ECUST | Hao SHAN

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer ECUST | Hao SHAN ("E|HS") 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: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?

E|HS : There's only one reason: genuine interest.

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

E|HS : Brand and visual design have been the core of my professional focus.

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

E|HS : The difference lies in the ability — and in the great opportunity to realize design ideas.

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

E|HS : In my view, a successful design is one that empowers a brand to establish its influence, expand its market presence, and elevate its value. It must also embody creativity and artistic expression — distinctive, impactful, and genuinely solution-oriented.

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

E|HS : Good design creates value.

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

E|HS : I think it would be doing something playful and wildly creative with my children — just letting our imaginations run free.

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

E|HS : Creating design that is distinctive, unconventional, and truly solves problems — once you set this as your standard, the expectations you place on yourself naturally become much higher.

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

E|HS : Probably an artist or a painter.

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

E|HS : Design is art, a form of expression and strategy — a fusion of beauty and functionality.

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

E|HS : My teachers at school and senior design mentors after I started working; my biggest supporters are definitely my parents and family.

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

E|HS : It is a brand design project for a Chinese city.

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

E|HS : To help them solve problems through outstanding design work and concepts.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

E|HS : First, one must be a better person oneself.

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

E|HS : An unavoidable reality is that AI is rapidly transforming the design industry. While it enhances efficiency and accelerates development, it also raises expectations for creativity. Skills that cannot be replaced by algorithms will become increasingly valuable.

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

E|HS : The timeframe for completing a design project is difficult to generalize; it depends on the size of the project and the time the client can provide. I tend to avoid projects with tight deadlines that compromise the quality of the design.

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

E|HS : I think about the difficulties of the design process.