Zhejiang Sci-Tech University

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Zhejiang Sci-Tech University ("ZSU") 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?

ZSU : Industrial Design, Art & Design Academy, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University

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

ZSU : choose. Design is a very interesting job, we can create new things everyday

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

ZSU : We will focus more on social issues, disadvantaged groups, environmental protection, sustainable development and other issues for a long time, and conduct corresponding research and product development.

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

ZSU : I think the difference between a great designer and an good designer lies in the difference in the depth and breadth of the link between the individual and the world. Great designers have a more ambitious human perspective, and good designers can only perceive issues of general meaning such as consumption.

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

ZSU : We believe that a design that can surpass the meaning of the product itself is superior to general product creativity. Such products are often full of spiritual connotations. This is the element we are most concerned about.

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

ZSU : Good design is educational. It can make it easier for people to gain dignity and independence in the sense of action.

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

ZSU : If I have time, I am more willing to do what I can for people in poverty-stricken areas, children, and old people.

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

ZSU : I personally think that the secret of design success lies in dissatisfaction with the status quo, questioning the problem, and continuous understanding of the essence.

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

ZSU : I like Joe Colombo, a person full of predictive thinking.

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

ZSU : My main troubles and worries before becoming a master: First, the motivation for continuous learning, the attenuation of the original desire for knowledge, and the ability to adapt to changes in the world. The second is from compromise and abandonment in the process of operation and business.

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

ZSU : Pay attention to new technology and combine the latest technology with traditional design thinking

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

ZSU : Trends in the design field: artificial intelligence, algorithms and big data, and intelligent manufacturing.

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

ZSU : When new tasks arrive, the first thing you need to do is to listen to the customer’s demands, but you must have a unique perspective on the problem, and then continue to ask questions until you find the pain point

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

ZSU : It is best for designers not to study trends. Trends are more like necessary marketing or to persuade consumers or practitioners who are not determined. If the design imitates the trend, it will be homogenized, which goes against the purpose of the design.

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

ZSU : Tools, we must correctly use advanced technology to ensure the efficiency and uniqueness of the design. For example, we often use parametric design to design new products to create products beyond imagination

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

ZSU : Why is it different from other designs?