Lee Chi

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Lee Chi ("LC") 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?

LC : I major in architectural design, and always take architectural design as my life goal.

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

LC : For me, I have always regarded myself as a creator. How to implement my ideal life through contact with others is what fascinates me.

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

LC : In addition to art installations, architectural design has always been a field I am very committed to. However, I am willing to try any kinds of design fields as long as it can affect life.

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

LC : There are no certain rules for design, we can only observe things with a more sensitive awareness, and think outside of the box (conditional life).

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

LC : The intention of designs, and a systematic condition planning skills, including time, cost, customer experience, market value etc.

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

LC : The condition of good design for me is how to solve the environmental problems on earth. It is a matter of course for me to invest in good design.

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

LC : Architectural design is my ultimate goal, I want to improve the quality of the growing spaces for plants and animals.

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

LC : There are plenty of them.

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

LC : Maya Lin- American architectural designer Carlo Alberto Scarpa- Italian architectural designer

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

LC : Imagine how design and art can change and adjust human life and environment from the perspective of space, and to be able to properly take care of all life that may grow in space is the most wonderful thing to do.

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

LC : Time planning and proper and efficient living conditions.

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

LC : Strive to be a designer.

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

LC : Design is human nature and design itself.

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

LC : My supporters arethe audience who give opinions in the process, and themain members in my team, assisting me to be able to continuously produce creations.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

LC : I am not sure. I may have met teachers who are strict with me along the way.

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

LC : Besides making art illustrations, we will begin to develop the furniture and clothing line in 2020. Expecting to break the current consumption habits through the perspective of circular economy system.

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

LC : Being able to make designs and methods that can solve environmental problems which closely related to every species on earth.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

LC : Constantly thinking and adjusting.

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

LC : We currently invite two fashion designers to participate a cooperation to hold an exhibition in November, which will display a collection of unisex clothes made of recycle materials and fabrics. We hope this event brings new aspect toward ethical fashion and the fashion industry.

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

LC : I’ve once rebuild an 40 years old house, by rethinking the space flow of the building. Natural light is a major consideration in the overall design, allow light to spread evenly and softly across a 120 square-meter studio. The reason why this is one of my favorite case because we have completed satisfactory works within a very limited budget.

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

LC : Not sure what will happen. The design industry is no longer just about the creation of form, but the attitude behind the form to face the truth that the world is facing.

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

LC : According to the needs of the client and the case.

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

LC : Normally our concept is set from the observation of society, then we will construct a text to convey this concept. Due to the text, we started the material experiments and design sketches.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

LC : Open your mind to accept all changes

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

LC : There is no relative relationship between those two.

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

LC : Technology is the structure of a house for me. If the structure is not properly supported, the final form cannot present the appearance of the design.

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

LC : Color is a psychological configuration for me, while material is an expression of perception, and environment is the most important cause and result of all design, it plays the characters that give design energy.

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

LC : I would like to know what kind of problems the designer saw when this design and product were first created. What technologies are used in the process, and what is the impact on the environment?

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

LC : My Team, I believe in co-design.

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

LC : Everyone I have contacted.

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

LC : Dictionary

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

LC : Learn from mistakes.

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

LC : Leonardo da Vinci

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

LC : My inspiration comes from daily life, communication with colleagues and absorption of any kind of knowledge.

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

LC : I have no way to predict what will happen in the future.

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

LC : For me, design is closely connected with the real world. Outside the artistic level, the message released by the artwork should focus on making the world and the environment more balanced and in good condition. For me, the most important thing about my work is to let everyone understand that this design method will not cause threats and harm to plants and creatures, and we need to be very cautious about the issues that we are facing on earth.