Xiaokai Li

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Xiaokai Li ("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 Jiamusi University, China, majoring in interior design. Now I am the founder and creative director of Hangzhou Wuxiang Space Design, and the founder and creative director of OBJECT SYSTEM brand.

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

XL : The belief that design can make the world a better place.

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

XL : I chose to be a designer because it suits this profession.

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

XL : There are no restrictions on furniture, products, space, architecture.

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

XL : Young people need to have faith, enthusiasm, and great commitment.

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

XL : Good designers only care about the product itself, and good designers not only care about the product, but also care about human, social and environmental issues.

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

XL : Good design comes with logic, look at the standard of the design product itself.

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

XL : Good design will make improvements to human and social environmental issues, and good design has predictability for the future. Investing in good design is investing in the future.

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

XL : Design an art gallery for yourself.

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

XL : Design of lamps.

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

XL : Daily thinking, reading, traveling.

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

XL : Designers and artists of the Bauhaus period.

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

XL : Chairs and buildings, because they are the most frequent things that come into contact with people.

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

XL : The design of the chair, the design of the chair can have its own logical composition.

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

XL : I spend a lot of time to experience the surrounding things, thinking and studying how they are composed.

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

XL : Scientist because I like research work.

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

XL : Design is a kind of revelation. The designer uses a unique eye to discover the original things and logic.

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

XL : My family, friends and career leaders.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

XL : The quiet personality allows me to do research better.

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

XL : There are many practical problems, and the idea is that the idea cannot be implemented.

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

XL : Good design comes with language.

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

XL : Wooden structure products can be displayed through basic design principles.

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

XL : To discover and reveal things, to show more beautiful things.

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

XL : Can improve people's lives, social and environmental issues.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

XL : Design is an enlightenment that makes people understand the fun and beauty of life.

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

XL : The wooden-structured stool takes a new form.

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

XL : Each work will have satisfaction. Because each item appears with a different place.

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

XL : I hope the design can be more diverse and that people from different fields can participate.

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

XL : Design crosses boundaries, and designers can participate in more other fields.

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

XL : Different projects have different lengths of time, some take a few days, some take a few months.

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

XL : Inspiration or logic.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

XL : The existence of every thing has its own internal mechanism, and we need to reveal it.

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

XL : Good design determines trends.

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

XL : Tools to realize works.

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

XL : Mainly 3DMAX, CAD, Photoshop.

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

XL : Inspiring the human sensory system, colors, materials and environment are the constituent elements of different divisions.

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

XL : Hope people can find the answer by themselves.

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

XL : What is his design principle.

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

XL : Different types of people need to work together.

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

XL : Family and friends who make art.

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

XL : "The Human Situation"

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

XL : Experience, read, think.

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

XL : Martin Heidegger

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

XL : Winning a prize can test your thinking during this time, nothing more.

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

XL : Gray-green, Xiamen, China, seafood, autumn, chair, physical system.

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

XL : Go to the ancient Chinese garden to see many interesting scenes.

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

XL : Designers can better experience the surrounding things.

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

XL : When I was young, I just wanted to be an inventor.

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

XL : In the contemporary era, people actually pay more and more attention to themselves. I hope that in the future, people will think more about the relationship between people and the environment and the relationship between people and the universe.

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

XL : The method of design, the logic of product establishment.