Jackson Y. K. Chia

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Jackson Y. K. Chia ("JYKC") 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?

JYKC : I studied Architecture and end up practicing in Interior Design.

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

JYKC : I strongly believe that with a good design could create a better world to our nation.

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

JYKC : I choose to become a designer.

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

JYKC : I do all sort of design for any industry and i wish to design more of hospitality project.

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

JYKC : First of all be humble, work hard then give your best toward passion. " Do what you love and Love what you do"

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

JYKC : Good designer can come out a harmony design while great designer can create a functional design with strong character.

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

JYKC : Well first we need to understand the design objective to create a strong concept, and from strong concept we create features of indentity as well as experience and knowledge toward all sort of materials.

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

JYKC : The Value of a good design direct reflect to the property owner, we enchance the functionality and inviting with a strong concept design, so that it will bring the property value increase and the concept strongly imprinted to anyone who visit the propose property.

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

JYKC : I would love to design for Hospitality and recreation project if i had the time and chances.

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

JYKC : My dream project is to design any remarkable landmark project for example Art Gallery or Casino.

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

JYKC : There isn't and secret recipe, it just be passionate and creative, in this industry we need to understand our client needs then make it creatively functional.

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

JYKC : There were a lot but i can name a few, Architect William Allen Alsop, Architect Santiago Calatrava Valls and Architect Dame Zaha Mohammad Hadid.

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

JYKC : My favorite design is Stone Towers by Architect Zaha Hadid, i admire with her strong concept of the desert geography transformed in to the lines and shapes and yet create a very futuristic apperance of the architecture hierarchy.

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

JYKC : One of my greatest design is "Dining on 54 Multifunctional Space" which award wining bronze in A' Design Award, is happen to be the tallest building in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and the concept of this design direct reflected the highest and majestic Mount. Kinabalu which both located in North Borneo.

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

JYKC : Well all i could say to become a better designer you need to explore more countries and studies deeply all the great design you have came across.

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

JYKC : Anyhow beside the love and passion in design, im also into music, i might become a rock band artist.

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

JYKC : My defination to design are the revolution civilization and culture.

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

JYKC : It was my families and design team.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

JYKC : Opportunity from Strong Client for me to involve in diffrent field of industry.

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

JYKC : Understanding truely the function while doing space planing as well as understanding all sort of materials.

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

JYKC : In this new era i will strongly suggest a walk through 3D presentation.

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

JYKC : There were various but i hope that going to be a Hospitality project.

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

JYKC : To create not only the design but to bring out the identity and character of the design to life.

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

JYKC : I think people would expect a strong statement of art which it's speak from the design itself.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

JYKC : A good design can changes a preception and behaviour of an induvidual.

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

JYKC : Im working on a hotel project which is near diving spot and that excite me with all the coral reef concept.

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

JYKC : Bunga Raya Resort and Spa located at Gaya Island, Kota Kinabalu. This is because the resort have a strong post modern native indentity concept in it.

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

JYKC : With nowadays technology i would love to see more Daring Design in the coming years.

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

JYKC : I think is heading to a more vibrant colours and Nordic Urban concept.

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

JYKC : It's all depend of project scale size, normally design process may takes 1 or 2 month period.

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

JYKC : I will start with, Who is the Client and nature of business for the propose project.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

JYKC : To create a creative tomorrow.

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

JYKC : Is of course Design do set the trends.

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

JYKC : To make design detail more clear and minimise hussel in construction drawing, and of course a more realistic 3D rendering.

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

JYKC : Vector works, Autocad, Sketch up pro, Lumion 12 pro, Adobe Premier Pro and a high end desktop.

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

JYKC : This is where all this combination will create and determine the harmony and indentity of the design.

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

JYKC : I wish more people would ask "can you elaborate more about your concept"

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

JYKC : Well i need to be humble and learn from the great design.

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

JYKC : Owh yes i have a lot but i prefer not to mention for now and yes i do believe in Co-design.

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

JYKC : Great Artist and Great business man.

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

JYKC : How Design Makes The World by Scott Berkun

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

JYKC : It's takes strong passion and years of experience.

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

JYKC : Architect Zaha Hadid.

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

JYKC : Im truely honoured and glade of the recongnition, it is hard to get people to know our talent if we hesitate to show.

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

JYKC : My favorite colour is rose gold because is timeless, my favorite place will be Thailand where ancient and modern art and diffrent lifestyle happen there, my favorite food is fusion of asian, my favorite thing is Les Paul guitar and my favorite brand would be Gucci.

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

JYKC : Free to design but do not design for free

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

JYKC : Always remind myself to never give up, do what you love and love what you do and stay humble.

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

JYKC : I put it this way when i was a child i love to draw and paint along the growing up i love music as well, it's clear an artist is born.

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

JYKC : Well no one can tell the future, but i hope that in the near future, the world can be develop into more interesting world for our next generation.

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

JYKC : Hi im Jackson Y. K. Chia, im from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, my company is Design Gallery, please feel free to contact me for more design sharing knowledge and thank you so much for a the love and support you all given and once again thank you very much.