Wan Fen Chen

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Wan Fen Chen ("WFC") 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?

WFC : I have had a high interest in painting since I was a child, so I chose to study in the advertising design department of a vocational high school. After working for two years, I decided to go back to school to study design, so I was admitted to the applied art department of the university. Being a designer should be my career in life.

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

WFC : I like beautiful things, so I create them by myself.

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

WFC : I chose to become a designer.

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

WFC : My main design is visual design, but there is no specific design field. As long as it is way by design, shape the ideas, I will want to do.

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

WFC : See more, learn more, think more.

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

WFC : Good designer is to design beautiful works, and great designer is not only to design beautiful appearance, but also to solve users' troubles according to the needs of users.

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

WFC : Does this design solve the client's or user's troubles or problems? Aesthetics are very important, but it can't sacrifice the function and comfort of the product for the beautiful appearance.

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

WFC : Good design makes life better and more convenient.

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

WFC : Commercialize the works of Taiwanese painters and let more people know Taiwanese painters.

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

WFC : I have the project is to analyze the colors that are not produced by oil pastels on the market from the works of Taiwanese painters. Even people without an artistic background can simply copy the works of Taiwanese painters.

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

WFC : My secret ingredient is when I encounter obstacles, try various methods to solve them.

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

WFC : There are many designers I like and respect, one of them is Japanese product designer Fukasawa Naoto. The household items and furniture designed by Mr. Fukasawa can be naturally integrated into daily life because he observes the user's usage behavior and incorporates these observations into his design ideas.

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

WFC : Packaging for the BEER MAIL collection from the Volfas Engelman brewery in Lithuania, designed by creative director Motiejus Gaigalas and graphic designer Sandra Ramoskaite. Because of the name of the series, the shape of the stamp is used as a frame to express uniqueness and collectability. The raw materials for beer production are hidden in the vivid illustrations. Classical illustration style and avant-garde collage techniques perfectly combine gentlemanly demeanor and artistic courage into a unique visual identity.

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

WFC : Day Code - Chinese Almanac. It’s the first work under its own brand after the establishment of the studio. The idea of designing this calendar has been around for many years, so the studio's first product was decided to be it. This calendar retains the spirit of the traditional Taiwanese calendar, with an unprecedented change in layout.

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

WFC : From the user's point of view, consider the user's experience, and add these conditions to the design.

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

WFC : I never thought about industries other than designers.

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

WFC : The problem can be solved elegantly.

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

WFC : After becoming a designer, the colleagues, clients, and manufacturers I met all helped to improve the design quality, and learned a lot of experience and different concepts from them. The biggest supporters are my family, who let me not hold back in designing this path.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

WFC : When I encounter a problem, try to solve it, and didn't give up easily.

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

WFC : The previous works are not mature enough and sometimes cannot be trusted by customers. So until now, I have been constantly enriching my experience and knowledge, paying attention to new technologies and world trends, and broadening my horizons.

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

WFC : Participate in international design competitions and manage own SNS with heart.

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

WFC : Currently, I am designing a group portrait of 60 Tai Sui Taiwanese gods, which will first be published in the form of a calendar. Ps. The 60 Tai sui: in the Chinese zodiac, these 60 heavenly Soldiers, assist the Jade Emperor in taking charge of the well-being of the Mortal World.

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

WFC : Improve people's lives by design.

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

WFC : Make life more convenient and improve the quality of life.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

WFC : Finding problems, continue to improve and solve them.

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

WFC : Production operations for Day Code - Chinese Almanac in 2023 are now underway. This is also the last year that Day Code - Chinese Almanac is published. I am very happy that this calendar has a perfect ending.

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

WFC : Day Code - Chinese Almanac is the most satisfying work so far. From the product planning and layout design of the project to the launch of the fundraising platform and marketing, I did the entire project process myself. When I saw the finished product, I felt very moved, proving that my idea is not unrealistic and can be realized.

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

WFC : The boundaries of the design field are becoming less and less obvious, and the design fields can cooperate more closely with each other.

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

WFC : The design field is getting wider and wider, and user experience is as important as visual aesthetics. Anything that changes requires design, and everyone can design, but professional designers need to pay attention more to details and improve design quality.

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

WFC : Depending on the scale of the project. There are 1 to 7 months.

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

WFC : When designing a new project, I will first understand the needs or problems encountered by customers or users, and then starting point of the idea how to solve these problems, and then start planning a design that can communicate the information clearly.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

WFC : Hold on tight and fight as hard as you can.

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

WFC : Design creates trends, trends determine design.

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

WFC : Technology makes my designs concrete.

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

WFC : Various software from Adobe. Computers and iPads are my best partners.

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

WFC : Human being are perceptive animals. Colors, materials, and environments create different five senses experiences and make people generate various emotions.

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

WFC : Why use these design elements? What do they represent?

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

WFC : Design has infinite possibilities, try to enrich my ability so that my work can also become a great design.

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

WFC : I like working with people from different design fields and I also believe in co-design. Co-design can find different aspects of the problem and can find more solutions.

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

WFC : My clients. To solve their needs, in order to design a good work.

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

WFC : Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, by William McDonough and Michael Braungart. The concepts described in the book have become the goals I strive to achieve when designing products.

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

WFC : Continuous creation, learning more and more experiences from each design. Observe and learn more, pay attention to the trends and trends of the times.

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

WFC : Leonardo Da Vinci. Design is the combination of rationality and sensibility. Leonardo has achieved remarkable achievements in the field of science and art, and he will definitely be inspired by a conversation with him.

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

WFC : I am so happy that the work has been recognized. However, I will still be reviewed if there are perfect, and better results can be obtained.

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

WFC : There is no particular favorite thing, and different things have different feelings.

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

WFC : In 2014, I represented my former company to participate in Tokyo Design Week. The props in the exhibition venue were detained by Japanese customs because of their size. Two days before the opening of the exhibition, I was dealing with customs clearance at a Japanese hotel while making other exhibits. With the help of DHL Japan, the props were released one day earlier. I rushed to DHL's Tokyo warehouse to pick up the goods, and then arrived at the venue and complete the booth arrangement within the time limit. The opening would be successful the next day. Although I felt very distressed and anxious at the time, it was a very unforgettable experience in retrospect, and I am very grateful for the help at that time, especially the Japanese DHL.

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

WFC : As a designer, I discover many beautiful things every day. When I see a good design, I also expect that I can make the same or even better design.

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

WFC : When I was child, I never thought that I would become a designer, but when I went to junior high school, I gradually realized that I have a good aesthetic ability.

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

WFC : The development of science and technology has been changing the way of life, and many physical things are gradually digitized. But human beings are sensory creatures after all, and some physical objects will still be preserved, allowing people to enjoy the five senses experience brought by them.

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

WFC : I live in Taiwan. There are many beautiful traditional patterns in Taiwan, and I am also committed to applying these beautiful patterns to works of my brand. I hope everyone can notice the beauty of Taiwan.