Fangyong Xie

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Fangyong Xie ("FX") 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?

FX : I’ve been studying art for 8 years. Even in the middle school I took over the design of various posters and blackboards.

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

FX : My career as a designer starts from 3D drawing and I met a good designer teacher later to help me become a designer.

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

FX : I do neither choose to become a designer, nor I was forced to become one. I become a designer naturally.

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

FX : I mainly design private house projects, mainly villas. Apart from villas, I want to design hotel project.

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

FX : I dare not call myself a master, because I still have a lot to learn. I have four suggestions: 1. Follow a good teacher and enter a good platform; 2. Have a respect for the profession of designer and client’s trust; 3. Life and experience are design teachers, so a good designer must be good at observation and summary; 4 All good projects come from inspiration to constant scrutiny, and a good designer must strive for excellence.

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

FX : A good designer can do a good job of design, and a great designer can make good use of the environment. The purpose of design is to make the building integrated in the environment.

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

FX : I will consider the following aspects: reasonable function, cultural integration, beautiful space, comfortable lighting, perfect details and symbiosis with the environment.

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

FX : Good design gives people a sense of well-being and attachment to home, enhances the quality of life, and demonstrates personal taste and status.

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

FX : I want to do something for the construction of rural China. With the urbanization of China, many very beautiful villages in China are being abandoned. At the same time, many new villages do not have any beauty. I want to design houses for farmers to make the countryside beautiful.

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

FX : I wish to design small buildings, especially small buildings in rural areas.

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

FX : I’m strict with myself and think from the perspective of clients.

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

FX : Tadao Ando and Carlo Scarpa.

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

FX : I like Tadao Ando's use of light, the symbiosis of architecture and environment and the beauty of Carlo Scarpa's deconstruction.

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

FX : There is no work that I feel particularly perfect so far.

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

FX : To become a better designer, we need to learn a lot of design ideas from seniors and masters. Constant traveling, perception, and thinking are important ways to maintain creativity.

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

FX : I would have been an art teacher if I hadn’t become a designer.

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

FX : For interior design, design is to solve problems, especially the design of villas. Each client has completely different needs. And there are contradictions between various room types and needs. So, solving problems and integrating art is the most important thing for design. For me, design is to realize the owner's dream of home.

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

FX : My respected teacher, parents and wife gave me the greatest support.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

FX : It is continuous exploration, continuous learning, strict requirements for myself that helped me become a good designer. And I respect each project and value the trust from Party A.

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

FX : When I first entered this field, the salary was very low, because I would not do anything, so how to support myself while persevering is the most important thing.

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

FX : Designers can present their work through the Internet, videos are accompanied by designer explanations.

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

FX : My next design project is a villa.

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

FX : My ultimate goal as a designer is to become a great designer and cultivate more young designers.

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

FX : To design more good projects is what people expect from an esteemed designer.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

FX : I think designers’ responsibilities include designing a good work which brings happiness to users, paying attention to healthy living environment, advocating urban renewal and reducing waste in reconstruction.

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

FX : I’m working on a rural residential project that I’m especially excited about.

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

FX : I like design projects with Chinese style because I love Chinese culture.

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

FX : I hope that all consumers will respect design and realize the importance of design.

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

FX : I think design is unpredictable.

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

FX : It takes more than 6 months.

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

FX : Understand it in all aspects and let it grow in mind.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

FX : Function is the first.

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

FX : Trends determine design.

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

FX : Technology helps to turn ideas into reality faster and make them more real.

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

FX : I used IPAD, pencil, 3DMAX, CAD and SketchUp.

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

FX : Color, materials and ambient is the skin and bone in design.

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

FX : Any questions will be asked in design, and I will not reject any questions.

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

FX : How did this designer come up with this design, and what kind of mental journey did he have?

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

FX : I haven’t got a design partner yet. Yes, I truly believe in co-design, and I look forward to finding my like-minded design partners.

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

FX : The interaction with client had the most influence on my design. The customer's living habits and requirements for design can continuously let me understand different people's understanding of life and design. This is very important. After all, design serves for people.

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

FX : Autobiography of architectural masters.

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

FX : I think that I still have a lot to learn. The most important thing for me to grow up is to follow a good enlightenment teacher, to establish the correct design values, and then to keep learning and improving.

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

FX : I’d like to listen to Tadao Ando and Carlo Scarpa on their project design and completion process.

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

FX : I’m thankful for every member of my team, the honor belongs to our entire team.

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

FX : I like gray color, I like Rome, I like my mother's cooking, I like spring and autumn, and I like traditional Chinese furniture.

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

FX : When I first entered the design industry, I had all kinds of ideas. After completion, I found that some ideas are difficult to meet the needs of daily life. I hope that young designers can learn more from the experience of their predecessors.

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

FX : The client's trusted eyes have great power, their trust made me treat the project very carefully. After the project is completed, the client’s positive praise is the biggest motivation.

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

FX : I’m afraid not. Since middle school, my teachers like to designate me to design school posters and blackboard newspapers.

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

FX : I haven’t thought about it so much. I just want to live in the present moment.

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

FX : I don’t have more to share right now, thank you.