Rui Ma

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Rui Ma ("RM") 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?

RM : I study Art and Design at Beihang University for my bachelor's degree in Beijing, China, and gained my Master of Fine Arts degree in graphic design at Rochester Institute of Technology, New York State.

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

RM : The belief that design helps people’s life, solve problems, and change the world is always the motivation for me to create good designs.

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

RM : I started drawing and painting when I was five. Growing up I have always wanted to be an artist and designer.

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

RM : I create branding, digital design, illustrations, editorial design, as well as Experiential Design, etc. I am looking forward to creating more designs with technology.

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

RM : Believe in your work, work hard and smart, be patient, pay attention to details, and always ask why.

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

RM : Focus on details, and make the design innovative and different.

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

RM : A good design always has great ideation behind it.

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

RM : Good design is innovative and long-lasting. Everyone should invest in good design because good design is always getting people inspired and solving problems.

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

RM : Design for sustainability organizations.

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

RM : I want to design something that can be sent to Mars.

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

RM : Always be patient about making design details and passionate about what I am creating.

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

RM : Massimo Vignelli, Saul Bass, Stefan Sagmeister & Jessica Walsh.

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

RM : I like the designs by Saul Bass, I get inspired by his design concept “Design is thinking made visual”.

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

RM : The award-winning design "Eight Ways to Protect Biodiversity" posters. The ideation behind this series of poster designs is to raise the awareness of conserving biodiversity and encourage everyone to protect our world and environment.

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

RM : Stay curious, be passionate about what you are doing, and always learn.

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

RM : Maybe an oil painting artist. I love the realistic feeling of painting with brushes, this will never be replaced by digital painting.

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

RM : Design changes people‘s life, especially when it with technology.

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

RM : The creatives that I have been worked with are the most influential people in my career.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

RM : The knowledge and experience I learned from school and work experience and the support from my family.

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

RM : It is important to tell the story of where your idea comes from, and include all the sections of the process. Make sure audiences understand why you think it is successful.

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

RM : Design changes the world.

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

RM : An esteemed designer tells a unique story through visual language.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

RM : In a lot of different ways, such as design helps sustainability and solve problems.

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

RM : I have been creating a series of digital illustrations based on my daily life.

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

RM : The award-winning design "Eight Ways to Protect Biodiversity" posters. It was recognized by a good amount of international awards and magazines.

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

RM : More sustainable production.

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

RM : Design with technology.

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

RM : It depends, maybe a couple of days or several months.

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

RM : I usually start by getting inspired and creating mood boards for ideation.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

RM : Less is more.

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

RM : It’s a two-way answer, it works in both ways.

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

RM : Design and technology rely on each other and design is a bridge of connecting technology to consumers.

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

RM : Adobe Creative Suite.

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

RM : They always work together.

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

RM : Where I get the idea from, I think it’s the most creative part.

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

RM : Why it is great and what inspiration I can get from it.

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

RM : Sometimes yes, I like working independently but also I get inspired by my coworkers. You never know where the inspiration comes from.

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

RM : The creatives that I work with when I started my career in New York City.

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

RM : I designed a series of posters of emotions after reading a few phycology books. That was the biggest inspiration of my recent work.

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

RM : Read books and get inspired from life.

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

RM : If it exists, I want to talk with whom has experience traveling between parallel universes.

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

RM : Getting awards and recognition means my work is appreciated and I have more motivation to create more designs.

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

RM : Black and white, home, ice cream, fall, my phone, Apple Inc.

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

RM : The best motivation is when my work is appreciated.

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

RM : I started drawing and painting when I was five. Growing up I have always wanted to be an artist and designer.

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

RM : People might live in a digital world.

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

RM : I will launch my new design work soon. :) Stay tuned!