YU KUN

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer YU KUN ("YK") 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?

YK : I am currently a university teacher and teaching photography

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

YK : I had a rock band in college, from then on contact with a lot of art-related people, ideas are very much collision, which is very interesting, because these people are very interesting will bring a lot of thinking, and then will also selectively read some books, movies, music style, perhaps these are quietly influenced by me

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

YK : My own choice

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

YK : Concept Photography

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

YK : Keep thinking independently and ask yourself what is the truth about whatever you are learning.

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

YK : Who are you serving with your work? What do you want to get out of your work? These two points are important

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

YK : A good design is: when people leave it, it must be full of nostalgia.

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

YK : Good design serves people better and can resonate with them.

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

YK : If I have time I will design some concept works. For myself or for others, it is possible

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

YK : Some creations about the epidemic

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

YK : Ask yourself more what is the truth and keep independent thinking.

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

YK : I would prefer a design that provides pleasure, something that makes me think.

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

YK : So far, this work, Limited Space, is a presentation of inner thoughts.

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

YK : Have the ability to turn ideas into work and see more of the missing parts of society.

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

YK : If I hadn't become a photographer, I think I'd be playing rock 'n' roll with a bunch of guys

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

YK : Start with an idea and go build it. The design that suits me must be minimalist in appearance and simple in operation.

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

YK : I think it's my family, they have helped me a lot, thank God

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

YK : Art comes from life, reading, music, movies, and taste are all influencing me in a subtle way.

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

YK : Once wondered whether to continue, there was a difficult time to live

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

YK : It is important to first find some institution or organization that can host the work, and it is important to find places that like their style for different types of work. For example, you can't take a makeup piece and enter it into a costume contest.

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

YK : My next work is still about conceptual photography and I hope that my work will help people to understand things in some way.

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

YK : As a photographer, I am actually thinking about this issue for the first time. I hope I can travel around the world by this profession

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

YK : More service to the community

DL: How does design help create a better society?

YK : Good design can better serve human beings and improve their efficiency, such as the birth of the first elevator

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

YK : YES,Currently working as a photography teacher in an artistic academy

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

YK : Some designs that resonate and help others

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

YK : More independent and innovative designs can come out and more young people can participate.

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

YK : Some specific household items will be combined with AI technology, and some traditional graphic paintings and other works will be combined with NFT.

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

YK : First of all, there should be an idea in the early stage, and the concrete implementation can be completed within one or two months.

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

YK : When I have an idea for a piece of work, I start by determining the location, crew, and start date.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

YK : The words I have read, the music I have listened to, the scent I have smelt and the movies I have seen, all of which has left marks in my memory, nourishing my inspiration

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

YK : In the past, design sets the trend, but now it is the trend sets the designs.

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

YK : Technology is the foundation of the design guarantee

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

YK : Photoshop，Bridge,Capture-one and MAC

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

YK : Color is the emotion of design, materials influences the senses, ambient influences the atmosphere

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

YK : Maybe they ask, "How do you do the process of idea to work?"

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

YK : First of all, you will be surprised and excited, and then you will see the details of its presentation and the way of expression.

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

YK : Steven Allan Spielberg，This is my favorite director.Of course this may not be realistic. yes，I believe in co-design.

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

YK : Makeup Artist

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

YK : Some design books such as“ A'DESIGN” book and some magazines

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

YK : Read more, think more, and learn some of the latest technologies.

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

YK : Hahaha, I want to meet with FLOOR JANSEN（NIGHT WISH）

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

YK : In fact, it was exciting for that, not expecting to receive such a high honor, and then to be interviewed, (although not in person due to the epidemic), and to interact with some professional groups and associations, it was a nice memory.

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

YK : Black，ChengDu，Northeast China Cuisine，summer，Listen to music with gril，Apple.

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

YK : Well, I was once in the shooting, due to too much concentration and fell into the river, and then the lens touched the bank on the rocks, when I climbed out to continue shooting, the camera split in two, the scene of people are laughing

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

YK : Of course a good day starts with a delicious breakfast and then with music

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

YK : No, when I was a little child, I never thought I would become a photographer.

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

YK : I have some personal views on the future. Many people think that technological advances and better products being designed will make people's lives easier and happier. However, on the contrary, people's lives have not become easier because of the progress of technology, which is a problem worth thinking about.

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

YK : No idea for now