Yong Cao

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Yong Cao ("YC") 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?

YC : I studied Graphic Design and Environmental Art Design in university, and after graduating, I have been working in brand design for many years, covering fields such as branding, product, packaging, and spatial design.

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

YC : Passion drives my design work—I love using design to transform everyday objects and environments around us.

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

YC : I consciously chose the profession of designer and take great pride in this path.

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

YC : I have designed numerous brand identities and products, and I look forward to exploring more types of design that I haven't yet experienced.

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

YC : Adhere to independent thinking, maintain an original heart, and hold design in reverence.

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

YC : Good designers provide visual enjoyment, while great designers offer solace to the soul.

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

YC : It is the resonance from users or readers that elevates a good design to a truly great one. Great designs always bring me inspiration.

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

YC : The value of good design is a reflection of human progress—it represents the evolving integration of technology and art, shaping the course of human civilization.

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

YC : I enjoy designing playful, practical, and interesting small products tailored for hard-working young professionals.

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

YC : There are countless examples in daily life—so many products that are awkward or inefficient to use. I'm always eager to redesign and improve them.

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

YC : Start from the essence of the problem, identify solutions, and complement them with aesthetic design.

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

YC : There are many. Rather than being inspired by design masters or legendary figures, I find greater inspiration in the great designs themselves.

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

YC : I love Philippe Starck's Juicy Salif alien-inspired lemon squeezer—it's functional, visually striking, and full of imagination.

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

YC : I believe it's the TreSound mini speaker—it's practical, aesthetically pleasing, and full of imagination.

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

YC : Try to understand great designs and learn about the creative processes behind them—this will help you develop a thought process similar to that of master designers.

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

YC : I suppose I should paint—it brings me a sense of tranquility, and I enjoy thinking quietly.

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

YC : Design is a form of transformation—it alters product forms, enhances functional experiences, and reshapes industries and markets. Practical and aesthetically pleasing designs are what resonate with me.

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

YC : My clients and partners have collaborated with me to bring numerous designs to life, and my family has been my greatest source of support.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

YC : Sensitivity to market trends and meticulous attention to detail have been invaluable assets in my work.

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

YC : Obstacles have always existed—whether from within myself, clients, or technical challenges.

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

YC : Actively participate in various design competitions and actively share on social media platforms.

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

YC : I am currently designing a set of retro music player products, comprising a combination of three players: vinyl, CD, and cassette.

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

YC : Using products I designed myself.

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

YC : I aspire to create more products that are practical, aesthetically pleasing, and full of imagination.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

YC : Design is the fusion of technology and art, where advancements in both fields contribute to building a better society.

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

YC : I'm currently working on a design and feel particularly excited.

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

YC : I am most satisfied with the product design of the TreSound series Bluetooth speakers from the TRETTITRE brand because they are practical, aesthetically pleasing, and full of imagination.

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

YC : I hope to see how advancements in technology, along with the emergence of new materials and techniques, are influencing transformative changes in design.

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

YC : I believe the field of design will have broader development directions in the era of AI, breaking through conventional thinking.

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

YC : The time required to complete a design project depends on its content. Typically, a design solution can be finished within one to three months.

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

YC : I start from the purpose of the design project, integrate the project background and industry context, and put myself in the roles of both the client and the user to conceptualize the design solution.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

YC : Slow and steady wins the race.

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

YC : I believe there is no leading relationship between design and trends; rather, they occur simultaneously and complement each other.

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

YC : It can help me achieve the desired effect.

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

YC : The most frequently used software in my work is Illustrator, and the device is a Mac.

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

YC : Color, materials, and environment play an extremely important role in design, equivalent to the skeleton and skin that help bring the core of the design to life.

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

YC : I hope people will ask, "Is it expensive?"—because that indicates the practical or emotional value of the design has surpassed its actual cost.

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

YC : I will try to think like the designer behind this great work, seeking to understand their thought process.

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

YC : I believe in co-design, and my clients are my ideal design partners.

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

YC : Interactions with design peers, clients, material and manufacturing suppliers, consumers, and others all influence my design work.

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

YC : Plane composition, color composition, three-dimensional composition.

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

YC : Agile design thinking.

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

YC : I don't know, I haven't thought it through yet.

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

YC : I was very happy the moment I learned about winning the award—it meant my work was recognized by professional judges in the industry.

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

YC : I like the color green, Shenzhen, hot pot, spring, and apples.

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

YC : Come to think of it, as a designer—though this profession is often mentioned or seems familiar—many people don't truly understand the specific scope of our work. Moreover, since design spans so many different fields, explaining what I do always turns out to be quite complicated. That's why I almost dread being asked, "What do you do for a living?" and especially, "What exactly does that mean?"

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

YC : My unwavering passion for design is a key reason why I have fulfilling days. I don't need external motivation—the desire to create outstanding design work is motivation in itself.

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

YC : Perhaps that's the case. Having a self-regulated grasp of the things and objects around me might just be the budding stage of design thinking.

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

YC : The future may also be the past—it's hard to imagine. Live in the present.

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

YC : For more information, please visit https://wildgrass.design