Tong Xu

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Tong Xu ("TX") 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?

TX : I am an architect by profession and have been engaged in architectural and interior/exterior environmental design for thirty years. My career has spanned across real estate development companies, construction groups, architectural design institutes, design firms, and decoration companies. The rich professional experience and role transitions have allowed me to naturally adopt a client-oriented approach and consider problems from the client's perspective. This has enabled me not only to delve deeply into designs that align with the clients' operational thinking but also to stay one step ahead, earning the trust of numerous clients. Many of these clients have become my close friends. One of my most well-known works from my younger days was designing thirty-five Starbucks coffee shops when they entered China. Even today, the headquarters in Seattle considers these stores as some of their best-designed outlets during that period.

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

TX : a. It is essential to follow through the implementation process of your design work, as it can lead to significant improvement in terms of technical craftsmanship, understanding, and confidence. Remember that you cannot evade design responsibility for any unsuccessful implementation. b. The design process is a struggle within yourself; any excessive description or forced association that deviates from the leading design concept should be firmly discarded, no matter how brilliant the creativity may be. c. Designers should allocate time to observe the world and engage in cultural exchanges; traveling and reading are equally important. New media forms cannot replace your firsthand experiences because those belong to others. Only by experiencing things personally can they become your own, allowing you to speak in your own language rather than someone else's - something your clients will notice.

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

TX : My understanding of design is that, in essence, design serves operations and is a packaging tool for operations. Good design creates things that belong to customers, including operators and consumers. Many designers are simply expressing their own self-awareness, with a constant logic no matter what project they are working on. This approach to design has strong limitations. I pursue the diversification of design logic, lower my ego, and prioritize means over ends.

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

TX : Design is an important part of comprehensive competitiveness, and even the first competitiveness when products are designed at the same time. The designer is the enabler of the soul of the environment, holding the magic touch to transform the decay into a magic touch. When everyone can only see the present, you must be able to see poetry and distance. This ability to see into the future is the value of design.

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

TX : An excellent designer should be a lifelong learner, observing and learning and taking in nutrients anytime and anywhere. When you absorb enough, creativity will spill over; When you create enough value for others, you must also realize your own value.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

TX : Travel ten thousand miles, read ten thousand books