

HL : For me, design makes a positive atmosphere for society, bring healthy and optimistic waves to people, and discover more possibilities for the future.

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

HL : I am focusing on my PhD research nowadays.

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

HL : The TREx. Because the new environment-friendly turbo engine opened my mind of design methods.

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

HL : I hope there will be more outstanding combination design methods are used in product design.

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

HL : Multicultural integration, multidisciplinary integration, and multidimensional development will be conjectures for future design. I think that more design fields, such as those related to animal psychological research, maybe endless.

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

HL : Generally, from 3 months to 1 year.

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

HL : Next year and I plan to start it in the UK.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

HL : Special but nice.

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

HL : I always try to find a bridge between beauty and technology.

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

HL : The tools include some computer aid design, like UG NX, Metlab, Photoshop, and ANSYS.

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

HL : The role of the colour, materials and ambient in a design should relate to the function and the customer.

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

HL : My combination methods.

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

HL : It was 2018 and I saw the new environment-friendly engine product from The University of Birmingham in the UK.

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

HL : Co-design is the best way in the future product and art design.

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

HL : The supervisor of my PhD research.

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

HL : The Science of Art

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

HL : To develop my skills, I try to take part in science and art research projects.

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

HL : I want to meet professor Martin Kemp and talk about the science of art with him.

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

HL : The first prize made my day. But the awards bring me new challenges too.

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

HL : White is my favourite colour. I love Florence best. Chinese food is my taste. I like the summer and autumn.

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

HL : A research about the relationship between calculus and art.

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

HL : Art makes my day, always.

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

HL : No, I do not think so.

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

HL : I think more and more trends will be produced. There is one thing I can see, which is people can not live without design. Design is a sort of art and designer could not be replaced by the computer, even AI.

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

HL : No thanks.