Chi-Hao Chiang

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Chi-Hao Chiang ("CC") 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?

CC : I studied mechanical engineering in undergraduate, then I found my interests more towards to industrial design. Thus, I decided to pursue this field as my master's degree. Currently, I work as an industrial designer in a wearable tech start up.

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

CC : I found myself being curious to observe things, and pretty much enjoy the process and results of trying to solve or improve a problem. This becomes my motivation to design and make experiences better.

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

CC : I chose by myself, at the moment to decide on the next step after graduating from undergraduate.

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

CC : Currently, I design more about consumer electronics and soft goods. If I have a chance, I would love to also design some furniture pieces.

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

CC : I won't consider myself a design legend. I'm still one of the young designers in the first year of my career.

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

CC : I think great is a good designer who has the power to influence a bigger group of the design community.

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

CC : Personally, I focus on the finishing of details and how practical and feasible a design is. I believe these can enhance the quality and smoother the production.

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

CC : Good design is thoughtful in user experience. People can spend the lowest time cost to understand how to use it and feel friendly.

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

CC : I would like to thoroughly design a video game controller as I am an avid video gamer.

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

CC : I'm still looking for it but I believe it would be a game-changer in specific fields. I hope the object that I design can support the function of the project perfectly.

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

CC : Don't have a solid answer yet but I do focus on details and how practical and feasible it can be manufacture-wise.

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

CC : They would be Thomas Heatherwick, Oki Sato, Kenya Hara, Naoto Fukasawa, Dieter Rams.

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

CC : It's Spun by Heatherwick studio. As the first design-inspiring object for me, it makes me understand there is a strong connection between design, form, mechanical engineering, and manufacturing process. They can all achieve each other by collaborating tightly. I also like the Muji wall-mounted CD player by Naoto Fukasawa. It combines its form factors into function so precisely and intuitively.

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

CC : Probably my thesis project "TANDEM," a set of video game controllers, as I did make a working prototype to demonstrate my concept of how to interact with it.

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

CC : Stay curious and keep in mind that there is always a better solution.

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

CC : I may be a mechanical engineer doing some industrial component design.

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

CC : I think design is a mindset and thought that stays curious to improve things.

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

CC : Of course it's my parents who supported me to change my major to design.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

CC : It's my classmates at the design school. They broadened my vision of any design-related expertise. They are amazing.

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

CC : Having a well-design portfolio website could be basic, and also show up actively on media and competitions.

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

CC : It would be a soft good product for the company that I'm working for.

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

CC : Have an influence on or can educate the next generation.

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

CC : Perhaps it's about the positive influence not only in the design community but also outside of the field.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

CC : I think design helps people to think about improving. That would make communication more thoughtful and therefore form a better society.

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

CC : I'm now working with a wearable tech startup, and we are collaborating with some industry leaders in athletics. This is pretty exciting to understand insights from their perspectives.

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

CC : Still thinking about it. There are so many outstanding designs.

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

CC : Such as how to make concepts come true more efficiently with the help of VR/AR technology.

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

CC : Integrate the digital and physical world more seamlessly I think.

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

CC : Usually, three to six months I believe.

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

CC : I would start by doing research to provide enough background knowledge or potential resource.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

CC : I would like to quote the motto from Charles Pratt, the founder of Pratt Institute, " Be true to your work and your work will be true to you."

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

CC : I think the greatest design sets the trends, then good designs follow.

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

CC : It helps so much for exploring potential solutions and higher the efficiency of designing.

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

CC : Currently for work, I use Fusion 360, Adobe Illustrator and Keyshot the most, and gradually use Rhino Grasshopper more.

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

CC : I think they define the quality of design and how well it is presented.

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

CC : I don't know yet.

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

CC : What well-done details or finishings I can appreciate and take inspiration to improve my design.

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

CC : I don't have an answer yet, but I believe co-design can make a design better through communication and improving ideas from each other.

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

CC : They are my classmates when studying in the design school for my master's degree.

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

CC : Probably it's the "Designing Design" by Kenya Hara.

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

CC : Thomas Heatherwick because he is very inspiring to me in his work.

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

CC : It is not that hard because I have actually enjoyed having people question me about my previous design and enlightening the next generation of designers.

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

CC : My favorite color is yolk yellow because it feels so warm and energetic. The place I like the most is a coffee shop. The smell of coffee always wakes me up and fuels me back to high energy. My favorite food is curry. For no reason, I like to try various kinds of curry. I like playing video games and also doing street dancing. I don't have a favorite brand yet.

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

CC : I remembered a night before a presentation in my first semester of design school, everybody in my year stayed up till midnight in the studio preparing for the presentation. We ordered some fast food like fried chicken and pizza for night's snack and had them for the breakfast. The food is cold but delicious.

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

CC : Seeing some other designers' outstanding projects can always motivate me.

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

CC : No, I don't think so. I thought I was about to be a mechanical engineer because I loved how machines are working with gears and components interacting perfectly.

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

CC : I like to imagine people can travel among planets so easily just like what I saw in movies.

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

CC : I'm like any of you who wants to make my design as satisfying to me as possible.