Maxxis International and Cheng Shin Rubber Ind

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Maxxis International and Cheng Shin Rubber Ind ("MIACSRI") 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?

MIACSRI : We are a team combining of engineers and designers. We specialize in mechanism and industrial design. We have experienced in original equipment manufacturer and original design manufacturer.

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

MIACSRI : We have a lot of ideas about how to improve the surroundings around us. And we are particularly interested in approach these problems in a design and innovative perspective.

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

MIACSRI : In general, some people enjoy appreciating creations, while some others enjoy creating items. And I enjoy being a creator.

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

MIACSRI : Our team concentrates on designing special tires for electric vehicles and concept tires. We hope to lay our hands on topics such as future transportation and creative promotion strategies for the concepts.

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

MIACSRI : Our opinion for young designers who want to become the design legend is continues to learn and to design. Keep communicating with the world and remember all designs start from human beings, and all designs are for human beings.

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

MIACSRI : A good designer designs a new form for the same product. However, a great designer achieves the design goals with a better and smarter solution.

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

MIACSRI : We think if the design can achieve the goal with a more effective way or reduce some cost in the development process, then it is a good design.

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

MIACSRI : The value of good design is that it can shape our vision for the future. Because we have expectation for a better future, thus we pursue to reach the goal.

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

MIACSRI : We would design a great working space for the team. Inside the space, we will design a quite zone for concentration jobs, and a cozy zone for temporarily relax.

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

MIACSRI : The dream project we want to realize is designing and building a future mobile service platform.

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

MIACSRI : Do not afraid to fail. Besides, there is nothing called a definite failure because you can always get something from the experiences.

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

MIACSRI : Ando Tadao, Zaha Hadid and Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci.

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

MIACSRI : The works created by Oki Sato. These designs always surprise the users, leaving an "exclamation mark" in their hearts.

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

MIACSRI : We consider our design that has a new look and new structure is very fascinating. We also think a design that fits the user research and the company business strategy is very good.

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

MIACSRI : We improve ourselves by learning something from every design we have done.

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

MIACSRI : If we are not doing design jobs, we maybe doing as artists or biologists.

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

MIACSRI : Design is the soul of products.

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

MIACSRI : Our family and team members.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

MIACSRI : Having curiosity towards new things is the key to become a great designer.

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

MIACSRI : In order to become a design master, we think we must first experience many kinds of design tasks.

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

MIACSRI : If it is OK, present and update designs on all social media.

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

MIACSRI : We think airless concept tires for electric vehicles will be our next project. We expect to produce more concept products in the future.

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

MIACSRI : Our ultimate goal as designers is to use our own designs.

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

MIACSRI : We would want to see more good designs be designed by esteemed designers. We think this is what people would expect from us.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

MIACSRI : We want to let the users to be in part of the design process. The users can add their opinion when we improve the design and help making a better version to the design.

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

MIACSRI : We are creating airless concept tires for electric vehicles, hoping to depict a blueprint for the development of tire technology and future mobility.

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

MIACSRI : It does not exist, there always be a better design.

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

MIACSRI : We believe that with the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, the intervention of AI is redefining the way designers work. AI can process large amounts of data and provide deep insights, thus assisting designers in making more accurate design decisions. At the same time, designers' creative thinking and deep understanding of human emotions cannot be replaced by AI. We hope that this model, which combines human intuition and AI arithmetic, can lead the design industry towards a more innovative and humanized future.

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

MIACSRI : We think the design field will reflect more of the changes happened in the society. And design may have more responses to the changes.

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

MIACSRI : In the company’s case, it takes about one to two years to finish a project.

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

MIACSRI : When we have a new design project, we normally start from clarifying the problems.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

MIACSRI : The faster the world is, the slower the heart is.

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

MIACSRI : We think when a disruptive innovation is being made and it is accepted by the market, this is when a new trend has occurred. Take the revolution of phones for example, by the time when designing a phone with tangible buttons is the mainstream, the prototype of a phone without buttons appeared on the market, and it took over the trend completely in just a few years. So we would say design sets the trends.

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

MIACSRI : Technology is the tool to help simulate, test, and realize.

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

MIACSRI : We use pens, paper, iPad, and laptop during design. Some of the commonly used software and applications includes Rhino, AutoCAD, KeyShot, Adobe, Sketchbook, Procreate and Pinterest.

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

MIACSRI : Color, materials and ambient are assistants that can help designs to better fit the purpose. At the same time, make the design complete.

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

MIACSRI : We would love to hear people asking about where we can buy Victra Sport EV. It will be a great accomplishment to the design team.

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

MIACSRI : We are curious about what inspired that great design, and how that design is being carried out.

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

MIACSRI : The ideal type of a designer partner has the following personalities: love to communicate.

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

MIACSRI : Our friends, they a lot of time provide different accepts of opinion and very honest.

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

MIACSRI : The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman. The autobiography of Ando Tadao. An Eames Primer of Eames Demetrios.

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

MIACSRI : Communication, coordination, empathy and determination.

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

MIACSRI : Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci. He is a master in so many areas.

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

MIACSRI : To be famous is hard, it takes time to build the reputation.

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

MIACSRI : My favorite colors are red and white. I am crazy about the street food in Taiwan. Fall is my favorite season. The brands I like are Mujirushi Ryouhin, COS, Coke Cola and Maxxis.

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

MIACSRI : We had held design workshops for the company, and they are treasure experience. It was very rare that we invite designers from outside the system and try to let everyone participate in the same design task and evaluate the design in assigned criteria.

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

MIACSRI : We try to live a life very down to earth, and we try to design products that people willing to use.

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

MIACSRI : When I was little, I loved playing with blocks. It helps developing thinking and creating.

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

MIACSRI : We think a thousand years from now, human beings will spread and live in the universe.

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

MIACSRI : You are welcome to ask us about the possible further design we maybe doing right now.