Yao Dai

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Yao Dai ("YD") 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?

YD : I am a junior student of Industrial Design at Luxun Academy of Fine Arts in China

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

YD : This is my second year studying design. Before that, I mainly studied traditional painting and original game drawing, but my idea of changing the world with art has never changed; I came across a design by chance to dramatically alter my art path.

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

YD : Becoming a designer was the best choice for me. I think it's a way to influence others and the world more than the painting I studied earlier. In design, I can try to move from subjective judgment to objective judgment, from a narrow range of opinions to a sense of understanding that people can share. And this is actually the root problem of all philosophy. The purpose of philosophy is to use what our limited personal perspective reveals to derive larger truths. Design is therefore essential to this pursuit.

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

YD : I design a better future, and I currently prefer to do the design that is not constrained by commercial and overly technical factors, which allows me to do the most creative things at the age when my mind is most flexible.

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

YD : I consider myself a "young designer," not only because of my age but also because many of my ideas are still immature at this stage, and I wish every young designer like me had a more ethical and social responsibility.

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

YD : A good designer can often be seen in many ways, such as logical thinking, aesthetic ability, and a wealth of knowledge. Still, a great designer must be a designer who also has a sense of ethics and social responsibility.

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

YD : On this issue, my view is precisely the same as Dieter Rams's. No one can describe it more comprehensively than he does.

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

YD : Good design can achieve a republic of man and nature, but the designer alone cannot achieve this goal; it is the designer's responsibility to infect and engage everyone in this process. This is the reason why everyone should invest in sound design.

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

YD : If I have enough time, I want to do sincere design for everything that moves me in life.

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

YD : My dream design project is every design that can make all human beings happier; However, I am not capable enough to make a real positive contribution to society through design; I am working for it every moment.

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

YD : courage is not motivated by fearlessness but by moral obligation. So I believe that to be a successful designer, one must first become an honest person; this will help tremendously to succeed.

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

YD : My favorite designer is Elon Reeve Musk, even though everyone thinks he's an engineer. I admire and am struck by the many things he has said and done; I respect and am struck by the many things he has said and done; he is always designing a better future for human society and constantly delivering and breaking through.

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

YD : My favorite design is undoubtedly man himself, an imperfect creature built of hypocrisy and desire, but one that has achieved countless greatness and wonders.

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

YD : My most outstanding design is a volunteerism concept for solving the homeless problem in the U.S. It was also the first design I completed that embodied the determination to change the world when I first entered the design profession and will forever remind me of the importance of ethics and social responsibility in design. It is a permanent reminder of ethics and social responsibility in design.

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

YD : As I said before, to be a successful designer, one must first be an ethical person; this will help tremendously achieve success.

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

YD : I will be a happy person and share my happiness with others.

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

YD : I think design is a part of creation, and creation itself is a "divine" thing; in the process, someone must shoulder the responsibility of human evolution. The method also reaps the sublimation of the soul and the highest level of pleasure.

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

YD : My most incredible supporters are undoubtedly my parents, and I cannot describe how much their unconditional support has helped me.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

YD : It is everyone I have ever loved and who has loved me.

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

YD : The design process reveals too many unsolvable technical problems, which often require the involvement of more engineering, biological and other disciplines. Otherwise, the design itself loses much of its genuine sincerity.

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

YD : First, it should be a work that is truly their own. Second, they do take pride in this work. And third, wait for it to show its worth.

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

YD : My next project is an ongoing attempt to change the lack of fresh water in Singapore, and whether it succeeds or fails, I am proud of who I am at this point. You can always expect me to change the world.

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

YD : From my perspective, satisfying my personal need is just a kind of contemporary happiness, which I would like to pursue as a long-lasting and permanent goal. I want to use my design to change the lifestyle of all human beings truly, and this is also why I choose this major.

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

YD : I hope to make them open their windows every morning and see a happier future.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

YD : Good design can achieve the republic of man and nature, but the designer alone cannot accomplish this goal; the designer's responsibility should be to infect and motivate everyone to participate in this process. This is why everyone should invest in sound design.

