Blend Design

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Blend Design ("BD") 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?

BD : I got my bachelor's degree in design in China. After that I studied communication design at Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart, Germany, and studied with Niklaus Troxler, the international poster design master. Pro.Troxler organizes students to visit well-known designers and design studios around the world every semester, which has a unique teaching method. This let us to know the different ways of life and work of different designers and their different creative processes.

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

BD : The overall design can exercise the designer's ability to integrate multiple information and sort out the logical relationship within the project. This experience and exercise is fun. My limited skills and love of design profession make me a designer.

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

BD : Mainly like

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

BD : At present, it is mainly visual design, and we will gradually try to develop design products. We hope that the design is close to life and accepted by the public.

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

BD : From the heart like design is a prerequisite. It won't last long just to be a career of making a living.

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

BD : He should have aesthetic cognitive quality and solve problems for customers through design.

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

BD : The premise of good design is that designers and customers have a common goal and vision for the design results, and the rest is to fully trust the designer's profession and reduce interference. Whether a good design clearly conveys information and has aesthetic visual realization is easy to remember.

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

BD : Good design brings economic benefits to customers, better communication effect and reputation for the project, and affects the participation and preference of the audience.

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

BD : I want to design interesting daily necessities, such as notebook, mobile phone case and bag. The main target is young people, who are more likely to accept fresh and designed daily necessities. It is very important to cultivate their judgment and feeling of beauty.

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

BD : To develop free brand (Blend)design products, integrate design into daily life, and integrate functions, technical and materials perfectly.

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

BD : Love and persistence

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

BD : My favorite graphic designer is my professor Niklaus Troxler. The posters of the Jazz Festival he made are colorful, lively and have strong visual impact. His innovative ideas and persistent spirit of design have a great impact on me.

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

BD : Vision and professional background are different. I like a lot of styles. I like complementary and unique designs.

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

BD : Cultural activities, visual design of events. The commercial level of return is not very high, but more artistic and cultural expression, which can give full play to the professional strengths of designers.

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

BD : There should be a plan, but there should be no excessive utilitarian purpose. Follow your heart and work happily.

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

BD : I might become a craftsman or pastry cook.

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

BD : Design is a combination of art and business, insight and vision, empathy and economic indicators. The solutions are based on a deep understanding of the business logic and aesthetic experience of the target group.

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

BD : Partner, family

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

BD : Change of design environment and professional interest

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

BD : Designers have many roles in society, and they have to face a lot of things that are not within the scope of design. The main energy and time are limited.

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

BD : Exhibition and exchange in professional field; recommend the works in design field to potential target customers.

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

BD : In the short term, due to the impact of the epidemic, several reserved projects cannot be designed at present. In the long run, I also hope to invest more energy in the design of free brand (Blend).

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

BD : We will consolidate the business philosophy and foundation of the studio, pass it on from generation to generation, make more works we like, and participate in some matters of social significance and cultural development.

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

BD : Expect the work to exceed their expectations

DL: How does design help create a better society?

BD : I hope to participate in the design of some projects related to children, and I hope to plant the seeds of beauty and design cognition in the young mind.

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

BD : At present, because of the epidemic, we can only stay at home. We just spent a lot of time sorting out the works of recent years. We have done a lot of projects in retrospect. Most of the designs have some small regrets. We are looking forward to the birth of the next wonderful project.

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

BD : The book world of Chinese children who won the prize in a'design award this time is one of the projects that we are satisfied with in price comparison. The first is that the theme and content are of great interest to us. Second, the whole design process, including communication with customer and builder, is very smooth. We have received a lot of understanding and support from our customer Confucius Institute Headquarters. We are very satisfied with the results of the design.

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

BD : The whole society has improved the overall cognition of design, not only in the field of design specialty

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

BD : Dynamic vision, multi integration, digital media

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

BD : Each project is different and cannot have a clear timeperiod. But after signing the contract for each project, we will break down amount of work, specify a reasonable work time and core time point.

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

BD : It mainly studies the needs of the project, the contents of communication. Who to say, what to say and how to say.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

BD : Only the design that you particularly like can make others like it.

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

BD : Design is a commercial art, not a self-expression. Therefore, design is influenced by economic development, consumption habits and changes in social psychology.

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

BD : Technology can extend the appearance of design and provide support for design innovation.

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

BD : The tools are not certain, mainly some design general software, sometimes need some painting tools and photography tools.

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

BD : Rich design, providing multiple possibilities for innovation

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

BD : Understand the origin of my creativity

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

BD : Admire and I want to know the logic behind the design.

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

BD : My partner. Co-design must have one person as the final decision-maker. It is impossible to have a completely fair democracy in decision-making. Decision makers must have an inclusive mind and be good at listening to reasonable suggestions.

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

BD : Design predecessors, elites in different industries

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

BD : Design Psychology Series

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

BD : Extensive involvement

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

BD : I love the design of architect Zaha Hadid. She died of a heart attack in 2016. If I had the chance, I would like to ask her how to make a place in the world architectural history as an Iraqi female designer and put an ingenious idea into practice.

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

BD : The prize is not for fame, but for professional recognition. It's not against fame

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

BD : Blue, window position, cake, autumn, Oriental cultural and creative products, Cultural creation of the Forbidden City

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

BD : During school time, I traveled with Professor Troxler and other students around the world to visit famous designers.

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

BD : Through the works to get public praise, it bring more business, stable income, and can reach the state of selecting projects by myself. Listen to music, relax, relax, relax again.

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

BD : Never thought about it, I never thought I would become a designer

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

BD : There's so much information, new technology, new business models that the future can't be predicted

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

BD : To learn more about our works, please follow www.blend69.com