Shigui Liu

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

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

SL : In 2005 graduated from the "Art and Design College" of Shenzhen University. I have been engaged in design work for 15 years. I am now the creative director of "LSG Design Office".

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

SL : I have been drawing since childhood. Around the second grade of elementary school, I started studying art. Now I am still engaged in exciting design work. All the work I do now comes from deep love and interest.

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

SL : Of course, I chose this industry voluntarily.

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

SL : I am a comprehensive designer, and have done design-related work in architecture, landscape planning, interior design, and graphic design. I hope to do more research and discussion on architecture and interior design.

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

SL : The most important thing for young people is to use their precious time to try more new things and learn more about them. Eventually you will find out what really touches your heart.

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

SL : The biggest difference, I think, is the pursuit of "quality" and "details". Excellent designers are more pursuing perfection, and sometimes even look at their works with a nearly harsh and critical eye.

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

SL : Good design must come from life and return to life. If I just design something weird and innovative, just to get the attention of others, then I would not recognize this kind of work. Good design should allow people to experience the "emotion" of the designer in the work, and "emotion" is the cornerstone for the best life for us, and it can also inspire us to rethink and recreate life.

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

SL : Good design can enhance people's aesthetics and promote people's desire for beautiful things. Investing in good design is investing in a good future.

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

SL : I hope to design for everyone who can understand and appreciate our work.

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

SL : I hope to design more commercial space and hotel space. It is best to start with project planning, including integrated design of architecture, interior space, and landscape.

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

SL : Design must have planning ability, good design is not only a form, but more important is its internal business logic and long-term planning. Of course, the originality and uniqueness of the work will make people impressed, but the internal business logic will enable it to survive for a long time.

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

SL : The designers I admire more are: Tadao Ando, Le Corbusier, Miyazaki, Alva Aalto, Zaha Hadid, etc.

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

SL : I prefer designers who have their own unique insights and design language. Because through these different design languages or insights, it can trigger me to rethink things.

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

SL : I have many design works. If I have to choose the best one, I really don't know how to choose. Because I am still young, there are more designs waiting to be created and realized in the future. Relatively speaking, this FIT BAR project, which won the gold award, did indeed take some effort. It has not only achieved great commercial success, but also won many domestic and foreign professional awards in design.

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

SL : It is recommended to look with your own eyes, measure with your own steps, touch with your own hands, and finally feel it with your heart. Why the works of the design masters are great and outstanding must be personally experienced and realized, not just reading books or simply listening to others.

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

SL : To perceive good works, and then slowly try to transform these excellent works into our own thinking and enhance our own design taste. Slowly, it will be closer to the designer and one step closer.

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

SL : In China, we often talk to colleagues about the word design, which can be said separately. It contains two meanings.

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

SL : My team and family are my biggest supporters.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

SL : Grinding and perception in daily life.

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

SL : The focus and direction of the project cannot be more accurately grasped. There are no more items to exercise.

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

SL : Every project design is a long process. Once the project has started, it cannot be stopped until the project is perfectly presented. Only in this way can the friends and family who silently support us be proud.

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

SL : My next project is the design of a small commercial complex. We will try some parametric design languages. Hope to bring some different consumer experiences to people.

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

SL : I hope that our team can go to the world and let more people recognize and pay attention to us. We hope that our works will bring people a little different feeling.

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

SL : This is an interesting topic. I am not very well-known now, but I have my own opinions and ideas on project design. I hope people will remember "LSG Design Office" in the future.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

SL : Design with heart to create a better life.

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

SL : Recently, several bars and commercial complexes are being designed. Every item of ours, regardless of size, also makes us feel interested and excited.

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

SL : Satisfied projects include "Zhongli Joint Office Project", "FIT BAR", "Circle Creation" and so on. Because after the completion of these projects, we and the owners have become friends. The commercial success due to our design has also led to our long-term cooperation again.

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

SL : This era is the era of AI and 5G, so who can better grasp the characteristics of this era in the next few years, can become the darling of this era.

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

SL : Towards artificial intelligence, to a broader direction of electronic information culture.

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

SL : Ordinary projects will usually be completed within 2-3 months. Some particularly large projects will be completed in about one year, or longer.

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

SL : We will communicate first, have an in-depth understanding of the project site, and conduct research on the project background. Rather than designing immediately.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

SL : Space is the magnetic field of emotion, and emotion determines the final choice.

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

SL : Both exist at the same time. Only by creating according to the actual needs of the project can we design works with real meaning.

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

SL : It can make people see and understand the design of the project more intuitively.

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

SL : I will think about the logic behind this design, and also want to understand the author's own background and cognition.

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

SL : Sometimes fame is not about how many awards you get. Designers often lack promotion and publicity about themselves, and often famous masters are very outstanding in theory, practice and promotion.

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

SL : Gray and orange, Shenzhen and Tokyo, spring and autumn, reading and traveling.

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

SL : Once participated in the lighting design competition in Japan. After we are shortlisted, we plan to make real models in China, but for various external reasons, we need the Japanese sponsor's branch in China to help make the models together. Then I found a cooperation unit from Taiwan to assist. The Taiwanese company held a half-day meeting, but was still not sure whether it could make this model. Finally, the person in charge of Japan directly said "Can it be made? Can or can't." As a result, the other party immediately agreed to say "yes". This is the difference. It also made me understand the rigor and strong execution of the Japanese. This may be the reason why Japanese design has always been good.

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

SL : At that time, there were indeed dreams of becoming an artist. However, there are still some differences from the designer. Designers are more like "inventors" or "makers".

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

SL : I believe that the future must belong to the era of information technology. After a thousand years, mankind may establish a new human civilization beyond the earth.

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

SL : Welcome to check our WeChat public platform "LSG 设计事务所", which has more of our works and materials.