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

YD : I have seen more people recognize me and my work

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

YD : My most satisfying design was a volunteerism concept for solving the homeless problem in the U.S. It was also the first design I completed that embodied the determination to change the world when I first entered the design profession and will forever remind me of the importance of ethics and social responsibility in design. It is a permanent reminder of ethics and social responsibility in design.

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

YD : More designers are shifting the focus of their work from making profits to building a better world.

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

YD : I am very concerned about the rapid development of AI technology, which I believe will be the next major step in design, allowing computers to break out of the realm of tools and become some "inspiration" or even an opportunity for humans to break out of their limitations and become an extension of the concept of "human. It could be an extension of the concept of "human."

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

YD : I can never really finish a design; everyone is limited by the times, so I don't believe there is a perfect design that doesn't need iteration, but the existence of imperfection is the value of the designer's existence.

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

YD : I think I usually start before I have a new design project; I want my projects to start from an angle that I find makes a positive difference to society, rather than getting a subject with limitations and then being constrained to develop it.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

YD : Ethical design

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

YD : The trends shown by the design industry as a whole are determined largely by each individual, and there is no doubt about their importance. I look for and analyze the really valuable information, such as what users need at this stage, how the design industry, in general, is meeting their needs, and whether this practice is likely to create new problems so that I can eventually know what I should do.

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

YD : As I said before, technology allows computers to break out of the realm of tools and become a sort of "inspiration," or even an opportunity for humans to break out of their limitations and become an extension of the concept of "human."

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

YD : I love the crossover of modeling tools with different principles and the many random shapes generated by algorithms, which often help me create more freely and break out of the solidified thinking after long hours of work.

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

YD : Let abstract concepts materialize into tangible people.

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

YD : Do you like your design?

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

YD : What makes this design great? What can I learn from it? How can I know?

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

YD : I certainly BELIEVE in co-design, and I hope to work with more people who share my vision and are willing to experiment actively. Teams are significant, and I can get support from them, both technically and emotionally, but completing work independently often reaps more fulfillment, which is based on ability. Otherwise, it can turn into frustration and loss.

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

YD : I would like to use this unique opportunity to describe my first encounter with the most special girl in my life: in the crowded studio, the sunlight spread through the window on her blue shirt, and for that moment, she seemed to become the sunlight itself, and there was no room for a third person in the studio.

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

YD : The Red and the Black: 1 want to change your fate, you must make an effort, 2 vanities and greed, always a stumbling block on the way to the pursuit of happiness, 3 establish the correct values, is the foundation, designers first have to let their values and attitudes in a relatively good position, so that the design-led from the inside out is good, sincere and enough to move the heart. The beauty of wabi-sabi expressed in "The Tale of Genji" is what modern people miss, with capital and desire taking over almost everything. If you can put yourself in a state of tranquility once in a while and think about something, you will have a reflection and a new understanding of many aspects of yourself. Three Bodies" and "A Space Odyssey," I think are the fantasy and romance of all humanity, "we are all worms, but still have the right to look up at the stars" the future is a topic that has been around, all we do now is towards the end, better clothing, better products, technology. We should always look up to the stars when we are busy with our careers, and it is the vision and goal of all people.

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

YD : First of all, I am not a master designer; I still have too much to learn, but I always remember the importance of ethics and social responsibility in design.

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

YD : No one has shown more determination and ability to change the world than Elon Reeve Musk.

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

YD : I am terrified that many people will lose themselves in these things and eventually become people who lose their originality because of their greed for glory.

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

YD : White, the uppermost part of the city, foie gras, autumn, everything that symbolizes romance.

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

YD : Walking from the street to the end of the road, the girl was already waiting for me.

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

YD : It's the determination to change the world, which never changes.

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

YD : Not really; I actually wanted to be a great painter. Usually, it's one-sided for people to think that children's ambition is too naive and simple. However, some of their ambition actually should be respected. Many people work so hard in their life to pursue the purpose they once had in their childhood.

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

YD : The concept of the person is iterative, and its development iterates it; this is not a negative notion; everyone is limited by their times.

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

YD : I prefer discursive designs that build new values and cut through to a deeper reflection; that challenge narrow assumptions and become a new attitude that is not limited to reality and commercial market considerations.